Weather: ~80°, sunshine; cooler at the summit
About this Hike: Began at Lost Dutchman State Park and worked our way up to the Flatiron Rim. I never cease to be amazed by the geology of Superstition Mountain: The hoodoos and canyons. The veiny lava flows. The red and white rocks, with the yellow Goldfield Mountains as a backdrop.
I've done Flatiron Rim a couple of times, but my hiking buddy, sensing there was more to be had, insisted we get to what appeared to be another summit, this with a flag on top. We had scoured the Web previously to get more info on this climb to the top, but to no avail. So I'll share my version of directions here and tag this post up good in the hope that it helps some other hikers someday...
Reaching Superstition Summit: Take the trail from Lost Dutchman (begins as Siphon Draw Trail) to the Flatiron Rim. After ascending a nearly 10 foot, scary rock wall, you're basically at the top. Follow the trail right for the Flatiron Rim. However, if you work your way straight up, you will find the summit trail. There are magnificent red hoodoos all around, and the trail is not the easiest to find. Look up and see if you can spot a flag atop the piles of hoodoos. In times past I've seen an American flag flying up there. The best advice is to basically keep to your right...the trail, while identifiable, is not always very obvious. There are places where you have to cautiously bushwack and carefully sidestep some nasty desert plants. The trail itself does have white dots painted in places to mark it, but it's still pretty rugged. You'll know you're going the right way if you hike through some little rock tunnels, caves, and other challenges. It's only about 1/3 mile to the summit, and the views are incredible.
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| Super Summit! |
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| Above the Flatiron Rim |
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| Views to the east |
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| Camelback is a baby mountain from Superstition |
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