There are 2 extremes to this hike. You can choose to explore the lower canyon to a beautiful…read morewaterfall at the end surrounded by cliffs and call it a day for a total of 3 miles out and back OR you can hire a guide and canyoneer the upper canyon and spend around 5-7 hours while rappelling, climbing, and wading through endless pools and more waterfalls for a total of over 5 miles. On this adventure, my hiking group decided to take the easy route and enjoy the lower canyon. It kind of reminded me of West Fork hike in Sedona, because you cross the creek bed repeatedly, and you cannot help but stop and stare in awe of how beautiful the surroundings are. The hike is peaceful and you feel kid-like once more since you are forced to climb over small boulders, get knee deep or sometimes even waist deep in water, and brush past tree branches of various foliage. The life is teeming with so many different plant species present and with the Salt River connecting nearby, you just know the place is great for fishing as well. Permits are $15 per person for day hikes. Cibecue is on sacred land so remember to enjoy the hike in all its glory but be respectful and pack out everything you bring in.

One of my favorite hikes in AZ! How can you beat stunning canyon views, creek crossings, and a…read morebeautiful waterfall at the end!? Not to mention it's in the middle of nowhere away from all civilization--a great day trip getaway to relieve yourself after a stressful workweek! A few things to note before trekking out here: -You're going to want to be driving a 4x4 or high clearance vehicle as the road from the 60 turnoff is nothing but dirt and rocks. I've seen a Prius do it but it looked painful and damaging lol. -Permits are now $30 per person and you pay with cash into a box so come prepared. I'm not a huge fan of the price hike *no pun intended* but I can see why the reservation did it reduces the crowd. -Bring sturdy water shoes or prepare to get your hiking shoes wet/muddy. I have some pretty flimsy Walmart water shoes so I opted for the latter. There are multiple creek crossings and it's not like Seven Falls or Oak Creek--there are not enough stones to hop across and you will need to walk in the water.By the end of the day, my hiking shoes were completely soaked with muddy water. They will need some deep cleaning. -Piggy-backing off the point above, if you go following a monsoon storm, expect the creek and falls to be saturated with thick mud. Grand Falls style. -PLEASE pack in what you pack out. Do not litter or leave anything behind in this beautiful place.

Been out exploring and looking for new trails to hike out at the Superstition Mountains and came…read moreacross Carney Springs Waterfall. You can access this trail off Lost Goldmine Trailhead East. Its an easy to moderate round trip out back trial with over 4 miles of hiking and almost 700 foot elevation gain. The last trek to the waterfall is when it gets the steepest, and on the way to the waterfall you will come across a cool cave as well. Now Carney Springs Waterfall most of the time is dry, but if you happen to go after a rainfall or monsoon, you will be treated to the waterfall. The Carney Springs Waterfall is visible from Peralta and is apx a 240-foot drop. While hiking along the trail making your way to the waterfall if you look to the left you can see the trial for the Wave Cave and even spot it in the distance. You also will see some interesting canyon views along the way. There isn't any clear signs to the waterfall but if you are going along Lost Goldmine Trail #60, at the fork that goes to the Wave Cave, turn right go past the cave and make your way to the waterfall. We went after a rain fall and got to see the fails. Once you turn off the 60 and head up Peralta trail the road becomes a dirt road, but you don't need a 4x4 to get there. The parking lot will be on the left side of the dirt road just up the road from Peralta Park.

This dam is very unique, and very picturesque! Too bad they have contracted the water downstream so…read moremuch, the lake is rarely very deep. The Apache Rez is currently closed for Covid. I was therefor business and able to go to the dam.

Probanly one of the last standing Great Depression dams in the world…read more You have to see it to believe it. Vaulting Eagles, Columns of such beuaty it will take your breath away. This is possibly the greatest standing Art Deco example of CCC work left in the US. Go see it now, before they take it down. Go now.

Amazing place to view Red Mountain. There were a lot of big ants (9/14/2024), so be ready for that…read more Geese, horses, ducks. Parking was full by 7am on a Saturday, need tonto pass.

Great spot to easily SUP!! Parking is limited but we were able to get a spot no problem during the…read moreweeknight but could get busy on the weekend. Easy to navigate and great spot to watch the sunset

worth it for sure only negative if there is one is the fact…read morethat it's out on the north east side of town and a solid drive from the west side of town, which has nothing to do with the actual hike the cave is pretty cool

Very popular Trail due to social media. It's within the Tonto National Wilderness area and so…read moreguidelines should be followed for the wilderness. The parking lot that had been used became so overcrowded that the forest service closed it March 2026. A large parking lot is located not too far from the Peralta Trailhead. This is the Lost Goldmine East Trailhead. A permit is not required to park or to hike this area. If you need a bathroom you need to follow the road to the end to the Peralta Trailhead. The trail follows along at the beginning of the hike on the Lost Goldmine Trail. Less than 1/2 mile you'll see a fence opening to the right. This is the beginning of the Carney Springs trail and will lead up to the Wave Cave. The Wave Cave section veers off to the left and the main trail will continue up to the Superstition Ridgeline. If you miss the fence opening you will continue hiking approximately 4 miles to the next parking lot, which is for the Lost Goldmine Trail and is the same parking lot for the Hieroglyphic Trail. The wave cave is a beautiful place for picture taking and it can get very crowded on weekends. So plan your trip to go early, making sure you have good hiking shoes, hat, and plenty of water.

