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Weaver’s Needle/Lone Tree via Peralta Canyon
Superstition Mountains
February 19, 2022
by Rodney Baba

14 hikers met early on a sunny Saturday morning at the Peralta Trailhead.

Hikers at Peralta Trailhead.

kneeling:	Rod, Li, Diane, Debbie, Terry
back:	Tom, Neil, Billie, Ken, Joyce, Julie, Robbi, Kevin, Irek

Our goal was to touch (or Kiss) the base of the iconic Weaver’s Needle and/or visit Lone Tree.

Weaver’s Needle. [photo by Debbie]

Lone Tree. [photo by Kevin]

We began with our Hikers parade.

Hikers parade. [photos by Rod]

After the parade, we split into two groups.

Journey Group: Julie, Diane, Ken, Robbi, Neil, Billie, Terry. [photo by Rod]

The “Hardbodies”: Kevin, Li, Joyce, Irek, Tom, Debbie. [photo by Li]

We followed the trail on the east side of Peralta Canyon surrounded on both sides by trees and bushes. The air was cool, and you could feel the moisture from the recent rains.

Hikers on the trail. [photos by Rod]

After a mile, stunning rock formation rise to left as we climb back into the canyon. We stopped often to admire the rock formations and spectacular scenery back towards the trailhead.

It is hard to capture the grandeur with pictures. [photos by Rod]

I call this the “I love you” formation. [photos by Rod]

The sun also rises. [photo by Debbie]

Hoo Doo? You Do! [photo by Rod]

We begin to climb the canyon wall after 1.5 miles and shortly afterwards (2 miles) we begin a steep ascent to the saddle. Just before reaching the saddle, we stopped for some photos with the canyon as a spectacular backdrop.

Peralta Canyon. [photo by Joyce]

Peralta Canyon. [photo by Kevin]

Neil’s Captain Morgan Pose. [photo by Rod]

Heya Tom! [photo by Li]

At the top of the saddle, we were rewarded with a panoramic view of Weaver’s Needle. We stopped for snacks and posed for pictures.

Party at the Saddle! [photo by Kevin]

Just Chillin’. [photos by Li]

Lone Tree is a single Pinon Pine located on a ridge southwest of Weaver’s Needle. From Fremont Saddle we cut across on Cave Trail (#233) for about ¼ mile then turned north. Lone Tree was about ½ mile up the trail.

It’s a long way to the base. [photo by Kevin]

Neil and Billie, leaders of the Lone Tree Group. [photo by Kevin]

Rod showing Joyce the trail on the backside of the Saddle. [photos by Rod]

Several hikers wanted to touch the top of Weaver’s Needle before we went to the base.

Touching the top of Weaver’s Needle. [photo by Rod]

Anything you can do, I can do better. [photos by Li]

Respect the Needle. [photo by Li]

Just Chillin’. [photo by Li]

Debbie PDA with Lone Tree. [photo by Kevin]

Splash of color provided by wildflowers. [photos by Debbie]

More color. [photo by Kevin]

We returned to Fremont Saddle and bid farewell to the short hike group.

We descend switchbacks down the backside of the saddle for about a mile then traveled down Boulder Canyon next to a stream flowing over sandstone and around chunks of volcanic ash for another mile to the junction of the Peralta bypass trail (cross cut trail to Bluff Springs Trail).

Indian Paintbrush. [photo by Li]

We stopped for a short break prepared to scramble up a steep (0.4 Mile 1000’) incline to touch (and kiss) the base of Weaver’s Needle. It is a treacherous climb (>30-degree rise) but I marked the route with cairns on my checkout hike.