Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
to the south. The mountains, born of ancient volcanoes, tower above the desert floor, their
jagged peaks spanning some 40 miles. Looking more like a mighty fortress than a moun-
tain range, these silent reminders of nature's majesty are visible along much of the trail.
Did you know…
A clump of prickly pear cactus can be 3 to 5 feet tall and 15 feet in diameter. Its
ediblefruits,ripeinSeptember,arecalledtunas.Thecactuspadscanbeplucked
as young stems and eaten as vegetables.
2.
Lost Dutchman State Park
The next stop, at Lost Dutchman State Park, offers numerous campsites and nature trails.
The 300-acre park derives its name from one Jacob Waltz, a shadowy figure
who—according to legend—discovered a rich gold mine during the late 1800s but never
revealed its exact whereabouts. Over the years, at least 36 treasure seekers have died or
disappeared as they sought the elusive lode.
3.
Tonto National Forest
As the trail winds around the base of the Superstition Mountains, a number of other stony
wonderscomeintoview:chunksofvolcanicdebris,bronzecliffs,andweird-lookingwhirl-
pool rocks (they resemble frozen masses of swirling water). Soon the drive enters Tonto
National Forest, 3 million acres of rugged terrain featuring colorful canyons, pine-covered
peaks,sparklingstreams,andmorethan400kindsofanimals.TheSuperstitionWilderness
Area, laced with over 180 miles of hiking trails.
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