Weekend Warriors Arizona Hiking Guide

LOST GOLDMINE TRAIL TO PERALTA TR.

If a little used hike (with a car shuttle) through the Superstition Wilderness appeals to you, then you'll like this hike.

HOW TO GET THERE

This hike is located near Apache Junction, AZ.

To get to the Hieroglyphic trailhead: From the Phoenix area, take US-60 East, leaving the city limits.   After leaving Apache Junction, continue about 3 miles, turning left onto Kings Ranch Road. This is paved most of the way as you pass by Gold Canyon Ranch. Drive 2.7 miles on Kings Ranch Road and turn left on Baseline Avenue. After 0.2 miles, you'll turn right onto Mohican Road. After 0.2 miles, turn left onto Valley View Road. This road will soon turn into Whitetail road. Follow this road for 0.6 miles to Cloudview Road. Turn right onto Cloudview road and drive 0.5 more miles to the parking area.

To get to the Peralta Trailhead for car #2: From the Phoenix area, take US-60 East, leaving the city limits.   After leaving Apache Junction, continue about 8.5 miles, turning left onto Peralta Road (FR 77). After starting out as a paved road, this quickly turns into a maintained dirt road. The trailhead and parking appears after 7 miles on this road. There is a fee to park here.

RATING

Be Aware of: limited parking, Car shuttle, fee to park at Peralta Trailhead.

30 yr old Recommendation: This relatively flat hike would make a good introduction to the Superstition Mountain Range. This one way hike described here is an Moderate hike.

DETAILS

Elevation change: About 200 ft elevation gain. There is some up and down along the hike.

Distance: The hike described is 5.5 miles to the Peralta Trailhead.

Time: It took us just over 3.0 hours hiking to complete this hike.

Time of year: All Year. If hiking in the summer, best start this hike early in the morning because it can get hot.

Solitude: This is a pretty new trail that not many people know about. Most take off for Hieroglyphic Canyon or Freemont Saddle (if at Peralta). Expect around 10 other hikers. Once you get on the trail.      

Before you start this hike, make sure you've dropped a car at the Peralta Trailhead, unless you want to make this a long out and back hike. Don't forget there is a fee to park at the Peralta Trailhead.

The toughest part about this hike is finding the trailhead. After taking a driving tour of the Gold Canyon sprawl, following the directions above will get you to the trailhead. Parking may be another problem, as this is a popular trailhead and the parking lot isn't very big.

From the well signed trailhead, go through the gate and towards the Superstition Mountain range. After about 100 yards of hiking, you'll reach the turn off for the Lost Goldmine Trailhead. Stay right  to take this trail. 

This new trail takes you through the Superstition desert between two of the more popular trailheads in the Superstition Wilderness. Saguaro, prickly pear, and Cholla abound here. On your left, the Superstition mountains loom. After 5.5 miles of walking, you'll reach the popular Peralta Trailhead. Your shuttle car should be here to take you back to the Hieroglyphic trailhead.    

[Pointing the way to the Lost Goldmine Trail]

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