Arizona Trailblazers Hiking Club
Needle Canyon Life March
when Trip Report : November 27, 1999
where Superstition Mountains
the hike     Needle Canyon, in the heart of the Superstition Wilderness, is rich in history, legend, fantastic rock scenery, vegetation and wildlife of the Sonoran Desert. The Needle Canyon Life March is an all day hike, starting from Canyon Lake or from Peralta Trailhead.
    We’ll hike the length of historic and highly scenic Needle Canyon on this one-way trans-wilderness journey. No auto shuttle! Two parties will start in opposite directions from Peralta and Canyon Lake trailheads, meet in the middle for lunch and exchange of car keys.
    This hike is described in Footloose from Phoenix by Ted Tenny, pages 178-191.
distance 14.1 miles
time 8-10 hours
EC elevation change starting from Peralta: 1,800 feet of uphill; 2,500 feet of downhill
elevations 1,686 feet (Canyon Lake Trailhead) to 3,430 feet (Bluff Saddle)
type one way
starting at
Peralta Trailhead 33° 23.836' N,  111° 20.841' W  [NAD27]
ending at
Canyon Lake Trailhead 33° 32.089' N,  111° 25.341' W  [NAD27]
on trail 90% – Bluff Spring, Terrapin, Dutchman’s, Bull Pass, and Boulder Canyon Trails
rating "B+"   Rate yourself as a hiker.
The steepest grade is between Needle Canyon and Terrapin Pass.
dogs allowed no
cost Sharing gas expenses with the driver.
The club also allows voluntary contributions of $5 per non-member.
weather Apache Junction
meet  5:00 AM at Red Mountain Park located at 7745 E. Brown Rd. in Mesa (south side of Brown Road just east of Power Road).

Schedule of Events Arizona Trailblazers Home Page

updated December 29, 2017 © Copyright 2017, Arizona Trailblazers.  All rights reserved.