Superstition Mountains | Just Roughin' It

Just Roughin' It > Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Superstition Mountains’

REI Adventures got it right…and wrong!

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

I was checking in on REI Adventures for their 2010 calendar yesterday and I noticed something encouraging and strange at the same time. REI has gotten smart and is offering Superstition Mountain backpacking tours for next year.

Angel's Basin - Superstition Mountains

We (Just Roughin’ It Adventure Company) have been saying for years that the Superstition Mountains are an incredible place for backpacking. There are jagged peaks, narrow canyons, as well as Native American ruins and old homesteads hidden in the mountains.

The vegetation changes from pure Sonoran desert dotted with giant Saguaro and Jumping Cholla cactus to high elevation Juniper and Pinon pine woodlands. The Superstitions are also steeped in history and legends, the most famous being the story of the Lost Dutchman Gold mine. I love taking guests back into these mountains.

So REI has gotten the message about leading tours to this incredible place, although they got one important fact wrong. As of October 27th, the REI Adventures website listed the Superstitions Mountains backpacking trip as one of their California backpacking tours and the Superstition Mountains are clearly in Arizona.

Once their guides find their way from Cali to Arizona, I’m sure we’ll see them on the trail. We’ll even give them directions.

Tags: Arizona Backpacking Tours, Superstition Mountains, Superstition Mountains Backpacking
Posted in Backpacking & Hiking | 1 Comment »

Rogers Canyon is Worth the Trek

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009

One of my favorite hiking trails is about 30 miles east of Phoenix in the Rogers Canyon area of the Superstition Mountains.

It’s a good eight mile round trip, with a convenient jumping off point at Roger’s Trough, and unlike some of the trails in the Superstitions, it’s neither so challenging that you have to be an extreme sport enthusiast to enjoy it, or so ‘improved’ that you feel like you’re being coddled.

The path mostly follows the streambed down to the canyon basin, and it’s got a lot of Mescalero and juniper to provide shade; if you do it in the spring or fall, the temperature stays within reasonable ranges, but even during the height of summer, this is a doable trek; just bring more water. (Well, that’s sage advice to anyone hiking in the Superstitions.)

Most of the trek down the path will show you beautiful desert flora and fauna, and you’ll get an ever changing perspective on how big the Superstitions really are; it’s hard to get a sense of scale when they’re jutting against the horizon that way.

At the bottom of the trail, is the real secret of the journey – the Rogers Canyon cliff dwellings. These are protected archeological sites, and I’ll cover them in a later post. Rest assured that you’ll want to leave nothing but footprints, and take only pictures.

The hard part of the hike is coming back – there’s almost a thousand feet of altitude change, and it’s all going downhill on the way out, and uphill on the way back. Experienced hikers like to plan this hike for the late afternoon, so that there’s more shade on the trip back.

Fair warning – there aren’t facilities at the Roger’s Trough jumping off point, just a large tarmac parking lot reached by a barely-road.

Stay tuned for Rogers Canyon part 2 – the Native American cliff dwellings you’ll be able to visit on your hiking trip.

Tags: Backpacking & Hiking, Rogers Canyon, Superstition Mountains
Posted in Backpacking & Hiking | No Comments »

Other Great Arizona Hiking Destinations

Tuesday, February 10th, 2009

Arizona is nicknamed “The Grand Canyon State” so it makes sense that when people contact us to take a trip in Arizona that they are looking to hike the Grand Canyon. I don’t really blame them though. If I only had a week in Arizona I would make sure I would include a Grand Canyon trip. But where in Arizona would you go to hike after hiking the Grand Canyon? There are so many other beautiful and amazing places in this state that it takes some time to whittle it down to a few locations. Here are five destinations I recommend.

Havasupai I know this is still in the Grand Canyon but it is tucked away in it’s own corner of the canyon and it has a much different feel than the National Park. The area around Havasu Falls is truly an oasis in the desert and the crowded campground doesn’t detract enough to spoil the beauty.

Superstition Mountains This area has it all in my opinion. Great scenery, rugged trails, Native American ruins, great backcountry camping, history and truly secluded areas. All of this within an hour’s drive from Phoenix. Maybe I should keep this place a secret.

Santa Catalina Mountains These mountains just outside of Tucson keep calling me back. There are swimming holes galore in these mountains and the Wilderness of Rocks near the top of Mount Lemmon still fascinates me with unbelievable formations.

Mogollon Rim Country Whether you are hiking on the slopes below the rim or on top of the rim one thing is for certain. These trails are some of the best choices for summer hiking in Arizona. Tall pines, cool streams and plenty of shade.

Sedona Of course this has to be on the short list. The red rock formations in the area are becoming more famous and unfortunately this area is becoming more crowded as a result. My advice is to stay away from places like the Bell Rock Trail and head to Brins Mesa, or Vultee Arch instead.

I’m sure everyone has a favorite and again I’m just scratching the surface with this list. I’m curious to find out your favorite hiking spot in Arizona. That is other than the Grand Canyon.

Tags: Arizona Hiking, Havasu Falls, Havasupai, Havasupai Hiking, Mogollon Rim Hiking, Phoenix Hiking, Santa Catalina Mountains, Sedona Hiking, Superstition Mountains, Tuscon Hiking
Posted in Backpacking & Hiking | No Comments »

There are so many places to hike in Arizona - even in Winter!

Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009

Phoenix, Arizona made the Miami Herald as places to go when you are on a budget. There are many good ideas here for things to do, but I feel it is necessary to comment on the hiking portion of the article (the blog is trekking pole envy after all).

First, the comment “Hiking in Arizona is fun even in winter” struck me as odd since most people would not even think about hiking in the Phoenix area in the summer. Don’t get me wrong, there are many places to hike in the summer in Arizona, but places like Phoenix, Sedona, Prescott and even the Grand Canyon are scorchers - 110 degreesplus! Based on most people’s assumptions of the Southwest, I would have said, “Even in summer there are places to hike in Arizona.” Anyway, I am just being a bit picky.

More importantly, there are a vast number of places to hike in the Phoenix area that are more scenic and more secluded than those mentioned in the article. Piestewa Peak and Camelback Mountain are great if you like crowds, people running you over on the trail and numerous other obstacles. However, there are places that will get you out of the city, away from the crowds and into some of the most beautiful places in the Sonoran Desert. And Sedona is beautiful, but I would not describe it as cheap; more like expensive, touristy-tacky.

Now for the shameless self-promotion of guided hiking. Guide companies, such as Just Roughin’It Adventure Company can take Arizona visitors to so many of these secluded places. Places that don’t make it in the travel sections of regional newspapers. You can see wildflowers in the Spring, Indian Ruins any time (they are not seasonal) and some of the best views in the area. If a guide company is not your thing, here are some ideas to go it alone. Check out the Superstition Mountains, Sky Islands area of Southern Arizona and Tucson for some great hiking. Also check out Jerome for Arizona history, art, hiking and great eats.

[Article]

Tags: Arizona, Arizona Guided Hiking, Arizona Hiking, Grand Canyon, Phoenix, Phoenix Area Hiking, Romero Canyon, Superstition Mountains, Tucson Hiking
Posted in Backpacking & Hiking | No Comments »