Peralta to Fremont Saddle • Hike • Arizona • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

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chumley

trekkin_gecko

Route Recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX

Kelly and needed to squeeze in a hike on one of the few days we’re both in AZ this summer. Chumley came along to enhance the whining. Just about perfect weather for July in AZ. We got started around 0500. One other vehicle in the lot. Chumley caressed the hood of that truck and determined it had not been parked for very long. We headed up Peralta, happily in the shade. Humid, but moments of breeze felt great. Saw the one other hiker at Fremont Saddle.

From there, we headed out to the lone pine and took the obligatory pics. Then headed down Cave Trail. There are still a few vague spots in places, but overall it gets easier to follow every year. Temps stayed in the 70s the entire hike. This is a great little loop when there are no other people around. No vehicles besides mine in the lot when we finished. Surprisingly, only two vehicles at the Wave Cave parking when we left. Good to see both Kelly & Chumley this morning!

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Stop crying and just go do the hike.

Jul 16 2025

chumley

Guides 94
Routes 842
Photos 22,068
Triplogs 1,994

52 male

Joined Sep 18 2002
Tempe, AZ

Peralta - Cave loop, AZ

Hiking		Jul 16 2025
		chumley • Triplogs 1,994

Hiking	6.06 Miles	1,736 AEG

Hiking	6.06 Miles	2 Hrs 46 Mns	2.23 mph
	1,736 ft AEG	3 Mns Break

no routes

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LindaAnn

trekkin_gecko

Decided to take advantage of a cloudy morning with temps in the 70s. A July delight!

Apparently exactly 1 out of ~5 million other Phoenix-area people agreed with that sentiment, and that was just fine with me.

Clouds were nice though Peralta is shaded anyway. Higher up a nice breeze helped knock down the moistitude in the air. Apparently it's been 15 years since I've done Cave Trail. I didn't remember any of it. Fun!

Good to see the ladies of the lands of potatoes and corn.

_____________________

I'm not sure what my spirit animal is, but I'm confident it has rabies.

Jul 16 2025

trekkin_gecko

Guides 10
Routes 673
Photos 7,281
Triplogs 4,660

67 female

Joined Nov 17 2008
phoenix, az

Peralta - Cave loop, AZ

Hiking		Jul 16 2025
		trekkin_gecko • Triplogs 4,660

Hiking	6.00 Miles	1,700 AEG

Hiking	6.00 Miles	2 Hrs 46 Mns	2.25 mph
	1,700 ft AEG	6 Mns Break

no routes

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chumley

LindaAnn

linda and i had one day to hike together this summer

chums joined in the fun
set out up peralta right at 0500
temps in the 70s, nice breeze, some cloud cover
went out to the lone pine, then back on the cave trail
saw one guy at the saddle - nice to have such a popular trail to ourselves
nice to do this classic hike with linda and todd, in july no less
it was a tiny bit moist

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hazhole

May 05 2025

chumley

Guides 94
Routes 842
Photos 22,068
Triplogs 1,994

52 male

Joined Sep 18 2002
Tempe, AZ

Weavers Crosscut Loop, AZ

Hiking		May 05 2025
		chumley • Triplogs 1,994

Hiking	9.04 Miles	2,220 AEG

Hiking	9.04 Miles	3 Hrs 34 Mns	2.67 mph
	2,220 ft AEG	11 Mns Break

no routes

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Terrapin Trail #234

Weaver's Needle Crosscut

Weaver's - Base of the Needle

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John9L

Perfect cinco de drinco weather out there established a mandatory outdoor assessment of conditions. A couple of cars in the lot, two hikers on their last breaths as we started out, and not a sign of another soul the rest of the day. Cloudiness, a few sprinkles, a cool breeze, and temps flirting with 60.

Yesterday it had rained hard here, with evident erosion from recent surface flows. Some puddles remained in all the favored locations.

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Western Patch-nosed snake

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Mascot Trash Hauled Out

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I'm not sure what my spirit animal is, but I'm confident it has rabies.

