Superstition Mountains
{{Short description|Landform near Phoenix, Arizona}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name =
| other_name =
| photo =
| photo_size =
| photo_upright =
| photo_alt =
| photo_caption =
| map = Arizona
| highest = Superstition Mountain
| highest_location = {{Coord|33.411016967|N|111.400765347|W| type:mountain_region:US-AZ_scale:100000_source:ngs | format=dms | display=inline}}
| elevation =
| elevation_m =
| elevation_ft =
| elevation_ref = {{NAVD88}}{{Cite ngs |id=DU2086 |name=Superstition |access-date=June 8, 2011}}
| elevation_system =
| prominence =
| prominence_m =
| prominence_ft = 1817
| prominence_ref ={{Cite peakbagger |pid=4173 |name=Superstition Benchmark, Arizona |access-date=June 8, 2011}}
| parent_peak =
| isolation =
| isolation_km =
| isolation_mi =
| isolation_parent =
| isolation_ref =
| listing =
| coordinates = {{coord|33|28|41|N|111|14|20|W|format=dms|display=inline}}
| coordinates_ref =
| length =
| length_km =
| length_mi =
| length_orientation =
| length_ref =
| width =
| width_km =
| width_mi =
| width_orientation =
| width_ref =
| area =
| area_km2 =
| area_mi2 =
| area_ref =
| volume =
| volume_km3 =
| volume_mi3 =
| volume_ref =
| etymology =
| nickname =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| translation =
| pronunciation =
| authority =
| location =
| country_type =
| country =
| state_type =
| state = Arizona
| region_type = County
| region =
| district_type =
| district =
| part_type =
| part =
| settlement_type = Use settlement_type= instead of city_type= (deprecated).
| settlement =
| range_coordinates =
| range_coordinates_ref =
| range =
| borders_on =
| grid_ref_UK =
| grid_ref_UK_ref =
| grid_ref_Ireland =
| grid_ref_Ireland_ref =
| topo_maker =
| topo_map =
| biome =
| formed_by =
| orogeny =
| age =
| type =
| geology =
| volcanic_region =
| volcanic_arc =
| volcanic_belt =
| volcanic_field =
| volcanic_arc/belt =
| last_eruption =
| first_ascent =
| easiest_route =
| normal_route =
| access =
| embedded =
| module =
}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Superstition Wilderness
| alt_name = {{lang|yuf-x-yav|Wi:kchsawa}}
| iucn_category = Ib
| photo = File:2021 Superstition Mountains from Lost Dutchman State Park 2.jpg
| photo_caption = Praying Hands Formation
| location = Maricopa / Pinal / Gila counties, Arizona, US
| nearest_city = Apache Junction, Arizona
| coordinates = {{coord|33|28|41|N|111|14|20|W|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| area = {{convert|159757|acre|km2}}
| established = 1939
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| governing_body = United States Forest Service
}}
The Superstition Mountains ({{langx|yuf-x-yav|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
The mountains were once known in Spanish as Sierra de la Espuma ("Foam Mountain").
The range has a maximum elevation of {{convert|6,266|ft|abbr=on}} and prominence of {{convert|1,706|ft|abbr=on}} at Mound Mountain in the far eastern section of the range.{{ Cite web |url=http://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=4175 |title=Mound Mountain, East Superstition Mountains |publisher=peakbagger.com |access-date=2016-09-02}}{{ Cite web |url=http://www.peakbagger.com/range.aspx?rid=135301 |title=East Superstition Mountains |publisher=peakbagger.com |access-date=2016-09-02}}{{ Cite web |url=http://www.peakbagger.com/range.aspx?rid=135300 |title=Superstition Mountains Benchmark, Western section |publisher=peakbagger.com |access-date=2016-09-02}}
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{{Cite web
| url=http://www.ajpl.org/aj/superstition/1eedle.htm
| title=Weaver's Needle or Picacho?
