Arizona Trailblazers Hiking Club
Garden Valley Arch Day Hike
| when |
Trip Report :
March 17, 2012
|
| |
Trip Report :
December 14, 2014
|
| where |
Superstition Mountains |
| the hike |
The March, 2012 issue of
Arizona Highways has an
article about the Second Water Trail and a picture on page 54 of an arch
with Weaver’s Needle in the background.
Is the “Garden Valley Arch” one we’ve seen before, or
a different one? We’re going to find out.
You’ll enjoy the view from hill 2587 overlooking Garden Valley on
this slightly exploratory hike.
Walk up on the Dutchman’s and Second Water Trails,
visit an arch that’s really there,
then return on the steep, rocky Military Trail.
Come prepared for precarious slopes, a fresh perspective of the
Superstition Wilderness, and Sonoran desert springtime.
This hike is described in
Footloose from Phoenix,
by Ted Tenny, pages 140-148.
|
| distance |
6 miles |
| time |
4-5 hours |
| EC |
+-800' elevation change |
| elevations |
2120' (First Water Creek) to 2587' (hill 2587) |
| type |
loop |
| starting at |
| First Water Horse Staging Area |
33° 28.964' N, 111° 26.932' W [NAD27]
|
|
| on trail |
80% — Dutchman’s, Second Water, and
Military Trails. |
| rating |
"C"
Rate yourself as a hiker. |
| dogs? |
no |
| cost |
When car-pooling, pay your share the cost of gas.
The club also allows voluntary contributions of $5 per non-member. |
| weather |
Apache Junction |
| meet |
8:00 AM at
Red Mountain Park located at 7745 E. Brown Rd. in
Mesa (south side of Brown Road just east of Power Road).
|
| drive |
| • |
Go northeast on the Apache Trail Highway (Arizona 88) past
Goldfield Ghost Town and Lost Dutchman State Park, to First Water Road.
|
| • |
Turn right on First Water Road and drive 2 miles to the Horse Staging Area.
|
|