Superstition Mountains

Landform near Phoenix, Arizona

Superstition Mountains

Highest point
Peak| Superstition Mountain, 33°24′40″N 111°24′03″W﻿ / ﻿33.411016967°N 111.400765347°W﻿ / 33.411016967; -111.400765347
Elevation|  NAVD 88[1]
Prominence| 1,817 ft (554 m)[2]
Coordinates| 33°28′41″N 111°14′20″W﻿ / ﻿33.47806°N 111.23889°W﻿ / 33.47806; -111.23889
Geography
State| Arizona
Superstition Wilderness

Wi:kchsawa

IUCN category Ib (wilderness area)[3]

Praying Hands Formation

Location| Maricopa / Pinal / Gila counties, Arizona, US
Nearest city| Apache Junction, Arizona
Coordinates| 33°28′41″N 111°14′20″W﻿ / ﻿33.47806°N 111.23889°W﻿ / 33.47806; -111.23889
Area| 159,757 acres (646.51 km2)
Established| 1939
Governing body| United States Forest Service

The Superstition Mountains (Yavapai: Wi:kchsawa) is a range of mountains in Arizona located to the east of the Phoenix metropolitan area. They are anchored by Superstition Mountain, a large mountain that is a popular recreation destination for residents of the Phoenix, Arizona, area. They are roughly bounded by U.S. Route 60 on the south, Arizona State Route 88 on the northwest, and Arizona State Route 188 on the northeast.

## History and description

[edit]

The mountains were once known in Spanish as Sierra de la Espuma ("Foam Mountain").

The range has a maximum elevation of 6,266 ft (1,910 m) and prominence of 1,706 ft (520 m) at Mound Mountain in the far eastern section of the range.[4][5][6]

The mountains are in the federally designated Superstition Wilderness 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[7] that plays a significant role in the legend of the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine. Numerous hiking trails cross the mountains from multiple access points, including the Peralta Trailhead, the most popular.[8] 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, located on the west side of Superstition Mountain, includes several short hiking and mountain bike trails.

Circlestone 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

[edit]

The legend of the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine 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.[7] Waltz was a miner at Vulture Mine, 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[9] on the Apache Trail where artifacts of the Lost Dutchman are on display.

Some Apaches 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.[10]

## Nearby towns and cities

[edit]

* Apache Junction, Arizona
* Gold Canyon, Arizona
* Mesa, Arizona
* Superior, Arizona
* Tortilla Flat, Arizona

## Gallery

[edit]

* Miners Needle from Bluff Spring Trail. Note prominent bedding planes in the volcanics. (2010)

* View from the Flatiron hiking trail (2008)

* Superstition Mountains From Route 60 at Apache Junction (2021)

* Mining - of gold, silver and especially copper - has historically been an economically significant activity in the mountains (2014)

* A view from the Apache Trail (Arizona State Route 88) in 2016

* Boulder Canyon Trail – Weaver's Needle in distance (2011)

* Petroglyphs in Superstition Wilderness (2007)

* panorama, taken from Flatiron, in the Superstition mountains.

* Ironview Peak (peak 5024), background, left

* Western Superstition mountains, viewed from Siphon Draw trail.

* Rock formations, Siphon Draw trail.

* Rock formation, Siphon Draw trail.

* view from Superstition Ridgeline Trail

* Panoramic view from Siphon Draw, basin area. .

* Panoramic view from Siphon Draw Trail.

* Panoramic view from Siphon Draw Trail.

## See also

[edit]

* List of wilderness areas of the United States
* List of mountain ranges of Arizona
* Wilderness Act

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Superstition". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
2. ^ "Superstition Benchmark, Arizona". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
3. ^ "Maps | Data Basin". databasin.org. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
4. ^ "Mound Mountain, East Superstition Mountains". peakbagger.com. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
5. ^ "East Superstition Mountains". peakbagger.com. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
6. ^ "Superstition Mountains Benchmark, Western section". peakbagger.com. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
7. ^ a b Kollenborn, Tom (1990). "Weaver's Needle or Picacho?". Archived from the original on October 30, 2004. Retrieved April 1, 2007.
8. ^ Carroll, Doug. "Hiking the Supsertitions". Retrieved April 1, 2007.
9. ^ Heim, Dave. "Superstition Mountain Museum".
10. ^ Vitaliano, Dorothy. 1973. Legends of the Earth, Bloomington: Indiana University Press, pp. 170–171.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Superstition Mountains.

* 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
* GORP.com: Superstition Wilderness
* Ajpl.org: History of the Superstitions
* JustRoughinIt.com: Superstition Wilderness Average Climate

* v
* t
* e

Mountains of Arizona

Black Hills
(Yavapai County)|

* Mingus Mountain

Black Mountains|

* Boundary Cone
* Elephants Tooth
* Fortification Hill
* Mount Wilson

Bradshaw Mountains|

* Mount Union

Castle Dome Mountains|

* Castle Dome

Cerbat Mountains|

* Mount Tipton

Chiricahua Mountains|

* Chiricahua Peak

Chuska Mountains|

* Roof Butte

Dragoon Mountains|

* Mount Glenn

Hieroglyphic Mountains|

* White Picacho

Huachuca Mountains|

* Carr Peak
* Miller Peak

Hualapai Mountains|

* Aubrey Peak
* Hualapai Peak

Little Ajo Mountains|

* Ajo Peak

Little Dragoon Mountains|

* Lime Peak
* Mae West Peaks

Mazatzal Mountains|

* Four Peaks
* Mount Ord

McDowell Mountains|

* East End
* McDowell Peak
* Mount McDowell
* Thompson Peak

Mule Mountains|

* Mount Ballard (Arizona)