Mar 15 2025

ScaredyCat

Guides 2
Routes 208
Photos 93
Triplogs 205

male

Joined Aug 08 2020
Phx az

Weaver's - Base of the Needle

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Mar 15 2025
		ScaredyCat • Triplogs 205

Hiking	14.18 Miles	3,114 AEG

Hiking	14.18 Miles	7 Hrs 55 Mns	2.05 mph
	3,114 ft AEG	59 Mns Break

no photosets

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Weaver's Needle Crosscut

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Route Recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX

This Meetup was far more adventurous than the norm. Even parked right up front at Peralta TH! Guess the state of the road following the storms and threatening skies kept many away.

The majority of the sign ups bolted leaving only the most motivated. With water flowing along the trail and the fewest people I've seen here, off to a fabulous start. The saddle was only the beginning for us.

Next was the steep climb up Weaver's as far as 1 can venture without gear. Then formed an extended loop traversing rarely used trails. RF needed through entire stretches. Was scheduled to be Peralta-1st Water yet ended up being better!

Feb 17 2025

emilystardust

Routes 386
Photos 49
Triplogs 792

43 female

Joined Jun 23 2015
Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Feb 17 2025
		emilystardust • Triplogs 792

Hiking	5.22 Miles	1,732 AEG

Hiking	5.22 Miles	3 Hrs 23 Mns	1.65 mph
	1,732 ft AEG	13 Mns Break

no photosets

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Jan 25 2025

jacobemerick

Guides 38
Routes 183
Photos 1,605
Triplogs 233

40 male

Joined Dec 09 2014
Gilbert, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Backpack		Jan 25 2025
		jacobemerick • Triplogs 233

Backpack	6.00 Miles	2,000 AEG

Backpack	6.00 Miles	2 Days
	2,000 ft AEG

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Quick overnight w/ the daughter. She had a birthday party at noon, so we didn't start on the trail until after 3pm. Maybe 10 groups hiking down Peralta, only 2 groups that spent the night up there. We chose a campsite that was just east of the saddle and had a quiet night with great sky & needle views. Temps dropped down to maybe 40 overnight, not a bad night for cowboy camping. Came down on Cave Trail so she could get some more caving in. The butt-slide area wasn't as bad as I remembered, pretty easy and enjoyable hike down. Tons of memories and she's already asking for a longer trip in the future.

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Jan 22 2025

fricknaley

Guides 93
Routes 397
Photos 4,984
Triplogs 4,126

49 male

Joined Jun 20 2003
Tucson, AZ

Black Top Mesa from Peralta, AZ

Hiking		Jan 22 2025
		fricknaley • Triplogs 4,126

Hiking	16.50 Miles	4,089 AEG

Hiking	16.50 Miles	6 Hrs 43 Mns		2.73 mph
	4,089 ft AEG	41 Mns Break	10 LBS Pack

no routes

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8 linked trail guides

Weaver's Needle Loop from Peralta TH

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went out on peralta, then up and around black top mesa and back on terrapin and bluff springs. the entirety of bull pass is burnt as is most of the summit of black top mesa.

fantastic scenery the whole way. had great weather. didn't see anyone from fremont saddle until the parking lot.

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hi

Dec 29 2024

cw50must

Guides 11
Routes 2
Photos 3,776
Triplogs 334

48 male

Joined Jun 09 2009
Mesa, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Dec 29 2024
		cw50must • Triplogs 334

Hiking	4.90 Miles	1,440 AEG

Hiking	4.90 Miles	2 Hrs 1 Min	2.43 mph
	1,440 ft AEG

no routes

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Needed to get this one in, its been a while. The road in and out was pretty busy, lots of people parked at wave cave, and there was some kind of Lucid electric car event down one of the side roads. However at the Peralta trailhead, plenty of parking. Trail was great as always and it was a nice sunny winter day.

