Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Peralta Trail, Superstition Wilderness, Tonto NF, Arizona


Distance: 5 miles (8 km)
Elevation: 2,400 - 3,760 feet (730 - 1145 m)
Difficulty: Moderately Strenuous
Time of Year: October - April


If you are looking for a sweat-inducing spring hike in the Sonoran Desert, with a rewarding and spectacular view at the top, then the Peralta Trail may be just for you. Located on the southern slopes of the Superstition Mountains, it also offers some interesting ecological and geological features most people in the Phoenix area do not realize is right in their back yard.


To get there, take US-60 east out of Phoenix and drive past Apache Junction and then follow it as it curves southeast on its way to Globe. Look for the new developments of Kings Ranch and shortly thereafter look for Peralta Road. Take a left on Peralta Road. The road will pass another development and then heads off onto a well-graded dirt road which you will follow for 7 miles to the trailhead. 

Warning: This trail has been discovered, so get there early in the morning and avoid weekends if you want a parking spot or at least want to enjoy the view without throngs of people.


The trail follows a drainage filled with lush sugar sumacs and scrub live oaks. All along the slopes are hedgehog cactus with their beautiful magenta blooms in spring. The trail heads steadily, but relentlessly up slope on its way to Fremont Saddle. The trail weaves across the dry bouldery drainage and up onto typical Sonoran desert vegetation of saguaros, barrel cactus, and mesquite. As you move higher up out of the low Sonoran ecotype, the vegetation shifts subtlely to upper Sonoran types such as agave, sotol, and grasses.


As you ascend, you will see yellowish-pink rocks to the right and darker brownish colums on the left. You are hiking inside the core of an ancient volcanic caldera. The Superstition Mountains represent the remains of a large volcanic eruption about 18 million years ago. Much of the lighter material is welded tuff, which is volcanic ash that was launched into the air, but was still so hot that when it landed it melted together to form layers of rock. The dark materials are cooled magma that was not ejected.


As the magma cooled it formed columns underground and after millions of years of erosion, these columns have emerged from the surrounding rock in this organ pipe formation. The trail then crosses the drainage (may be flowing in winter and spring) and heads out on the light colored tuff, where it switchbacks several times until reaching Fremont Saddle.

The view of Weaver's Needle from Fremont Saddle
Lone Pine Overlook (far right) can be reached as a short side trip

At the saddle is a spectacular view of Weaver's Needle and the Superstition Wilderness beyond. The needle is an erosional core of the ancient volcano and really stands out. To the northeast (right of Weaver's Needle) is a large pine that stands out on the ridge. This spot is called Lone Pine Overlook and can be reached as a short side trip.


You may choose to continue on Peralta Trail down the slope to the base of Weaver's Needle. For the really adventurous souls, amazingly there is a way-trail that climbs up the slope of the Needle and accesses the summit of it without any technical climbing skills. We have no attempted that though. However, most people simply make Fremont Saddle their end point and return the way they came.

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am extremely impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your
weblog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself?
Anyway keep up the excellent quality writing, it is rare to see a nice blog like this one these days.



Review my page - binary matrix pro review

Anonymous said...

A motivating discussion is worth comment. I think that you ought to write more on this subject
matter, it may not be a taboo subject but typically people don't speak about such subjects.

To the next! Many thanks!!

Here is my webpage; plague inc iphone strategy guide

Unknown said...


jordan legend 11, jordan legend blue 11, 378037-117,air jordan 11s legend blue, air jordan 11 legend blue,
legend blue 11s 2014, legend blue 11s, jordan 11 legend blue, retro legend blue 11s, jordan 11s legend, pre order legend blue 11s, 378037-117, air jordan legend 11s, legend 11s, legend blue 11s, air jordan 11s legend blue, jordan legend 11s, legend 11s 2014, retro legend 11s, pre order legend 11s, 378037-117,air jordan 11s legend blue ,pre order legend blue 11s ,legend blue 11s ,jordan 11s legend blue ,retro legend blue 11s ,jordan 11s legend ,pre order legend blue 11 ,378037-117 ,air jordan 6s black infrared ,black infrared 6s ,jordan infrared 6s ,infrared 6s ,jordan 6s black infrared ,pre order black infrared 6s,384664-023,cheap black infrared 6s ,384664-023 ,legend blue 11s ,jordan legend 11s ,jordan legend blue 11s ,legend 11s ,378037-117

xjd7410@gmail.com said...

