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Weekend Warriors Arizona Hiking Guide
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If a easy hike through the picturesque deserts of the Superstition Wilderness appeal to you, this is your hike. There are two great hikes in this area: Boulder Canyon and the Black Mesa to Dutchman loop. BOULDER CANYON (2nd Water Trail) These hikes are located in the Superstition Wilderness East of the Phoenix area. From the Phoenix area, take US-60 East, leaving the city limits. Take the HWY-88 exit (Idaho Road). About 5.5 miles after leaving Apache Junction, turn on to First Water Road (FR 78). The signed turn-off is between mile marker 201 and 202. Continue a little over 2 miles to the trailhead. There is no longer a fee to park. Be Aware of: Bring plenty of water. 30 yr old Recommendation: Pretty flat walk through fun desert. Both of the hikes described are Moderate hikes just because of the distance. As the elevation change isn't much, these hikes make for good, long day hikes. Not too young kids will enjoy these hikes. Elevation change: about 520 ft
One way elevation change Distance: 6.0 miles round trip to Boulder Canyon Time: It took us three and a half hours with a 30 minute stop at the top for lunch. Time of year: Fall, Winter, Spring (or really early morning in Summer) Solitude: This is a very popular hike. Don't expect much solitude here. Luckily, most people just walk the first 0.5 miles or so of First Water Trail and then turn around. If you continue, the crowds thin out considerably. Expect to meet 15-60 people on this hike during a weekend. Map: Click here for a map. This hike features a well marked trail and wild, wonderful Superstition Wilderness desert. This is a great trail to take in the winter after a rain, as Boulder Canyon sparkles with clear water and the brown desert turns green. There's several trails in the area, so you might want to use this map. The first water trailhead leads to a fork after about 0.2 miles of hiking (on the map marked as Jct1). Stay left here for the second water trail. After about 1.4 miles, this trail forks again. Stay left to stay on the second water trail (marked on the map as Jct2). At 2.8 miles, you can see Second Water Canyon enter from the right. The spring feeding this canyon is a short distance from here. Continue on to Boulder Canyon, which is dry most of the year, but can run after rains. This is an exceptionally colorful hike after a rain, as the desert becomes multi-colored for a few days before returning to normal. Snap a few pictures and head back. If you bear right at the second fork, you can take the Black Mesa trail - Duchman's loop hike. Elevation change: about 400 ft Distance: 8.0 miles round trip Time: It took us three and a half hours without a lunch stop. Time of year: Fall, Winter, Spring (or really early morning in Summer) Starting the hike as described above, with the exception of taking a RIGHT at the second fork, will put you on the Black Mesa Trailhead. This trail winds through the desert, through a cool Cholla forest, finally reaching a great view of Weavers Needle. This area is known as Garden Valley. After about four miles of hiking, you will cross a wash and will need to start looking for the Dutchman trail, which will be our return path. The trail back to the South and East is after you cross the first wash, but before you cross the second wash. It's a little tricky to find. If you find yourself continuing toward weaver's needle after crossing the two washes, then you've missed it. The Dutchman trail returns to your parking area via Boulder basin and Parker pass. After four miles, more cool rock formations, and easy walking takes you back to the start. If you wanted to, you can also take this hike in the reverse direction, starting on the Dutchman trail (bear right at the first fork) and then return via the Black Mesa Trail.
[Black mesa trail]
[Along the 2nd water trail]
[2nd water trail after a recent rain]
[Along the 2nd water trail]
[A rare day - water in Boulder Canyon]
This hike was taken in February 2008 after a rain.
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