Lost Dutchman State Park
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Lost Dutchman State Park is a
state park State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the sub-national level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural ...
located in northwestern Pinal County, Arizona on the Apache Trail (State Route 88} north of
Apache Junction Apache Junction is a city in Pinal and Maricopa counties in the state of Arizona. As of the 2020 census, the population was 38,499, most of whom lived in Pinal County. It is named for the junction of the Apache Trail and Old West Highway. ...
, near the
Superstition Mountains The Superstition Mountains ( yuf-x-yav, Wi:kchsawa) is a range of mountains in Arizona located to the east of the Phoenix metropolitan area. They are anchored by Superstition Mountain, a large mountain that is a popular recreation destination fo ...
in central
Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...
. It is named after the
Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine The Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine (also known by similar names) is, according to Urban legend, legend, a rich gold mine hidden in the southwestern United States. The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache J ...
, a famously lost gold mine legendary in the tales of the
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. It is accessible about east of Phoenix via U.S. Highway 60, the
Superstition Freeway U.S. Route 60 (US 60) is an east–west United States Highway within Arizona. The highway runs for from a junction with Interstate 10 near Quartzsite to the New Mexico State Line near Springerville. As it crosses the state, US 60 ov ...
. The park provides hiking trails and
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access to the area known as the Superstition Wilderness, as well as views of the mountains.


History

The area was first developed as a day use recreation area by the federal
Bureau of Land Management The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior responsible for administering federal lands. Headquartered in Washington DC, and with oversight over , it governs one eighth of the country's ...
in 1972. BLM built paved roads into the area as well as a parking lot with picnic facilities, restrooms, and
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s. A sewage treatment plant was installed to support this, and an electrical system. In 1973, BLM had discussion with Arizona State Parks about the possible transfer of this area from federal to state jurisdiction. In 1975, legislation was introduced for the purchase of the area for $2.50 per acre (0.4 ha) through the Federal Recreation and Public Purposes Act (R&PP), but this legislation did not pass. After the U.S. Congress changed the act to allow states to acquire federal land for recreational purposes at no cost, the abutting the
Tonto National Forest The Tonto National Forest, encompassing , is the largest of the six national forests in Arizona and is the ninth largest national forest in the United States. The forest has diverse scenery, with elevations ranging from 1,400 feet (427 m) in ...
was transferred on September 13, 1977 via legislative action to the state of Arizona, creating the Lost Dutchman State Park. An additional was leased through R&PP in 1983, expanding the park to .History of Lost Dutchman State Park
Retrieved 30 March 2015


Features

The park offers camping facilities, day use parking and acts as a trailhead for the trails leading into the
Tonto National Forest The Tonto National Forest, encompassing , is the largest of the six national forests in Arizona and is the ninth largest national forest in the United States. The forest has diverse scenery, with elevations ranging from 1,400 feet (427 m) in ...
in which the Superstition Mountains are located. Some of the most popular walks are from the park onto the National Forest Service trails that lead across the western face of the Superstitions (Jacob's Crosscut trail) and up the face of this edge using Siphon Draw trail. Many people confuse these National Forest trails with trails that are maintained by Lost Dutchman State Park.


Siphon Draw and Superstition Ridgeline Trail


Siphon Draw to Flatiron

Siphon Draw is a popular trail, and leads to the iconic "Flatiron" which looks like a ship's bow jutting out of the side of the mountain range. The last mile of hiking up to the Flatiron is a steep boulder scramble. The land is classed as in maintained wilderness area and does not offer trail signs or markers. The last of the trail to the Flatiron are a class four scramble called 'The Wall'. Park Rangers recommend gloves. The last mile is not suitable for hiking with dogs.


Superstition Ridgeline Flatiron to Peralta Trailhead

The trail continues along the ridge to Peralta Trailhead about away. The section of the trail from Lost Dutchman State Park to the Basin, half way up, is well marked and popular, and required route finding skills are minimal. The last mile up to the Flatiron at the top of the ridge is unmarked wilderness area. From the Flatiron along the top of the ridge to Peralta Trailhead, the trail is much less obvious as it gets much less traffic, marked only by cairns. This area is extremely remote and can be accessed only the trailheads at each end. Hog Canyon or Hieroglyphics Canyon provide possible escape routes in case of emergency, but these trails are more rugged and require more advanced route finding skill than the ridgeline itself. Because of the remote and difficult nature of these canyons, hikers should prepare to finish the entire hike and bring emergency gear with them. This hike should not be attempted in summer. There is no water along the route, and little shade, and the amount of water that must be consumed may exceed the carrying capacity of even the strongest hikers. Even in winter or shoulder season, each hiker should carry between one and two gallons of pure water. The ridgeline has a net elevation gain of about from the lowest point at Siphon Draw Trail head at to the highest point as it skirts Superstition Peak at about . However, the accumulated elevation gain is about more than Bright Angel Trail in the Grand Canyon. Furthermore, Bright Angel Trail has water available from potable water stations, and from proximity to Bright Angel Creek and the Colorado River, while the Superstition Ridgeline does not have water.


Proposed closure

The park was scheduled to close on June 3, 2010. A man from
Katy, Texas Katy is a city in the U.S. state of Texas within the Greater Katy area, itself forming the western part of the Greater Houston metropolitan area. Homes and businesses may have Katy postal addresses without being in the City of Katy. The city o ...
donated $8,000 so the park could stay open.


References


External links


Lost Dutchman State Park
{{Authority control 1977 establishments in Arizona Parks in Pinal County, Arizona Protected areas established in 1977 State parks of Arizona