Weather: 70º, sunny, breezy
About this Hike: My hike a few weeks ago on Boulder Canyon #103 via Canyon Lake Trailhead gave me a newfound appreciation for the Superstitions. Flatiron via Lost Dutchman State Park has given me an eerie, uncomfortable feeling in the past. I still wonder if it has anything to do with the Nov. 2011 plane crash—not to mention all the folklore surrounding Superstition Mountains...
However, I feel quite the opposite as I've been discovering the canyons and other-worldly rock formations that make up the rest of the Superstition Wilderness. It's like a cross between The Valley's low desert climate and the rocks of Sedona.
This 10+ mile loop took me through Garden Valley which would be a-bloom with Mexican poppies and other desert wildflowers in a normal year. In this dry year I just noted a lot of saguaros. And black rocks...piles upon piles of black rocks. At the end of Garden Valley as descent into Boulder Canyon begins, the trail parallels a black creek bed. The rocks look like fresh lava flows from Hawaii. Near the canyon floor there was some standing water in a semi-riparian area. The water was stagnant, but that didn't stop some frogs from jumping in as I approached.
I got to experience another end of Boulder Canyon than what I did a few weeks ago. Battleship Mountain was directly in front and I met a few hikers coming back / heading up the trail. Battleship Summit is said to be a primitive, largely unblazed trail. The reviews I have read make me nervous, but someday in the near future I expect I'll be trying this one out—after it gets a little more wear and tear.
While cairns are a debatable point among hikers, I was grateful for many well-placed rock stacks along Boulder Canyon Trail. The trail crosses the creek bed many times, and finding it on the other side is not always easy.
Nearing the end of Boulder Canyon brought spectacular views of Weaver's Needle from multiple angles and Palomino Mountain. From the well-signed junction I opted to take Dutchman Trail back to the First Water parking area. Black Mesa Trail was another option and one I may want to experience in the near future.
All these hikes have left me 'hangry' for more. But I'm quickly exhausting the limits of what I can do with my little Mazda in terms of trailhead access. I'm seriously considering a second 'beater' SUV that can do some off-roading. Think, Nissan Xterra. There's still so much of Arizona to explore.
About this Hike: My hike a few weeks ago on Boulder Canyon #103 via Canyon Lake Trailhead gave me a newfound appreciation for the Superstitions. Flatiron via Lost Dutchman State Park has given me an eerie, uncomfortable feeling in the past. I still wonder if it has anything to do with the Nov. 2011 plane crash—not to mention all the folklore surrounding Superstition Mountains...
However, I feel quite the opposite as I've been discovering the canyons and other-worldly rock formations that make up the rest of the Superstition Wilderness. It's like a cross between The Valley's low desert climate and the rocks of Sedona.
This 10+ mile loop took me through Garden Valley which would be a-bloom with Mexican poppies and other desert wildflowers in a normal year. In this dry year I just noted a lot of saguaros. And black rocks...piles upon piles of black rocks. At the end of Garden Valley as descent into Boulder Canyon begins, the trail parallels a black creek bed. The rocks look like fresh lava flows from Hawaii. Near the canyon floor there was some standing water in a semi-riparian area. The water was stagnant, but that didn't stop some frogs from jumping in as I approached.
I got to experience another end of Boulder Canyon than what I did a few weeks ago. Battleship Mountain was directly in front and I met a few hikers coming back / heading up the trail. Battleship Summit is said to be a primitive, largely unblazed trail. The reviews I have read make me nervous, but someday in the near future I expect I'll be trying this one out—after it gets a little more wear and tear.
While cairns are a debatable point among hikers, I was grateful for many well-placed rock stacks along Boulder Canyon Trail. The trail crosses the creek bed many times, and finding it on the other side is not always easy.
Nearing the end of Boulder Canyon brought spectacular views of Weaver's Needle from multiple angles and Palomino Mountain. From the well-signed junction I opted to take Dutchman Trail back to the First Water parking area. Black Mesa Trail was another option and one I may want to experience in the near future.
All these hikes have left me 'hangry' for more. But I'm quickly exhausting the limits of what I can do with my little Mazda in terms of trailhead access. I'm seriously considering a second 'beater' SUV that can do some off-roading. Think, Nissan Xterra. There's still so much of Arizona to explore.
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| Not your typical angle for Weaver's Needle pix |
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| Like Hawaii lava flows... |
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