The Superstition Mountains ( yuf-x-yav, Wi:kchsawa) is a range of mountains in

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 ...

located to the east of the

Phoenix metropolitan area The Phoenix Metropolitan Area – also the Valley of the Sun, the Salt River Valley, or Metro Phoenix (known by most locals simply as “the Valley”) – is the largest metropolitan area in the Southwestern United States, centered on the city ...

. They are anchored by

Superstition Mountain Superstition Mountain (, ) is a prominent mountain and regional landmark located in the Phoenix metropolitan area of Arizona, immediately east of Apache Junction and north of Gold Canyon. It anchors the west end of the Superstition Mountains ( ...

, a large mountain that is a popular recreation destination for residents of the

Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix ( ; nv, Hoozdo; es, Fénix or , yuf-x-wal, Banyà:nyuwá) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Arizona#List of cities and towns, most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona, with 1 ...

, area. They are roughly bounded by U.S. Route 60 on the south,

Arizona State Route 88 State Route 88 is a long state highway in the U.S. state of Arizona. It runs from U.S. Route 60 (US 60) in Apache Junction through desert terrain to SR 188 near Roosevelt Dam. Following the Salt River for much of its length, the section east ...

on the northwest, and Arizona State Route 188 on the northeast.

History and description

The mountains were once known in Spanish as ''Sierra de la Espuma'' ("Foam Mountains"). The range has a maximum elevation of and prominence of at Mound Mountain in the far eastern section of the range. The mountains are in the federally designated Superstition Wilderness Area, and include a variety of natural features in addition to its namesake mountain. Weavers Needle, a prominent landmark and rock climbing destination set behind and to the east of Superstition Mountain, is a tall eroded volcanic remnant that plays a significant role in the legend of the

Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine The Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine (also known by similar names) is, according to legend, a rich gold mine hidden in the southwestern United States. The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east ...

. Numerous hiking trails cross the mountains from multiple access points, including the Peralta Trailhead, the most popular. Peralta Canyon, on the northeast side of Superstition Mountain, contains a popular trail that leads up to Fremont Saddle, which provides a very picturesque view of Weavers Needle. Miner's Needle is another prominent formation in the wilderness and a popular hiking destination.

Lost Dutchman State Park Lost Dutchman State Park is a state park located in northwestern Pinal County, Arizona on the Apache Trail (State Route 88} north of Apache Junction, near the Superstition Mountains in central Arizona. It is named after the Lost Dutchman's Gol ...

, located on the west side of Superstition Mountain, includes several short hiking and mountain bike trails.

Circlestone Circlestone are stone ruins in Arizona's Superstition Wilderness about 45 miles from Phoenix Phoenix most often refers to: * Phoenix (mythology), a legendary bird from ancient Greek folklore * Phoenix, Arizona, a city in the United States Pho ...

includes ancient stone monuments. As with most of the terrain surrounding the Phoenix metropolitan area, the Superstition Mountains have a desert climate, with high summer temperatures and a handful of perennial sources of water. The elevation in the more remote, eastern portion of the wilderness is higher than the western portion, which lowers temperatures slightly.

Legends

The legend of the

centers around the Superstition Mountains. According to the legend, a German immigrant named Jacob Waltz discovered a mother lode of gold in the Superstition Wilderness and revealed its location on his deathbed in Phoenix in 1891 to Julia Thomas, a boarding-house owner who had taken care of him for many years. Several mines have been claimed to be the actual mine that Waltz discovered, but none of those claims have been verified. Waltz was a miner at

Vulture Mine The Vulture Mine was a gold mine and settlement in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. The mine began in 1863 and became the most productive gold mine in Arizona history. From 1863 to 1942, the mine produced 340,000 ounces of gold and 260,000 ...