20150908 junda
michael kors
louboutin pas cher
coach outlet
coach factory outlet
soccer jerseys wholesale
ray ban sunglass
prada handbags
ugg australia
adidas uk
nike blazer
fitflops sale clearance
air force 1
longchamp outlet
jordan shoes
michael kors outlet online
new balance outlet
prada outlet
ugg boots sale
kate spade handbags
ray bans
adidas gazelle trainers
polo ralph lauren outlet
barbour uk
north face uk
michael kors handbags
ray ban outlet
ray ban sunglasses
michael kors uk
uggs outlet
ralph lauren uk
michael kors handbag
nike free run 5.0
oakley sunglasses sale
canada goose uk
toms wedges
cheap soccer shoes
coach outlet online
adidas shoes
oakley sunglasses wholesale
coach factory outlet

Unknown said...

ray ban,rayban,occhiali ray ban,ray-ban,ray ban occhiali,ray ban sunglasses
moncler jackets
denver broncos
mac cosmetics
oakley,occhiali oakley,oakley italia,oakley occhiali,oakley sunglasses
coach outlet online
ugg boots sale
prada outlet
michael kors outlet
oakland raiders
coach outlet online
oakley canada
mlb jerseys
puma outlet
ralph lauren,polo ralph lauren,ralph lauren outlet,ralph lauren italia,ralph lauren sito ufficiale
hollister clothing
green bay packers
ralph lauren polo
coach handbags outlet
swarovski crystal
1024minko

ghrshrtf said...


I thought I was done with the Gosselin posts really, I did.Ultrasound Sensor
Spo2Sensor I was done being frustrated; done trying to figure out what was going on; done trying to offer advice; done trying to just "get it"; just done. But I need to get a few things off of my chest; share a few thoughts with my blog readers who I know share these frustrations with me.

wholesale nfl jerseys said...

Ways to reduce water waste include hdmi extenderplanting drought resistant local grasses, leaving grass clippings on the lawn, using organic fertilizers, and using hdmi wirelessxeriscaping tricks, such as building zen gardens with rocks and statues. These water tips will help reduce the time you spend mowing.HDMI SeriesGreenhouse Gas EmissionsIn 2009, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality found that an hour of gas powered lawn mowing produces as much pollution as four hours of driving a car.HDMI Series

Unknown said...

2016-5-31 leilei
asics outlet
fitflops shoes
adidas nmd
true religion jeans
nike cortez shoes
timberland boots
ray ban sunglasses discount
christian louboutin outlet
versace sunglasses
air max 90
rolex daytona
fitflops sale clearancee
cheap jordans
ralph lauren outlet
coach outlet
discount nike shoes
ray-ban sunglasses
ralph lauren outlet
true religion jeans
louis vuitton handbags
coach outlet store online
burberry uk
jordan pas cher
nike air max 95
adidas nmd white
nike cortez red
yeezy boost 350
cheap ray-ban sunglasses
babyliss flat iron
oakley sunglasses
cheap nike shoes
ray ban sunglasses
michael kors bags
birkenstock sandals
reebok classic
coach outlet clearance
nike huarache
yeezy boost 350
nike huarache white

John said...

coach outlet store online
adidas trainers
kate spade outlet
coach outlet online
rolex watches
hollister kids
coach factory outlet online
michael kors handbags
coach factory outlet online
polo ralph lauren outlet
true religion sale
cheap jordan shoes
salvatore ferragamo
valentino shoes
oakley sunglasses outlet
nmd adidas
mizuno running shoes
the north face outlet
reebok outlet
kobe 11
ray ban sunglasses outlet
adidas pure boost
michael kors outlet online
jordans shoes
longchamp bag
ray ban outlet store online
abercrombie and fitch
lacoste shoes
stephen curry shoes
louis vuitton purse
mlb jerseys wholesale
burberry outlet
kobe bryant shoes
designer handbags outlet
prada outlet
converse
2016627yuanyuan

xumeiqing said...