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Aug 31 2024

Guides 1
Routes 448
Photos 4,407
Triplogs 939

68 male

Joined Mar 09 2012
Gilbert, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Aug 31 2024
		rayhuston • Triplogs 939

Hiking	5.17 Miles	1,421 AEG

Hiking	5.17 Miles	2 Hrs 18 Mns	2.33 mph
	1,421 ft AEG	5 Mns Break

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Always an enjoyable hike, though an earlier start would have made it more enjoyable

From the saddle, I walked out towards the lone pine, but settled on the views at Barks Canyon. I turned around there and headed back; the last mile at the bottom was going to be warm.

The trail is in good shape. The brushing from last winter is still holding up well. The road is also in good shape. A few ruts along the way will slow you down, but it's a fairly smooth ride until that last half mile.

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Jul 13 2024

Vashti

Guides 18
Routes 298
Photos 1,808
Triplogs 277

female

Joined Mar 11 2002
Gilbert, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Jul 13 2024
		Vashti • Triplogs 277

Hiking	5.01 Miles	1,367 AEG

Hiking	5.01 Miles	3 Hrs 14 Mns	1.93 mph
	1,367 ft AEG	38 Mns Break

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Route Recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX

It's been a long time since I have done an out and back to Fremont saddle. Short and sweet fit the bill for the hike requirements when it is so hot.

The plan was to leave the house at 420a and start hiking at 5a. My friends were a bit late, so we started hiking at 520a. Made the saddle at 645a, back at the Trailhead by 830a. We hiked in the shade almost the whole way up. It was glorious!

The best thing: we saw one guy coming down Peralta as we went up. That's it!! Unbelievable for Peralta! I guess that is what 90F-ish does for you, ha!

Lots of quail and geckos on the trail.

On the drive in on the dirt road (also blissfully people free!), lots of bunnies.

One car when we arrived at the Trailhead, none when we returned. As we were leaving, another car barreled into the parking lot, and a guy parked and ran to the bathrooms (!).

Very hot, as expected, but so nice to be in the supes.

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Jun 30 2024

adilling

Guides 2
Routes 267
Photos 9,816
Triplogs 402

62 male

Joined Dec 02 2014
Mesa, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Jun 30 2024
		adilling • Triplogs 402

Hiking	5.10 Miles	1,434 AEG

Hiking	5.10 Miles	3 Hrs 30 Mns	1.46 mph
	1,434 ft AEG

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It's been a while since I hit one of my favorite trails and I needed a hike that would give me a little elevation. The added bonus is, of course, this trail is so beautiful.

I arrived to the mostly empty trailhead just after sunrise. It was cloudy and muggy. High 80's to start. Mid 90’s at the end.
The trail is in good shape with no major overgrowth. It looks like they might of had a brief monsoon rain recently as there was the occasional little puddle on the way up.

I had the trail to myself for the most part. I ran into a couple of guys hiking down right before the saddle and a couple of other hikers came up from behind my right at the saddle. Going down I saw two groups going up.

The cloudy skies gave the light on the canyon a soft warmth for the first hour going up. The intermittent clouds afterwards reduced the heat from the sun. But, it was still getting hot, fast after about 8am. And, it was like hiking in the jungle humidity all day. I felt like I dove into a lake with my clothes on by the time I started down.

I explored the area on Fremont Saddle and contemplated going out to the lone tree, but decided to hike back down.

I came across a few critters, a baby bunny that hopped across the trail and then stopped and looked at me for quite a while. I also saw a really nice female collared lizard. No snakes or other desert dwellers. They apparently had more sense than I and found shady spots to ride out the AZ Toaster Oven.

I will never get tired of hiking this trail. We are fortunate to live so close.

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Eastern Collared Lizard

_____________________

"Jobs fill your pockets, adventures fill your soul."

instagram: @andydilling

Jun 02 2024

Guides 1
Routes 448
Photos 4,407
Triplogs 939

68 male

Joined Mar 09 2012
Gilbert, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Jun 02 2024
		rayhuston • Triplogs 939

Hiking	5.65 Miles	1,548 AEG

Hiking	5.65 Miles	2 Hrs 24 Mns	2.44 mph
	1,548 ft AEG	5 Mns Break

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The mornings are still nice enough for an early hike. I was in shade a good part of the ascent. A fair breeze helped when I wasn’t in shade. It was lovely at the saddle, so I went out to the Lone Pine for some extra steps. Not many people out. A few heading up as I was finishing. It was getting toasty at the end.