| access-date=April 1, 2007
| author=Kollenborn, Tom
| year=1990
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20041030050018/http://www.ajpl.org/aj/superstition/1eedle.htm |archive-date = 2004-10-30}} 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.{{cite web
| url=http://www.azcentral.com/travel/arizona/features/articles/archive/superhiking.html
| title=Hiking the Supsertitions
| access-date=April 1, 2007
| author=Carroll, Doug
}} 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
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. 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{{cite web|url=http://superstitionmountainmuseum.org/|title=Superstition Mountain Museum|first=Dave|last=Heim}} 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.Vitaliano, Dorothy. 1973. Legends of the Earth, Bloomington: Indiana University Press, pp. 170–171.
Nearby towns and cities
Gallery
File:Miners Needle from Bluff Spring Trail, Superstition Wilderness.jpg|Miners Needle from Bluff Spring Trail. Note prominent bedding planes in the volcanics. (2010)
Image:flatironpeak1.jpg|View from the Flatiron hiking trail (2008)
File:2021 Superstition Mountains from U.S. Route 60 at Apache Junction, Arizona.jpg|Superstition Mountains From Route 60 at Apache Junction (2021)
File:Goldfield Ghost Town (14540063576).jpg|Mining – of gold, silver and especially copper – has historically been an economically significant activity in the mountains (2014)
File:2016 Arizona Superstition Mountains 01.jpg|A view from the Apache Trail (Arizona State Route 88) in 2016
File:Superstition Mts SW02.jpg|Boulder Canyon Trail – Weaver's Needle in distance (2011)
File:Superstition Petroglyphs.jpg|Petroglyphs in Superstition Wilderness (2007)
File:Flatiron Panorama.jpg|panorama, taken from Flatiron, in the Superstition mountains.
File:Ironview Peak.png|Ironview Peak (peak 5024), background, left
File:Superstitions.jpeg|Western Superstition mountains, viewed from Siphon Draw trail.
File:Rock formations2.jpg|Rock formations, Siphon Draw trail.
File:Rockformation.jpg|Rock formation, Siphon Draw trail.
File:Superstition ridgeline.jpg|view from Superstition Ridgeline Trail
File:GS_0304_%282%29.jpg|Panoramic view from Siphon Draw, basin area. .
File:GS 0300 (2).jpg|Panoramic view from Siphon Draw Trail.
File:GS_0298_(2).jpg|Panoramic view from Siphon Draw Trail.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Superstition Mountains}}
- [http://hikearizona.com/map.php?X=17 HikeArizona.com: Numbered Trails Map]
- [http://ApacheTrailArizona.com Official Apache Trail website: Superstition Mountains]
- [http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/wilderness/wilderness-superstition-index.shtml Tonto National Forest: Superstition Wilderness Area] Forest Service information
- [http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=NWPS&sec=wildView&WID=583 Wilderness.net: Superstition Wilderness Area]
- [http://www.gorp.com/parks-guide/travel-ta-tonto-national-forest-arizona-sidwcmdev_069086.html GORP.com: Superstition Wilderness]
- [http://www.ajpl.org/aj/superstition/ Ajpl.org: History of the Superstitions]
- [http://www.justroughinit.com/sites/default/files/forms-information/Average%20Temperatures%20for%20Superstitions%20Wilderness%20Area.pdf JustRoughinIt.com: Superstition Wilderness Average Climate]
{{Mountains of Arizona}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Arizona transition zone mountain ranges
Category:Mountain ranges of the Sonoran Desert
Category:Mountain ranges of Maricopa County, Arizona
Category:Mountain ranges of Pinal County, Arizona
Category:Mountain ranges of Gila County, Arizona
Category:Madrean Sky Islands mountain ranges
Category:Phoenix metropolitan area
Category:Religious places of the Indigenous peoples of North America
Category:Wilderness areas of Arizona
Category:Protected areas of Gila County, Arizona
Category:Protected areas of Maricopa County, Arizona
Category:Protected areas of Pinal County, Arizona
Category:Mountain ranges of Arizona