There is no gold on the Lost Goldmine Trail. But the gorgeous Sonoran Desert views and mountain range along this trail are worth more than any treasure. The trail is opened in 2001. Since then it is a popular trail for hiking, horse riding, biking and running. It’s also a nice introduction hike to Superstition Wilderness for people from East coast.

We six hikers don’t want to hike 12 miles round trip, we split into two groups hiking opposite directions and exchanging car keys in the middle.

The trail is easy to follow and many ups-downs, crossing several washes. Along the trail there is abundant collection of chain fruit cholla, ocotillo, teddy bear, saguaro, barrel cactus, mesquite and palo verde. Beside hiking, Monika also finds two geocaches.

There is not much elevation change, so both groups go quickly and at the mileage of 3.2 we all reassemble. Jim and Ted exchange keys. We take a group picture and afterwards have a quick lunch.

After lunch, both groups keep hiking the rest of the trail. Due to the rain last week, the weather is very pleasant with 72° high and a light breeze. We see a few wildflowers such as Blue Dick and Brittlebush along the trail. Then we meet some equestrians that noticed a gila monster in the bush.

This is the first time for many years hiking I see a gila monster. This one-foot creature with a broken tail runs pretty fast and hides in the bush. We also see small crested saguaro, the one I missed three years ago on Chuck’s hike.

This is an enjoyable hike with the spectacular views in every direction. Thanks to all for coming to join my hike today. Happy Trails!

Karen, KG, and Ted started eastward from Cloudview Trailhead on a cool, breezy morning with only a few clouds in view. We met other hikers, most of them on their way to Hieroglyphic Canyon. They thinned out after the trail junction, though we continued to meet a few hikers, bicyclists, and equestrians all the way to Lost Goldmine Trailhead.

Wedding Cake and Turk’s Cap Hill dominate the first half of the hike. We see them from many angles, first as we approach from the west and then looking back from the east. Turk’s Cap Hill gets its name from the stone cap it wears.

With the Quarter Circle U ranch nearby, we weren’t surprised to see several bulls grazing peacefully on the nutritious grass. Wildlife along the trail included birds and lots of lizards.

A few flowers were out, despite our dry winter. Last Saturday’s rain helped the desert plants blossom.

The Superstition Mountains and Goldfield Mountains were created by great volcanic eruptions during the Miocene epoch, some 18½ million years ago. We are seeing the edge of a cauldron formed when the volcano collapsed into its magma chamber and then much of it eroded away.

Nearing the halfway point, we were pleased to meet our westbound companions Quy, Jim, and Monika.

KG, Karen, Funyung, Ted

Not long after leaving our companions, Karen, KG, and Ted were surprised and delighted to meet Funyung. She had started walking eastward from Lost Goldmine Trailhead, arriving after the others had left. Funyung joined us for the walk back, since her car was parked at Lost Goldmine.

There isn’t a Dairy Queen in these parts. The closest we have is a saguaro with bands of alternating wider and narrower growth. The growth of the saguaro indicates how much rain fell each year, with a wide band indicating more rain and a narrow band indicating less.

The four of us got to Lost Goldmine Trailhead in good time, thankful for the pleasant weather and to Quy for organizing and leading this most enjoyable hike.

Funyung