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| Hiking | 9.26 Miles |
2,394 AEG |
| | Hiking | 9.26 Miles | 8 Hrs 47 Mns | | 1.54 mph |
| 2,394 ft AEG | 2 Hrs 46 Mns Break | | | |
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[ show ]
| partners | | I'd had Peak 4618 on my radar for a while, and it worked out for ishamod to join me this weekend. We started at a pullout along FR 172 to avoid the rougher 4x4 roads that would've brought us to Millsite Canyon Trail. After passing a campsite with a few people and vehicles right away, there was plenty of solitude for the rest of the day. We had to wade through a lot of wet knee/thigh-high grass that soaked our boots as we made our way into the creek bed that we followed north toward Quail Spring where the official route starts for 4618. Once we were on #237, the route was very easy to follow, and it's a beautiful area with the creek, saguaros, and cliffs.
We didn't follow the official route and opted instead for the route that triplogs generally agree is the better approach and passes the arches. We left the two-track just north of Millsite Spring to start the climb toward the peak. There are a few long sections of stacked-rock walls in that area that extend up the sides of the canyon on either side...probably built for livestock or to divert run-off? We passed one of the walls as we continued up a ridge--it was a rocky, brushy route but not too many thorns or overly difficult, just slow going at times.
The route leveled off briefly and then climbed again as the ridge narrowed and we worked our way up and around to the first arch, which nicely frames the views to the south. We briefly looked at Fraser Arch on our way up but didn't have the best vantage point, so we saved that for the way down and headed for the summit, which offers great views of a lot of the western Superstition landmarks and a unique vantagepoint looking down on Buzzard's Roost. The summit register had entries going back to 2004 and a lot of HAZ entries from the past 10 years. The peak gets more visitors than I would've expected, but we were the first to sign in 2024.
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After a lunch break at the top, we started down and reached a better viewpoint directly across from Fraser Arch, then ishamod wanted to explore around a big cave/alcove on the southwest face of the mountain that was visible on the way up. I waited below while he climbed up and explored...it was obviously empty and looked like a lot of effort with little to no payoff, but he as able to the base of the cave for a better look inside and to satisfy his curiosity.
We followed the same route back down the rocky slopes and reconnected with the road. We saw another rock wall farther south along the road, and an ATV passed us near Campsite Spring. The tall grasses were dry on the hike out, so we didn't have to re-soak our boots, which was nice. Before leaving the creek bed, I spotted a large blueish lizard carrying a smaller, white lizard in its mouth. It ran toward me a several times, which I didn't expect. As I backed off, I got a picture--not a great one--but I'm interested to see if anyone can identify the blue lizard [ photo ] .
It was a fun hike and great to check this one off the list before it gets too got. The weather was just about perfect today, wildflowers were blooming, and the views in this part of the Superstitions are always spectacular. Other than the campers and the ATVers at the end, we didn't see anyone all day. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
Route 
. Sometimes you just want to hike with kids your own age... 
. A few weeks a year the 3 of us are the same age so I thought it would be fun to get out on a hike. Bob suggested this one. It was the company for me but it was a good hike too. The drive in was a bonus as Wally showed his four wheeling skills. I wore shorts by mistake so they rerouted a little to keep me out of the catsclaw for the most part. Neat area. Great views, company, and conversation! Topped it off with burgers at Dirtwater Springs in AJ (thanks Beverly). It was great to catch up, my friends. Like Haz, 
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next to Quail Springs that I incorrectly thought was Millsite Canyon 
. My hiking partner had enough sense to stay behind after this canyon started to get very serious, but I was determined to find out where it went and if it did indeed follow the map that I was using... Well, to make a long and risky story short, I wasted 2 hours and ~1 pint of blood following red tail hawks up this canyon to find out that I was not hiking on the Millsite Canyon trail 
! So, back to my JEEP and at 12:noon we started up the correct Millsite Canyon Tr 237 route(which is actually the continuation of the decommissioned, serious 4x4 road route where I had parked). As you hike up this very scenic route, which basically follows the side of the creek and crosses it numerous time, all the named springs as noted on the Superstition Wilderness Forest Service Map are there and appear to be perennial! The very impressive rock formations along this trail route hiking from South to North are exceptional with many remote and rugged canyons East and West along the trail route. Due to my late hiking start at 12:noon, we only made it as far as Maverick Springs before needing to turn back, 
Enjoyed the trip there an' back!
