Arizona Trailblazers - Trip Report

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Black Mesa Day Hike
Superstition Mountains
December 23, 2006
by Ted Tenny

What? Isn't this the Dutchman’s Trail?

We took a likin’ to the lichens.

We set out for First Water Trailhead in a thick, soupy fog — unusual for Arizona. The fog started to clear as we passed Lost Dutchman State Park. Then it lifted, giving us the prettiest hiking weather you could dream of.

Andy, Pat, Debbie and Ted started south on the Dutchman’s Trail from First Water Trailhead. Soon we had to decide our direction at the Second Water Trail sign. “The scenery is good either way, but that steep grade from Boulder Basin to Black Mesa is easier going uphill.”

    So we kept to the right and stayed on the Dutchman’s Trail.

    The trail crosses First Water Creek five times before heading up to White Rock Pass. “Count the stream crossings,” Ted advises. The last crossing marks the turnoff to hike First Water Creek upstream for off-trail adventures in O’Grady Canyon and Old West Boulder Canyon.

    The approach to White Rock Pass provides our first view of Weaver’s Needle, named for a mountain man.

Palomino Mountain towers above Boulder Basin.

Pencil cholla decked out in its Christmas finery.

    Parker Pass begins our descent into Boulder Basin, where three canyons flow together to form Boulder Creek. The trail takes us east, paralleling the streambed, until we reach the Black Mesa Trail.

    Boulders beside the streambed provide a welcome lunch stop.

    A steep climb brings us to the top of Black Mesa, with an enchanted forest of chain fruit cholla. Black Mesa, Hackberry Mesa, and Black Top Mesa are lava flows from the Miocene epoch.

    There’s a big hill and a little hill in the middle of Garden Valley. The little hill is an Indian ruin. We turn left on the Second Water Trail for the last mile of hike.

    The stream crossings are dry, but we enjoy an abundance of green Sonoran vegetation on our walk back to First Water Trailhead.

    In several places there are Teddy bears and chain fruit cholla growing side by side amid the fantastic rock formations of the Superstition Wilderness.

Rocks and rilles of a First Water tributary

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updated December 24, 2006