Siphon Draw to Flatiron Summit
We eagerly awaited a week of hiking in the Superstition Mountains, but we only really got in one day because of the Covid-19 outbreak. We knew we would be leaving Apache Junction soon, so we wanted to do a good one and the hike up Siphon Draw to the Flatiron fit perfectly (our favorite hike in Arizona this year). We drove to Lost Dutchman State Park and followed the signs up Siphon Draw
The lower trail was busy. The gravel path led up the draw, with yellow brittlebrush in bloom on both sides. The final goal was the summit of the Flatiron, seen here in the center, in the distance.
A number of hikers go to a viewpoint on a bluff part-way up. From this vantage point the rest of the steep route was visible, right up the steep gully to the top.
Much of the steep upper section was a series of scrambling sections up rock bluffs, but the rock was good and the route was difficult, but fun too. The top of the mountain behind the Flatiron was a ragged ridge.
The Flatiron is a prominent ridge sticking out toward Phoenix. The final section of the trail was easy.
From the Flatiron, we could hike over and between a series of peaks in the Superstition Range.
I contoured around the south side of the ridge to get views 10 km southeast towards the Peralta Trail.
Along the route were many wildflowers in bloom, a few of which are shared here. All photos taken by the author and captions can be seen by clicking an image.
My hiking partner had to wait 2+ hours for me since she didn’t want to do the steep scrambling section. Although that section was not long, it was very slow-going, especially coming back down. Eventually I got down to walking terrain, a corridor among the spring wildflowers
This hike whetted my taste for more hiking in the Superstition Mountains. We hope to do a return trip in the spring in coming years.
Doug Smith
Doug writes for Kamloops Trails, a not-for-profit (and ad free) website, offering information on trails, waterways, routes, featured spots, viewpoints, and explorations in the outdoors in the Kamloops area (and beyond).
Doug started exploring this area in 1976 and continues to follow tracks and routes wherever they lead, with the aid of map, compass, GPSr and camera. After many dead-ends, but also many discoveries, he chose to share this information.
The Kamloops Trails website has a massive number of interesting posts and would be of interest to anyone in Kamloops who enjoys the outdoors. Visit the Kamloops Trails website at: http://www.kamloopstrails.ca/
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