, where he likely stole the gold and came up with the secret mine to explain his theft. The legends and lore of the Superstition Mountains can be experienced at the Superstition Mountain Museum on the Apache Trail where artifacts of the Lost Dutchman are on display. Some

Apache The Apache () are a group of culturally related Native American tribes in the Southwestern United States, which include the Chiricahua, Jicarilla, Lipan, Mescalero, Mimbreño, Ndendahe (Bedonkohe or Mogollon and Nednhi or Carrizaleño an ...

s believe that the hole leading down into the lower world, or hell, is located in the Superstition Mountains. Winds blowing from the hole are supposed to be the cause of severe dust storms in the metropolitan region.Vitaliano, Dorothy. 1973. ''Legends of the Earth'', Bloomington: Indiana University Press, pp. 170–171.

Nearby towns and cities

Apache Junction, Arizona 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. ...

Gold Canyon, Arizona Gold Canyon is a census-designated place (CDP) and unincorporated community in Pinal County, Arizona, United States. The community is sometimes incorrectly called Gold Camp. The town name is referred to as Gold Camp on weather statements issued ...

Mesa, Arizona Mesa ( ) is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, Maricopa County, in the U.S. state of Arizona. It is the most populous city in the East Valley (Phoenix metropolitan area), East Valley section of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. It is bordered by ...

Superior, Arizona Superior (Western Apache: Yooʼ Łigai) is a town in Pinal County, Arizona. According to the 2020 census, the population of the town is 2,407. Superior was founded as a mining town for the Silver King and the later Magma mines; silver was mined ...

* Tortilla Flat, Arizona

Gallery

File:Miners Needle from Bluff Spring Trail, Superstition Wilderness.jpg, Miners Needle from Bluff Spring Trail. Note prominent

bedding plane In geology, a bed is a layer of sediment, sedimentary rock, or pyroclastic material "bounded above and below by more or less well-defined bedding surfaces".Neuendorf, K.K.E., J.P. Mehl, Jr., and J.A. Jackson, eds., 2005. ''Glossary of Geology'' ...

s in the volcanics. (2010) Image:flatironpeak1.jpg, View from the Flatiron hiking trail (2008) File:2021 Superstition Mountains from U.S. Route 60 at Apache Junction, Arizona.jpg, Superstition Mountains From Route 60 at Apache Junction (2021) File:Goldfield Ghost Town (14540063576).jpg, Mining – of gold, silver and especially copper – has historically been an economically significant activity in the mountains (2014) File:2016 Arizona Superstition Mountains 01.jpg, A view from the Apache Trail (Arizona State Route 88) in 2016 File:Superstition Mts SW02.jpg, Boulder Canyon Trail – Weaver's Needle in distance (2011) File:Superstition Petroglyphs.jpg,

Petroglyph A petroglyph is an image created by removing part of a rock surface by incising, picking, carving, or abrading, as a form of rock art. Outside North America, scholars often use terms such as "carving", "engraving", or other descriptions ...

s in Superstition Wilderness (2007) File:Flatiron Panorama.jpg, panorama, taken from Flatiron, in the Superstition mountains. File:Ironview Peak.png, Ironview Peak (peak 5024) viewed from the Flatiron, on left

References

External links

HikeArizona.com: Numbered Trails Map

Official Apache Trail website: Superstition Mountains

Tonto National Forest: Superstition Wilderness Area
Forest Service information
Wilderness.net: Superstition Wilderness Area

Ajpl.org: History of the Superstitions

JustRoughinIt.com: Superstition Wilderness Average Climate
{{Authority control Arizona transition zone mountain ranges Mountain ranges of the Sonoran Desert Mountain ranges of Maricopa County, Arizona Mountain ranges of Pinal County, Arizona Mountain ranges of Gila County, Arizona Phoenix metropolitan area Religious places of the indigenous peoples of North America Wilderness areas of Arizona Protected areas of Gila County, Arizona Protected areas of Maricopa County, Arizona Protected areas of Pinal County, Arizona Mountain ranges of Arizona IUCN Category Ib Tonto National Forest Protected areas established in 1939