29 LOST GOLDMINE TRAIL

KEY AT-A-GLANCE INFORMATION

LENGTH: 6 miles

ELEVATION GAIN: -330 feet

CONFIGURATION: One-way

DIFFICULTY: Easy

SCENERY: Desert, Superstition Mountains

EXPOSURE: Completely exposed

TRAFFIC: Light

TRAIL SURFACE: Gravel, rock

HIKING TIME: 2.5 hours

WATER REQUIREMENT: 2 quarts

SEASON: Year-round; hot in summer

ACCESS: Sunrise to sunset; free parking

MAPS: USGS Goldfield and Weavers Needle

FACILITIES: None

DOGS: Yes, leashed at all times

COMMENTS: Lost Goldmine Trail actually extends 4 more miles eastward to the Broadway Trailhead, but portions of that route have been under construction recently.

GPS Trailhead Coordinates

UTM Zone 12S

Easting 0467138

Northing 3694638

Latitude N33°23.589'

Longitude W111°21.242'

Directions

Hieroglyphic Canyon Trailhead: Drive east on US 60 to Kings Ranch Road. Turn northeast onto Kings Ranch Road and follow it 2.8 miles. Immediately after crossing a cattle guard, turn right onto Baseline Road and drive east 0.3 miles. Turn left onto Mohican and continue north 0.3 miles. Turn left onto Valley View Drive and follow it as it curves into Whitetail Road. Then turn right onto Cloudview Avenue and proceed 0.5 miles to the large trailhead parking lot. This route may sound complicated, but nearly all other turns are marked with “Dead End” signs.

Lost Goldmine Trailhead: Return to US 60 and continue east. Past mile marker 204, turn northeast onto Peralta Road. Reset your trip odometer at this turn. Peralta Road becomes a dirt road after 1 mile, but most cars can safely pass, except after heavy storms. Keep left when the road forks at 5.5 miles from the turnoff. Turn into the signed parking lot for Lost Goldmine Trailhead when the trip odometer reads 7.1 miles. If you reach the Peralta Trailhead, you have gone too far.

IN BRIEF

To those who wish to enjoy the Superstition Mountains without scaling steep grades, the Lost Goldmine Trail offers a nearly level jaunt through scenic foothills. Roughly tracing the Superstition Wilderness boundary, this trail skirts rugged cliffs and tall peaks on the southern flank of the Superstitions.

DESCRIPTION

Constructed by volunteers in 2001, Lost Goldmine Trail is one of the newest trails near the Superstition Mountains. This 6-mile trail runs along Superstition Wilderness’s southern edge and links Peralta Canyon on the prominent mountain range’s eastern end with Hieroglyphic Canyon in the middle. A disjointed section of this trail extends to Jacob’s Crosscut Trail near the Broadway Trailhead at the mountain range’s western end. Lying in the shadows of massive cliffs and hoodoo-lined ridges, Lost Goldmine Trail showcases the rugged beauty of the venerable Superstitions and its desert foothills. This trail’s relatively level elevation profile and proximity to the city also attract a wide range of hikers, bikers, and equestrians.

Lost Goldmine Trail takes its name from the legend of the Lost Dutchman’s Mine, an enduring fable that has captured prospectors’ imaginations for more than 100 years. Folks with dreams of finding lost treasure have come from all over the world to comb this region for signs of gold. No gold has ever been found. As recently as 2004, the U.S. Forest Service granted a rare Treasure Trove permit to a group of explorers and archaeologists attempting to locate the Lost Dutchman’s Mine. They are not the first and certainly won’t be the last to try.

With a shuttle vehicle, you can hike Lost Goldmine Trail in either direction. I chose to go from east to west. Begin the one-way trip from Lost Goldmine Trailhead, which is located at the end of a large parking area just shy of Peralta Trailhead on Peralta Road. Hike west into the dense desert vegetation of triangle-leaf bursage, mesquite, palo verde, and various cacti. Superstition Mountain’s eastern end features sheer cliffs and jagged peaks. The vertical face of Dacite Cliffs lies to the north. Turning to the northwest, you soon reach the wilderness boundary fence at 0.25 miles. A majority of this trail traces the fence, but don’t worry, you are still surrounded by wilderness.

Following the fence westward, the trail crosses many dry washes and arroyos that drain seasonal rainfall away from the mountain. Near these dry washes, larger bushes thrive in dense clusters. A particularly deep wash lies 0.6 miles from the trailhead. Somewhere north of this spot at the base of the cliffs, Dacite Cliffs Mine lies hidden from view. Its long, dark mineshaft remains intact and hosts many bats and other nocturnal creatures. Finding the mine and exploring it will be left as an exercise for the adventurous reader. Continuing west along the fence, the trail intersects a dirt road at 0.8 miles, crosses another major wash, and then meets unmarked Carney Springs at 1.1 miles. For ambitious hikers seeking the ultimate challenge, a torturous traversal of the Superstition ridgeline begins here and ends inside Lost Dutchman State Park on the opposite side of the mountain range.

Pass the remains of an old stock tank and then cross Carney Spring. At 1.5 miles, go through a gated fence and reach a flat mound where expansive views abound. The jagged rock formations on top of the mountain to your right are the Three Sisters, and the hoodoo-covered 5,057-foot Superstition Peak lurks behind them. Directly west lies Turks Cap and Sombrero Butte. Majestic saguaros dot the landscape while clusters of bristly cholla glow in the sunlight. During spring, a variety of wildflowers add a splash of color to the harsh Sonoran Desert landscape. Not bad for a place only minutes from the city.

Continue hiking west amid forests of saguaros and fields of cholla, through scenic valleys and across gentle slopes. The trail remains fairly level, but there are enough ups and downs to keep you on your toes. At 3 miles from the trailhead, turn south to circumnavigate a craggy hill called Turks Cap. Vegetation thins out on the southern side of Turks Cap, giving a sense of airiness to the hike. Once past Turks Cap, cross a surprisingly wide, smooth dirt road that heads straight into the hills. Superstition Peak is clearly visible now. The trail then rounds Sombrero Butte, a hill in the shape of an inverted hat.

A series of dry washes cut across the trail, which returns to the wilderness boundary at 4.8 miles from the Lost Goldmine Trailhead. Look for a seasonal waterfall and a cave high up on the mountainside. By now the western end of Superstition Mountain can be seen in the distance. The Siphon Draw Trail inside Lost Dutchman State Park takes hikers to a prominent feature called the Flatiron, which sits on the western tip of Superstition Mountain.

Descend into a small valley at 5 miles from the trailhead. Housing developments begin to come into view, a sign that the trail’s end is near. The Superstitions’ dramatic western end seems to get closer and closer. Cross a few more washes as the trail approaches a tall berm. Curve south parallel to the berm for a short distance, and then climb a few switchbacks to the top of the berm, where you’ll find the well-marked intersection with Hieroglyphic Trail. The Hieroglyphic Canyon Trailhead lies on the western side of the berm, a total of 6 miles from the Lost Goldmine Trailhead.

NEARBY ACTIVITIES

Hieroglyphic Trail takes hikers into Hieroglyphic Canyon where they can view some of the finest Hohokam petroglyphs in the state. Popular Peralta Trailhead provides access to Peralta Trail, Dutchman’s Trail, and Bluff Spring Trail. The grueling Superstition Ridgeline hike begins at Carney Springs Trailhead, which lies near Lost Goldmine Trail.