Massacre falls is awesome to visit when the waterfall is going strong. With all the recent rain…read moreit's pretty great right now. I've done this trail a few years ago. The water fall was much more impressive this time. I will say that this time it felt way harder than I remember. Overall I think we hiked about 7 miles out to the falls & back to the parking area. There is a gradual increase in elevation as you hike up to the waterfall. I don't remember all that, I thought the trail was more flat. The views are gorgeous, especially at sunset. This hiking area is next to the Lost Dutchman State Park which charges for admission. Same overall area but no fee to hike up to Massacre falls. Highly recommend it!

Amazing hike not to bad early in the morning took our husky she loved it and our new puppy his…read morefirst hike ever and wasn't hard for him at all!

If you're looking for a great hike in the Superstition Mountains, Hieroglyphic Trail is absolutely…read moreworth checking out. The scenery is incredible and the petroglyphs at the end make the hike feel especially rewarding. A few things to know before you go: the parking lot is pretty small and fills up fast, so getting there early is definitely recommended. Otherwise, you may end up waiting for someone to leave. I also wouldn't risk parking in a no-parking zone because I've heard they tow pretty regularly. The trail description says it's "a 1.5 mile trail that climbs a gentle slope covered with many cacti then enters the lower end of a boulder-filled canyon, ending at a rocky section where pools persist for much of the year," and that's mostly accurate. There are some sections before the canyon where you'll need to scramble over larger rocks, but overall it's manageable for most hikers. Once you reach the canyon and the petroglyph area, the terrain becomes steeper with much larger boulders. There's also a small streambed with several pools of water, which was a nice surprise. The petroglyphs themselves are amazing and can be found on both sides of the canyon. You can get fairly close to several of them, which makes the experience even better. Bring plenty of water because most of the trail is fully exposed to the sun during the day. Once you reach the petroglyphs it's a great spot to sit, rest, and recharge There is shade inside the canyon, although when we arrived most of the shady spots were already occupied by other hikers. Overall, this is a fantastic beginner-to-intermediate trail with spectacular views, unique scenery, and a rewarding destination at the end. Definitely one of my favorite hikes in the area.

Such a beautiful hike ! Absolutely bring water. Saw some lizards along the way and beautiful cacti…read more The trail is well taken care of. As always remember to pack out what you pack in.

We decided to drive over to check out the nearby Horseshoe Dam in hopes to catch the spillway…read morerelease and the waterfall it creates into the Verde River and then head over to Bartlett Lake to see the start of the wildflower blooms. Totally worth seeing both when in the area. The drive was beautiful. Water levels are a bit low, but still amazing. The flowers are already in bloom, but will be even better by end of February into March if you'd love to see them. I love poppies but there are so many more flowers also in bloom, to see the best area I'd recommend the area just before Rattlesnake Cove . There is a small trail with roadside parking if lucky. Or can park in the cove parking and small hike back up to area. You do need to pay for a rec pass if parking and spending the day. You can purchase at stores nearby or roadside spots you'll see along the way. Traffic wasn't too bad today but as it warms up and flowers more in bloom be prepared. There is also a restaurant near the boat dock as well.

When I am looking for a place to run my motorcycle to, Bartlett lake is always front of the list in…read moremy mind. With nicely maintained roads running out of Cave Creek to the lake it's always a pleasant ride. There is a cafe there if you want to have lunch, which overlooks the lake as well. Every time I am there it makes me want to get a houseboat and ditch city life. One of these days maybe.

Went for a hike, decided to do the 2 miler, the area and weather is gorgeous, no humidity! The…read moretrails are clearly marked and we decided when we got to the turn around point to go even farther, ended up doubling our mileage and seeing some gorgeous views!!! There are trails that are easy and flat and of course some that are hilly and challenging, great for exercising! They also have tortoises and a small "museum" area with some of the wildlife....

This is a solid, vey large County Park all-around. There are trails for all skill levels. Most of…read morethe trails come off the Phillips Road entrance, which is coincidentally where the nature center is located. If you need a bathroom or to buy a Parks Pass, this is where you'll go. The other two entrances are off Hunt Highway (Wagon Wheel Drive) and Brenner Pass. Most of the easy/family-friendly trails are off Phillips Road- lots of loops with gradual, minimal rolling hills. The Wagon Wheel trails definitely have more elevation and challenging features. Both of the parking lots I've been to are wide, allowing plenty of car and equine parking. It's so fun to see the horses and riders out on the trails! You'll also see bikers too. This is also a popular park for races - running and biking, based on some friends experiences. Make sure to bring cash for parking if you don't have a Parks Pass, in case of emergency and/or if there's not a ranger manning each station.

So many great trails out in Peralta! With the perfect weather, my husband and I decided to take a…read morelater afternoon/evening hike Christmas week. You access Peralta Trails through the neighborhood and have a few miles of dirt road with various stopping points or spots to hike with great views of the Supes anywhere you go. There is no fee to hike our there or park, but make sure to be respectful of the trails and park so all can continue to access the beautiful views an dhiking opportunities As with most desert trails, there is minimal service, so make sure to plan accordingly. Also dog friendly!

This is a delightful escape from the city. The hike itself is actually fairly easy. The views are…read moreso beautiful that you forget you are hiking until you feel it on the way back to the parking lot (depending on how far you hike). Pretty much anyone can do this hike. We saw a bunch of toddlers on the trail, as well as several groups of seniors. You can a view of the large boulders, various cacti, and other plant and animal life. The weaver's needle is very majestic looking. I think my only complaint is that you are traveling on a gravel road for quite a while. There were a few aggressive truck drivers driving incredibly fast to pass people, but also some smaller cars driving at slower speeds. It takes about 1.5 hours to get to weaver's needle so not too strenuous of a hike at all.