Lost Dutchman State Park Loop Photoset • AZLumberjack • 2015-03-08 • HikeArizona.COM

Lost Dutchman State Park Loop, AZ

	2015-03-08
	12 by AZLumberjack

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Lost Dutchman State Park Loop

Phoenix, AZ

Lost Dutchman State Park Loop

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking	3.20 Miles	555 AEG

Hiking	3.20 Miles	3 Hrs	1.07 mph
	555 ft AEG

no routes

Linked

linked

Siphon Draw Trail #53

Treasure Loop to Praying Hands

Jacob's Trail #58

Partners

partners

tibber

Just cooling my heels after hiking with Hank (Grasshopper) and I get an email from Angela (Tibber) for some wildflower hunting along the trails around the LDSP and Siphon Draw. Can't turn down an opportunity to hike with Angela, especially when she offered to buy me a beer afterwards

so I gladly accepted.

We met at the Mining Camp Restaurant at 0830 and got our "stuff" together to chase the colorful wildflowers (hope, hope). The parking lot was quickly filling up and we could already see hoards of hikers on the trails. Once through the gates and on the trails, we were aware that this was going to be a little less than spectacular :-k

Lots of Brittlebush in all stages of bloom but mostly still in the budding stage. We found tons of Chuparosa in full bloom in every wash in the foothills but Siphon Draw Wash was particularly colorful

We kept hoping and looking for the fields of golden Mexican Poppies, but only found a few sparse patches of the stunted golden beauties ](*,)

The highlight of the day, however, was the discovery of a rare Red Poppy that was growing all by itself right alongside the Treasure Loop Trail :y:

Lots of hikers out taking pictures of the flowers and the mountain and the trail up Siphon Draw had drawn the majority, as would be expected.

We finally turned around and headed back to the parking lot and along the way we ran into Spider Legs and Hike Mule on their return from 5024. We talked for a bit then all decided to go inside and have a cold beer. Nice meeting you guys and the good conversation.... Thanks Angela for the beer. The flowers weren't quite as expected, but it was a beautiful day to be out and next time I'll buy the beer :y:

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Brittlebush Chuparosa Scarlet Flax

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Gambel's Quail

Meteorology

Meteorology [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Sunburst

Wildflowers Observation None
The Brittlebush needs a little time yet to get to full bloom. The Mexican Poppies are sparse and stunted. The Chuparosa is going crazy in the washes.

_____________________

On every trip into the Superstitions, I find another Gold Mine. Today the mine was filled with Memories. I can not wait for the next trip.

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