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Hike Arizona:
Superstition Wilderness
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Guidebooks:
- Carlson, Jack, Stewart, Elizabeth,
Superstition Wilderness Trails East, 2010.
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Hikes in the eastern part of the Superstition Wilderness are complete
with topographic maps, history and legends.
- Carlson, Jack, Stewart, Elizabeth,
Superstition Wilderness Trails West, 2012.
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Hikes in the western part of the Superstition Wilderness are complete
with topographic maps, history and legends.
- Tenny, Ted,
Footloose From Phoenix: Some Pretty Amazing Hikes, 2015.
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Hikes in the Superstitions are described in chapter 5.
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Hieroglyphic Trail 101
Hieroglyphic Trail is located on the southwest corner of the Superstitions
Wilderness Area, near Gold Canyon Ranch and King’s Ranch Road. The trail
and spring should technically be called Petroglyph Springs and Trail,
since the word "hieroglyph" refers to the complex drawings typical
of ancient Egypt; "petroglyph" refers to the more simple drawings
found in this area. The trail leads to Hieroglyphic Springs, an area with a
remarkable number of petroglyphs.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Length: 2.5 to 3.0 hours (to Hieroglyphic Springs and back)
- Features: Indian petroglyphs, Dinosaur Mountain
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Weather Conditions
Drive: Take US 60 east from Apache Junction to
King’s Ranch Road (Gold Canyon Ranch entrance). Turn left on King’s Ranch Road
and follow it for a few miles to the end of the road. Turn right on Baseline Rd.
Go a few hundred yards to Mohican Rd. and turn left. Go a few hundred yards and
turn left on Valley View. As you follow Valley View Rd., it turns into Whitetail
Rd. At the end of Whitetail Rd., turn right on Cloud Dr. and go a few hundred
yards to the end of Cloud and you will find a small circular parking lot and the
beginning of the trail.
Hike: The trail is nearly on a straight-line to Hieroglyphic
Spring. The trail follows a slight ridge line, rather than the bottom of the
canyon. Immediately, you get a very good view in all directions as the trail is
generally the highest point in the area, except for the massive palisades of
Superstition Mountain which is ahead of you. The climb is easy as the elevation
change is slight. You climb approx.... 600 feet over the length of the trail.
As the trail reaches Hieroglyphic Spring, you run into a few small spots with
small step-ups over rocks. The trail also covers rock surfaces in two areas
which makes it more difficult to identify the correct path. This is a minor
problem though, as there is only one destination in this little canyon.
When you arrive at Hieroglyphic Spring, you will find small springs with some
water in place. All around and near these pools of water, there are petroglyphs
on large rock surfaces.
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Reavis Ranch
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| Hike: |
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General Description: This trip will be led by
Mike Clayton, a friend of Jack Carlson, author of Hiker’s
Guide to the Superstition Wilderness. Though it has been
a while since he hiked this trail, Mike is a seasoned and
responsible trip leader - thank you Mike!!! Depending on
the size of the group, we may need to split into two
group to comply with Forest Service regulations, but hope
to have radios to keep the groups in contact.
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Best Time of Year to Hike: April through October
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Difficulty: Moderate to difficult (because of
backpack & switchbacks coming out)
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Length: 12.2 miles, 12 hours RT
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Elevation: 5000' at Reavis Ranch, 6000' at Circlestone ruin
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Elevation Change: 1920'
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Weather Conditions
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Remarks:
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Rogers Trough Trailhead to Reavis Ranch: This trail may
be more challenging than the more popular hike to Reavis off
of Apache Trail, but provides a great warm-up opportunity
for Havasupai packers! We will pass by the Reavis grave on
our way to the historic Reavis Ranch, as well as take a
challenging 2.7 mile side trip to the Circlestone ruin
(which dates back to 1250 A.D.) after setting up camp
Saturday.
The tall ponderosa pine, black walnut, sycamore,
cottonwood and alligator juniper trees make this valley a
pleasant destination. Although the Reavis Ranch house burned
in November of 1991 and the stone structure later leveled by
the Forest Service, the apple orchard still stands, and
produces apples each fall. Several miles north of the ranch
is the 196' Reavis Falls on Reavis Creek.
To the south of the Ranch is Circlestone ruin, next to
Mound Mountain. Best approached from the west on the ridge
line trail blazed by Allen Blackman, the ruin is located on
a small knoll 6010' to the northeast of Mound Mountain. The
ruin itself is constructed of a three foot wide sandstone
wall, not quite circular, but about 133' in diameter, with
the outline of a 17'x17' building in the center. If anyone
is interested in further reading on this ruin, Circlestone:
A Superstition Mountain Mystery by Swanson and Kollenborn
describe the ruins and scientific analysis and speculation
in detail. This little jaunt has an 1160' elevation change,
but the trip is said to be worth the effort.
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Trip Report - Apr 1998
Trip Report - Sep 1998
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| updated February 4, 2021 |
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