Superstition Mountains
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Superstition Mountains Wilderness | |
|---|---|
| IUCN Category Ib (Wilderness Area) | |
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| Location | Arizona, USA |
| Nearest city | Tortilla Flat, Arizona |
| Coordinates | |
| Area | 159,757 acres (647 km²) |
| Established | 1939 |
| Governing body | U.S. Bureau of Land Management |
The Superstition Mountains, popularly referred to as "The Superstitions" or "The Supes", are a range of mountains in Arizona located to the east of the Phoenix metropolitan area. They are anchored by Superstition Mountain, a large mountain that is a popular recreation destination for residents of the Phoenix, Arizona area.
The mountain range is in the federally-designated Superstition Mountain Wilderness Area, and includes a variety of natural features in addition to the mountain that is its namesake. Weaver's Needle, a prominent landmark and rock climbing destination set behind and to the east of Superstition Mountain, is a tall erosional remnant [1] that plays a significant role in the legend of the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine. The Peralta Canyon, on the northeast side of Superstition Mountain, contains a popular trail that leads up to Freemont Saddle, which provides a very picturesque view of Weaver's Needle. Miner's Needle is another prominent formation in the wilderness and a popular hiking destination.
As with most of the terrain surrounding the Phoenix metropolitan area, the Superstition Mountains have a desert climate, with high summer temperatures and a handful of perennial sources of water. The altitude in the more remote, eastern portion of the wilderness is higher than the western portion, which lowers temperatures slightly. Numerous hiking trails cross the mountains from multiple access points, including the Peralta Trailhead, the most popular. [2] The Lost Dutchman State Park, located on the west side of Superstition Mountain, includes several short walking trails.
The Superstition Mountains are bounded roughly by U.S. Route 60 on the south, State Route 88 on the northwest, and State Route 188 on the northeast.
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[edit] Superstition legends
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This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2008) |
The legend of the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine centers around the Superstition Mountains. According to the legend, a German immigrant named Jacob Waltz (some sources offer other spellings of his last name, such as "Walz") discovered a mother lode in the Superstition Wilderness and revealed its location on his deathbed in 1891 to a woman who had taken care of him for many years. Several mines have been claimed to be the actual mine that Waltz discovered, but none of those claims have been verified.[1]
Some Apaches believe that the hole leading down into the lower world is located in the Superstition Mountains. Winds blowing from the hole are supposed to be the cause of severe dust storms.[3]
The Peralta Stones were discovered near the Superstition Wilderness and appear to contain a cryptic treasure map, although their authenticity is doubted by many researchers.
Modern visitors are urged to remain on established trails when hiking the Superstitions. Since the mid-1800s, well over 100 people have died among the craggy peaks. Some of those deaths were murders associated with the fabled Lost Dutchman Mine; but many were due to falls from its breathtaking - and dangerously steep - precipices. The high death toll prompted state officials in 1983 to outlaw any serious mining efforts in the Superstition range.
The rugged terrain, considered by many to be the roughest on the planet, is so extreme that NASA used it to train astronauts in the early days of space travel.
[edit] Nearby towns and cities
[edit] References
- ^ a b Tom Kollenborn (1990). WEAVER'S NEEDLE OR PICACHO. Retrieved on April 2007.
- ^ Doug Carroll. Hiking the Supsertitions. Retrieved on April 2007.
- ^ Vitaliano, Dorothy. 1973. Legends of the Earth, Bloomington: University of Indiana Press, pp. 170-171.
[edit] See also
- List of U.S. Wilderness Areas
- List of Arizona Wilderness Areas
- List of mountain ranges of Arizona
- Wilderness Act
