Lost Dutchman State Park

The Superstition Mountains lay in the Sonoran Desert just east of Mesa, Arizona and was said to have received it's name by old Indian Legends. Back to the 1800's. there was a tale of a Mexican family who struck gold, and on the way back to Mexico, they were ambushed and killed by the Apache Indians. To this day, they call this area Massacre Grounds. I can say with almost certainty, your chances of finding gold and being ambushed by Indians is minimal. What you will find these days, is a great state park that offers camping, picnicking, hiking, and sightseeing adventures. Most popular in fall through spring you can enjoy the state park's 7 trails. They range from .25 mile to 5.8 miles. The daddy of them all, is the Siphon Trail, which leads you to the the top which is called the Flatiron. This trail is recommended for experienced hikers only who are in good shape. It takes around 5 hours or so to complete this trail. In the event you're not into hiking and want to just take in the view with a family picnic, the park offers 2 day use areas with covered picnic tables and bathroom facilities. If you still want to take your adventure just a little further, then you will enjoy the parks campground. It offers 72 campsites which 38 of them have electric and water hookups. The park offers showers, visitors center, and a dump station. There is a 15 day limit stay, and checkout time is 2 pm. Fees are around $15 per night. You can also reserve for group camping as well. Now if that's not enough, you can download the monthly calendar of events that the park puts on. These include astronomy programs, ranger led moonlight hikes, pet friendly hikes, geology hikes, and much much more. If you're inclined to be more adventurous and want to explore outside of the park, head east along the Apache trail and you'll end up at Canyon Lake, and Tortilla Flats. If you keep going, you will eventually end up passing Apache Lake and Roosevelt Lake. Right now is a great time to explore the superstition wilderness. The volcanic rock formations, and wildlife are just breathtaking. Remember, always pack out what you pack in. Never leave a trace and always respect wildlife. For more information contact the park at 480-982-4485. For info online visit azstateparks.com