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Feb 10 2024

chrisbjohnson

Routes 80
Photos 149
Triplogs 78

male

Joined May 23 2016
Tempe, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Feb 10 2024
		chrisbjohnson • Triplogs 78

Hiking	5.65 Miles	1,486 AEG

Hiking	5.65 Miles	2 Hrs 36 Mns	2.31 mph
	1,486 ft AEG	9 Mns Break

no routes

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This was my first hike in the snow in the desert. As I drove the road to the Peralta Trailhead, I could see snow at the higher elevations and peaks of the Superstition Mountains. As I started at sunrise is was raining but it never snowed, so the snow was from overnight. The rain and snow held off many hikers so I had the trail to myself for several hours. This was the first time I was on Freemont Saddle all by myself. Usually the saddle is very busy for the views and photos. Weaver's Needle was fogged in, so I took a picture of the fog just for fun. I stomped out "HI" in the snow at Freemont Saddle just to elate the kid in me. There was about 2 inches of snow at the saddle, but it was melting very quickly, even in the hour that I stayed to wait for the fog to clear, which it did not.

So much recent rain made the entire trail more like a stream. The water was clear and cold.

Snow in the desert is very special and enjoyable.

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2 archives

Jan 14 2024

chumley

Guides 94
Routes 842
Photos 22,068
Triplogs 1,994

52 male

Joined Sep 18 2002
Tempe, AZ

Barks Upper Canyon Loop

Barks Upper Canyon Loop

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Jan 14 2024
		chumley • Triplogs 1,994

Hiking	6.70 Miles	1,931 AEG

Hiking	6.70 Miles	2 Hrs 55 Mns	2.39 mph
	1,931 ft AEG	7 Mns Break

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Seems this description should be the NOT Barks Upper Canyon Loop, but apparently this title matches an official route that follows a canyon near to upper Barks, so there's that?

Regardless, despite not being in upper Barks, this other canyon is the one I took back downhill.

I shuttled some friends doing the ridgeline and headed up Peralta to the saddle with them before some housekeeping out at Lone Pine followed by the snowy and icy decent toward Barks and the junction with Bluff Springs.

Nice to get out and enjoy the desert again!

_____________________

I'm not sure what my spirit animal is, but I'm confident it has rabies.

Jan 10 2024

NitroTheWolf

Guides 9
Routes 75
Photos 325
Triplogs 24

21 male

Joined Nov 13 2021
Scottsdale / Fla

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Jan 10 2024
		NitroTheWolf • Triplogs 24

Hiking	4.66 Miles	1,440 AEG

Hiking	4.66 Miles	2 Hrs 3 Mns	2.27 mph
	1,440 ft AEG

no photosets

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Decided to hike up to Fremont Saddle today and find the two virtual geocaches along the way. This was my first time hiking in this area. The hike up was uneventful, I ended up passing lots of people and their dogs. I also passed a group of college students that were heading down. I made it to Fremont Saddle in 1 hour and 7 minutes.

Entire hike ended up taking 2 hours and 3 minutes.

On a side note, those college students I passed ended up needing help, as one of their group became very sick so they had to cancel their backpacking trip. I ended up driving two of their group back to First Water trailhead back to their vans so they could get help to the student that was sick. Interesting day.

Jan 10 2024

Guides 1
Routes 448
Photos 4,407
Triplogs 939

68 male

Joined Mar 09 2012
Gilbert, AZ

Robber's Roost - Superstitions, AZ

Hiking		Jan 10 2024
		rayhuston • Triplogs 939

Hiking	6.83 Miles	1,870 AEG

Hiking	6.83 Miles	5 Hrs 5 Mns	1.60 mph
	1,870 ft AEG	49 Mns Break

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Robbers Roost - Superstitions

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My weekly hike with Dave. He suggested Arnett Creek at Picketpost, I countered with this. He hasn't been up there for a few years and liked the idea.

