The Peralta Trail: Legend of the Lost Goldmine

I have done several hikes in the Superstitious Mountains, but the Peralta Trail deserved it's own post. There's also many supernatural occurrences and mysteries surrounding this mountain range. Which is why they say never to go hiking here alone!

My favorite hike in the Valley: Peralta Trail, Geronimo's Cave, Lone Tree, and Bluff Springs Loop

Length: 5.4mi Elevation Gain: 1581ft Average time: 3hr 13min      Difficulty: Hard

This is the loop trail which I recommend, you can however, just hike up and down through the Canyon via:

Fremont Saddle Via Peralta Canyon Trail (4.6mi 1341ft elevation gain)

but I don't think it would be nearly as incredible and we'll get into why.

Just a little past The Wave Cave Trail, you'll drive about 6miles down a dirt road but you shouldn't need an off road vehicle. The only rough part is right after you past the gate into the parking area for the trail, but you can park farther away and walk just a minute or two to the trailhead. I was surprised there was bathrooms at the trailhead which is a plus because you have to drive an hour from Phoenix depending on where you are.

Starting off with a HUGE PSA: you want to do this loop counter-clockwise! Especially if you have a dog. So you will actually follow the signs for Bluff Springs Loop, If you use the "preview trail" feature on AllTrails, you'll notice going right at the start of the trail you'll be climbing on top of the mountainside and when you are making your descent you will coming down through the canyon.

Terrain Climb: Difficult - Rock Scrambling, smooth and loose rocks, unclear path.

Terrain Canyon: Easy - Very Typical hiking trail terrain, easy to follow, well traveled.

Within 10minutes of the hike you'll reach the ridge where you see the entire other side of the valley! You basically have 360 degree views the whole way up! This hike is rated hard and there are many difficult parts on the way up including Devil's Scramble. This is the reason why if you are hiking with a dog you will want to do counter-clockwise so you are climbing up it because dogs will not go down it. It's the closest thing to rock climbing you can get. You will have to find places to grip the very smooth, very steep rock. Our 60lb Labsky did okay but she did struggle a bit on certain parts of this hike. Her nails defiantly got filed trying to grip the rock. She is very agile and in shape. I'm not sure a very little dog could do this hike. I've added pictures below but I don't think they do it much justice to the steepness.

If you don't have AllTrails, this is a hike I would pay for the premium version. I downloaded the map and had it out the entire time on the climb because there is no clear path. There are some little rock piles but I don't think that would be enough without the map.

But let me tell you, the views! Views views views!! The whole time I kept thinking I was on a foreign planet in Star Wars, or a Doctor Suess book because of the shapes and colors. We saw almost no one on this loop. (because of the difficulty) and we felt it was just us and the mountains, You feel so remote and truly lost in nature. I had so much content to go through after this hike because every angle and around every corner was another beautiful picture. I have heard at certain times of the year there is a waterfall and wildflowers so pray for rain.

Photo Op: When you make it to the top, you are greeted with an amazing view of Weavers Needle. a 1,000ft high column of volcanic rock. Here is where you can get your pic for the gram.

You can then walk out to Lone Tree, a single tree on the top of mountain, How does it survive up here? Why are there no other trees? I like to think that it loves Weavers Needle, and it weathers the harsh dry desert summers just so it can keep admiring its beauty.

Also can we just take minute to admire these shorts? I have them in 3 colors but this tan color makes me feel like I'm a little safari adventurer!

From here you make the descent down through the canyon. The hard part is over. If you go at sunset, like we normally do, you will be in the shade the entire way down. There are many plants and thickets of desert flora. The majority of people choose to go up and down the Canyon using the Fremont Saddle Via Peralta Canyon Trail, so we did see just a few more people on the way down.

Canyon portion

Please please: if you are visiting from out of town, do NOT hike in summer. Unfortunately, adults children, and dogs die on hiking trails in the Valley Every, Single, Year. And several more have to be rescued. It was only 67 degrees when we were hiking but you could feel the heat radiating up from the ground making it warm. We took 4L of water and used all of it.

If you only have time for one hike in the Valley, are physically fit and up for a challenge, I would recommend this hike to you!

History and Mysteries of the Peralta Trail

I love history AND conspiracy theories. so I'm exited to get into this.

The Superstition Mountains (their name inspired by Pima Indian legends) have been a source of mystery and legend since early times, however the mountains became and Apache stronghold in the 1840s.

During this time, the Peralta family of northern Mexico supposedly developed rich gold mine(s) in the Superstitions. Their last expedition to carry gold back to Mexico occurred in 1848. According to legend, the large party was ambushed by Apaches, and all were killed except for one or two Peralta family members who escaped into Mexico. This area is known today as the Massacre Grounds. In the 1870s Jacob Waltz, "the Dutchman" (actually a native of Germany), was said to have located the mine through the aid of a Peralta descendant. Waltz and his partner, Jacob Weiser worked the mine and allegedly hid one or more caches of gold in the Superstitions. The legend goes that in the shadow of the Weaver's Needle lies the location of a rick vein of Gold or a Gold mine.

 The hunt for gold has been pursued by hundreds (possibly thousands) of people. Many books and movies have been inspired from this lost gold mine. Many men who have claimed to have found the mine were unable to return to it or disaster struck before they could file a claim. Many have met with foul play or even death. Some believe there is still a tribe of Apaches that currently live in the Superstitions and protect the Gold Mine. You will actually pass Geronimo's cave (a famed Apache) on the hike. It is told that Weiser was killed by Apaches, or according to some, by Waltz himself.

Mysterious Cases:

Adolph Rudolph 1931 - His skull – with two holes in it identified as bullet holes – was recovered about six months after he vanished

"Tex" Bradford 1933 - missing

John Griffith Climenson - claims to have escape a mysterious sniper

James A Cravey - remains found after searching for gold

James Kidd 1949 - missing Charles Bohen 1961 - found in a shallow grave

Walter J. Mowry 1961 - gunshot wound

Curtis Merworth, Ardean Charles, and Malcolm Meeks 2010 - missing, remains believed to be these three men were found in 2011

Khayman Welch 2020 - After telling his uncle he wanted a "better view of the sunset," he walked southeast from the parking lot towards Weaver's Needle never to be found.

The "Dutchman"

In recent years, a quick YouTube search, or Reddit rabbit hole, will lead you to other mysterious stories involving, portals, Skinwalkers, tunnels that mysteriously disappear, among others.

If you're into conspiracy theories i recommend doing a deep dive on this one!

If you made it this far thanks for reading! :) Until next time!