Phoenix Mountains|

* Camelback Mountain
* Mummy Mountain
* Piestewa Peak
* South Mountains
* Sunnyslope Mountain

Pinal Mountains|

* Pinal Peak

Pinaleño Mountains|

* Mount Graham

Plomosa Mountains|

* Ibex Peak

Quinlan Mountains|

* Kitt Peak

Rincon Mountains|

* Mica Mountain
* Rincon Peak

San Francisco Peaks|

* Agassiz Peak
* Doyle Peak
* Fremont Peak

San Francisco Volcanic Field|

* Black Bottom Crater
* Double Crater
* Humphreys Peak
* Kendrick Peak
* Mount Elden
* O'Leary Peak
* Roden Crater
* S P Crater
* Strawberry Crater
* Sunset Crater

Santa Catalina Mountains|

* Mount Bigelow
* Mount Lemmon
* Pusch Ridge
* Thimble Peak

Santa Rita Mountains|

* Mount Hopkins
* Mount Wrightson

Santa Teresa Mountains|

* Mount Turnbull

Sierra Ancha|

* Mistake Peak

Sierra Prieta|

* Granite Mountain

Superstition Mountains|

* Silly Mountain
* Superstition Mountain
* Weavers Needle

Tank Mountains|

* Black Dome

Tucson Mountains|

* Sentinel Peak
* Tumamoc Hill

Whetstone Mountains|

* Apache Peak

White Mountains|

* Black Mesa (Navajo County)
* Escudilla Mountain
* Mount Baldy

Others|

* Agathla Peak
* Agua Caliente Mountains
* Agua Dulce Mountains
* Antelope Hill
* Aquarius Mountains
* Artillery Mountains
* Atascosa Mountains
* Aubrey Hills
* Baboquivari Peak
* Balakai Mesa
* Beaver Dam Mountains
* Belmont Mountains
* Bill Williams Mountain
* Bitsihuitsos Butte
* Black Hills (Greenlee County)
* Black Mesa (Apache-Navajo Counties)
* Black Mesa (Warm Springs)
* Black Mountain (Maricopa County)
* Black Mountain (Pima County)
* Blackjack Mountains
* Bryan Mountains
* Buckskin Mountain (Arizona-Utah)
* Buckskin Mountains (La Paz County)
* Bush Head
* Cabeza Prieta Mountains
* Canelo Hills
* Carrizo Mountains
* Cerro Colorado Mountains
* Chocolate Mountains
* Copper Mountains
* Coyote Mountains
* Date Creek Mountains
* Dome Rock Mountains
* Dos Cabezas Mountains
* Etoi Ki
* Excalibur
* Galiuro Mountains
* Gavilan Peak
* Gila Bend Mountains
* Gila Mountains (Graham County)
* Gila Mountains (Yuma County)
* Goldfield Mountains
* Grand Wash Cliffs
* Granite Mountains
* Granite Wash Mountains
* Growler Mountains
* Gu Achi Peak
* Guadalupe Mountains
* Harcuvar Mountains
* Harquahala Mountains
* House Mountain
* Hunts Mesa
* Isis Temple
* John the Baptist Mountains
* Juniper Mesa
* Kaibab Plateau
* Kofa Mountains
* Laguna Mountains
* Las Guijas Mountains
* Lime Mountain (Maricopa County}
* Little Harquahala Mountains
* Little Rincon Mountains
* Lukachukai Mountains
* Madrean Sky Islands
* Mescal Mountains
* Mineral Mountains
* Moccasin Mountains
* Mohave Mountains
* Mohawk Mountains
* Mount Trumbull
* Muggins Mountains
* Mustang Mountains
* Navajo Mountain
* The Needles
* New River Mountains
* New Water Mountains
* Newton Butte
* Painted Rock Mountains
* Pajarito Mountains
* Patagonia Mountains
* Peacock Mountains
* Picacho Peak
* Picketpost Mountain
* Pinnacle Peak
* Poachie Range
* Poston Butte
* Rawhide Mountains
* Sacaton Mountains
* San Luis Mountains
* Santa Maria Mountains
* Sevenmile Mountains
* Sierra San Antonio
* Sierra Estrella
* Sierra Madre Occidental
* Sierra Pinta
* Silver Bell Mountains
* Squaw Tits
* Sugarloaf Mountain
* Sunset Mountains
* Swisshelm Mountains
* Tempe Butte
* Temple Butte
* Tinajas Altas Mountains
* Tordillo Mountain
* Tortolita Mountains
* Trigo Mountains
* Tule Mountains
* Tumacacori Mountains
* Virgin Mountains
* Vulcan's Throne
* Vulture Mountains
* Waterman Mountains
* Weaver Mountains
* West Silver Bell Mountains
* White Tank Mountains
* Wickenburg Mountains

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* United States
* Israel

Other|

* Yale LUX

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template