Ready for a hike?  We've got hundreds of well documented Arizona hikes.
This is the source for everything you need to know about Arizona Hiking.

Main menu

Cart Empty

You are here: ArizonaHiking.org

Flat Iron (Siphon Draw)

Updated
Flat iron (siphon draw trail)
elevation plot: flat iron
Views from the Flat iron
Siphon draw trail to the Flat Iron
Views from Flat Iron
From the top of the Siphon draw trail
Views from the Flat Iron
map: Flat Iron (Siphon draw trail)

Location

How to Get There
This hike is located in the East of the Phoenix area, in the Superstition Mountains State Park.

From the Phoenix area, take US-60 East and turn North onto HWY-88 (the Idaho Road Exit). From Apache Junction, drive about five miles to the Lost Dutchman State Park (on your right) and follow the signs to the Siphon Draw trailhead. You'll have to pay a few bucks to enter the Lost Dutchman State Park.
city
apache junction
state
az
Region
Superstition and Mazatzal Wilderness

Hike details

Distance
5.00 [Miles] Total
Hike Distance- Details
2.5 miles one way (used to be 2 miles one way but they moved the trailhead)
Time
4.00 [Hours]
Time-details
It usually takes us four hours with a 30 minute stop at the top for views and lunch.
Elevation Change
2,400 Total gain/loss [Feet]
Elevation Details
about 2400 ft ascent to the Flat Iron
Hike Trail Type
Out and Back

Season

Best Season
  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • October
  • November
  • December
Date Hike completed
January 12, 2006

Solitude

Solitude
Medium
Solitude Details
This is a somewhat popular hike, though not many continue all the way to the top. Expect to see 20-30 other people on a weekend with a handful at the top.

Difficulty

Difficulty Rating
Difficult
difficulty detail
Steep climb to great views just outside of the Phoenix area. Great close to home hike!

Leave the young kids and out of shape at home.

Permits

Be Aware of
Steep climb with some scrambling. Not a well marked trail in places.

Hike to the top of the Flat Iron via the Siphon Draw trail in Superstition State Park, Arizona.

Although most hiking books will call this hike Siphon Draw, most locals know this hike as Flat Iron. The name comes from the ultimate destination of this hike, which resembles an upside down iron.

There's two great things about this hike:

  1. It's so darned close to the Phoenix area.
  2. Once you get there, you can quickly escape the city and hike through some pristine desert to really great views. 

The hike is a constant up, which makes it challenging. The trail is well defined for the first mile. About half way up, you reach a smooth rock face where a waterfall runs after seasonal rains. After this point, the trail starts to fade into a series of white paint dots and steep climbing. Your best bet is to stick in the wash that the white paint dots mark. Usually short cuts turn out to be dead ends. Once at the top, you can look out onto the vastness of the East Valley, or turn around and contemplate the vast Superstition Mountains.  

This hike is particularly interesting just after a rain. The colors of the desert show themselves for a few wonderful days.

If you still have some energy, you can continue going up to the top of North Peak from here. The highest point nearby you can see is North Peak. There is a scramble route up to the top of this peak, along with some fairly old graffiti (from 1922!). The real reason to climb the peak is awesome 360 views of the area. To get to North Peak, take the well defined trail towards the peak and keep your eye out for a faint trail that meanders up the top of the peak. Some scrambling and route finding is required here. Cairns are present, but sporadic. If you decide to take this option, count on adding another 1.5 hours and 250 ft of elevation to your hike.

Whether you climbed to the top of North Peak or to the top of the Flat Iron, return the way you came to finish the hike.

Map

Swap Start/End
Facebook