0940 start with the hope that it might warm up a bit. We hiked up to Fremont Saddle to take the easier route to the Roost. Chatted with a big group of backpackers for 20 minutes or so (college students from Minnesota). We gave them some recommendations of popular campsites along their loop from FW (Dutchman to Peralta and back on Dutchman). Saw some kitty tracks in the snow at the saddle before we headed up top.

There was a fair amount of snow remaining on the east side of the ridge heading up. Ice in the shadows. Had lunch in the roost before heading NW to visit the Chimney. We talked briefly about heading down canyon to make a loop with the Carney Springs trail or picking up the Dacite Loop trail and coming down the steep drop above Fremont Saddle. We said nah to both. Instead, from the Chimney, we headed northeast and went up and over the ridge on what is now a fairly popular social trail to reconnect with our route up. It makes for a nice little lollipop loop from the roost.

Delightful hike on a cool, but gorgeous day. Bright blue sky, a wisp of a breeze, a bit chilly, but no complaints from me.

	Peralta Canyon	Dry	Dry
	There are a couple of small pools higher up just below the switchbacks.

Peralta Creek at #102 Crossing

Dry

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1 archive

Dec 29 2023

Guides 1
Routes 448
Photos 4,407
Triplogs 939

68 male

Joined Mar 09 2012
Gilbert, AZ

First Water TH to Peralta TH

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Dec 29 2023
		rayhuston • Triplogs 939

Hiking	4.90 Miles	1,440 AEG

Hiking	4.90 Miles	3 Hrs 47 Mns	2.18 mph
	1,440 ft AEG	1 Hour 32 Mns Break

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Volunteer day. We had dual coverage today so I decided to spend some time on the trails. Up and back to Fremont Saddle. Spent some time interacting with folks at the saddle and on the trail.

Wonderful morning.

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3 archives

Nov 24 2023

pseudalpine

Guides 59
Routes 1,100
Photos 1,191
Triplogs 1,290

male

Joined Jan 01 2023
Arizona

First Water TH to Peralta TH

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Nov 24 2023
		pseudalpine • Triplogs 1,290

Hiking	23.81 Miles	4,236 AEG

Hiking	23.81 Miles	8 Hrs 52 Mns	2.81 mph
	4,236 ft AEG	23 Mns Break

Linked

9 linked trail guides

Dutchman Trail #104

Bull Pass Trail #129

Bull Pass Ridge

Lost Black Top Mesa Trail

Terrapin Trail #234

[ checklist ] Aylor's Arch Black Mountain Needle Canyon Palomino Mountain Red Hills Tortilla Mountain Weavers Needle

Quarter Circle U Trail

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Completed as a hybrid loopy out and back integrating the Peralta Trail circus, two obscure and somewhat lame bypass routes (regular trails are better) and a neat razor ridgeline traverse to a peak. It probably would have been an honor to hike with syoung when he was with us, but requiescat in pace good sir!

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

Barks Canyon

Pools to trickle

Bluff Spring Mountain Canyon

Pools to trickle

East Boulder @ Pinon Camp

Dry

First Water Creek - Upper Turnoff

Dry

First Water Creek at Second Water Trail #236

Dry

Peralta Canyon

Pools to trickle

Peralta Creek at #102 Crossing

Dry

West Boulder - Dutchman Crossing

Dry

8 archives

Nov 10 2023

Guides 1
Routes 448
Photos 4,407
Triplogs 939

68 male

Joined Mar 09 2012
Gilbert, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Nov 10 2023
		rayhuston • Triplogs 939

Hiking	7.55 Miles	2,081 AEG

Hiking	7.55 Miles	7 Hrs 45 Mns	0.97 mph
	2,081 ft AEG

Linked

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