20160906meiqing
reebok uk
ray bans
michael kors outlet
oakley sunglasses
louis vuitton outlet
cheap ferragamo shoes
ugg boots
versace shoes
nike air force white
michael kors outlet clearance
christian louboutin outlet
timberland boots
coach outlet online coach factory outlet
cheap mlb jerseys
coach outlet
jimmy choo shoes
louis vuitton outlet
timberland boots
ugg boots sale
ugg outlet
lebron james sneakers
ray bans
louis vuitton outlet
valentino shoes on sale
adidas shoes uk
uggs on sale
hermes outlet
coach factory outlet
cheap ray bans
gucci outlet
lacoste outlet
birkenstock sandals
ray ban sunglasses discount
uggs
true religion jeans
nike free run black
burberry outlet
longchamp handbags

xjd7410@gmail.com said...

20160909 junda
ugg boots on sale
basketball shoes
pandora outlet
michael kors outlet
ugg outlet
mulberry handbags
nike trainers
tiffany jewelry
canada goose outlet
tiffany and co
cheap oakley sunglasses
polo shirts
canada goose
ferragamo outlet
hollister uk
ray ban sunglasses
ed hardy tshirts
louis vuitton outlet
thomas sabo uk
michael kors outlet online
reebok trainers
oakley sunglasses
louis vuitton outlet stores
mont blanc pens
instyler ionic styler
oakley sunglasses wholesale
cheap nba jerseys
louis vuitton bags cheap
mulberry sale
michael kors outlet
herve leger dresses
soccer jerseys wholesale
louis vuitton outlet
nike mercurial
mulberry outlet

chenlina said...

coach outlet
scarpe hogan
ralph lauren uk
uggs for cheap
oakley sunglasses
uggs sale
louis vuitton handbags
ugg outlet
ray ban sunglasses
ugg sale
chenlina20160923

Unknown said...

michael kors outlet
michael kors handbags
cheap uggs
swarovski outlet
ugg boots
nike mercurial
michael kors handbags
michael kors outlet online
tiffany jewelry
pandora jewelry
20161202caihuali

Unknown said...

20170323 junda
louis vuitton handbags
oakley sunglasses sale
adidas nmd runner
coach outlet
louis vuitton outlet
tods outlet
coach outlet
cheap oakley sunglasses
hollister clothing
swarovski jewelry

Unknown said...

tory burch shoes
yeezy boost 350 v2
adidas ultra boost
nike basketball shoes
nike air max 90
goyard wallet
yeezy
yeezy boost
yeezy 500
adidas nmd

Unknown said...

off white
mlb jerseys
tom ford sunglasses
supreme hoodie
gucci belt
ray ban sunglasses
ray ban
caterpillar shoes
supreme clothing
air jordan 11

QQQQQQQQQ said...

air max 2018
nike x off white
ray ban sunglasses
true religion outlet
yeezys
adidas tubular
hogan outlet online
james harden shoes
jordan 11
nike lebron soldier 11

SSSSSS said...

air yeezy
yeezy boost 350
kate spade handbags
air presto
kyrie 3
adidas shoes
nike react
hermes birkin
yeezy shoes
golden goose

5689 said...

zzzzz2018.8.11
cheap snapbacks
coach outlet online
ugg boots clearance
ray ban eyeglasses
canada goose jackets
pandora jewelry outlet
fitflops sale clearance
nike outlet store
louboutin shoes
ugg boots clearance

Lily Allen said...

Really Awesome Blog Thanks for Sharing...

clipping path
clipping path service
clipping path quick
car photo editing

Unknown said...

www1013
adidas nmd
fitflops clearance
oakley sunglasses
red bottom shoes
fitflops clearance
jordans
ugg boots clearance
louboutin shoes
pandora jewelry





Unknown said...

harden shoes
lacoste polo shirts
fitflops
golden goose
michael kors handbags
nike shoes
nike hyperdunk
adidas shoes online
yeezy shoes
lacoste polo

cara menggugurkan kandungan dan mempercepat haid said...

I thank you for the information and articles you provided

ركن الرحاب said...

شركة مكافحة العتة بالرياض
شركة مكافحة النمل لابيض بالرياض
شركة مكافحة الوزغ بالرياض
شركة مكافحة حشرات بالرياض
شركة مكافحة الفئران بالرياض
شركة رش دفان بالرياض

Just Giving Back For All To Enjoy

Why pay money to buy hiking books? Why pay fees to view trail websites? By searching my archives and checking back often to see new posts, we are sure you will be able to find the hike that is right for you ... and for free!

In addition, we provide fascinating ecological and geological information to make the hikes informative and fun. As former National Park Rangers, we know how to find the right hike for you. So, if you are on vacation, we will provide you with the hike you absolutely MUST do while in an area. Do not go on vacation without checking out this site!