Hikes of the Superstition Mountains

Our Phoenix golf club and guard-gated community is nestled at the base of the Superstition Mountains, giving residents and members spectacular views and easy access to incredible hiking trials. In a past blog, we provided an overview of 3 Popular Superstition Mountain Hiking Trails – Siphon Draw, Hieroglyphic and Wave Cave – and below we’ll outline a few of the other popular paths.

1. Massacre Falls 
This trail, rated as moderate in difficulty, is still considered family friendly. If you can catch it after a rainstorm you’ll enjoy a spectacular desert waterfall. Stats: 5.3-mile round trip with a 1,092-elevation gain.

Battleship Mountain Scramble 
A scramble in hiking terms denotes a trail that involves using your hands to navigate steep, rocky terrain. This challenging hike is a 11.3 out-and-back trek with a 1,847-foot elevation gain. Be prepared for an exhilarating experience as the trial includes sections with some skinny ridges and drop-offs.

Superstition Ridgeline Trail 
One of the more challenging trails, Superstition Ridgeline offers 4,860 feet of elevation gain during the 11-mile point-to-point hike. There are rocky areas and some places where the trail isn’t clearly marked, or comes to a fork, so be sure to pack a topographical map and plan your route ahead of time.  

Jacob's Crosscut Trail
This is a good one for those looking for a more leisurely stroll than an thrilling day of hiking. Jacob’s Crosscut is an easy trail that runs along the base of the mountain and connects several other trails.

Before you set out, be sure to review these 8 hiking tips and backpack essentials for Phoenix. Or take the advice of member Julie Barr who was part of a group from Superstition that tackled Flatiron:

Wear gloves that can handle the climbing and dress in comfortable, sturdy layers. Shady areas on the path can be cool but it gets warm quickly. You’ll need great hiking shoes and while some people like walking/hiking sticks, I think they get in the way because you need both hands for descending and climbing. Your body and knees will be sore for several days afterwards but the experience is amazing. And if you’re lucky, you’ll run into Flat Iron Jim.

A local legend, as of fall 2024 Flat Iron Jim was 92 years old and had completed the iconic hike more than 400 times. Read Hiking Flatiron at the Superstition Mountains – Insider Info, to hear more about the members’ experience conquering the summit.

Now that you are armed with some additional knowledge and plenty of inspiration, get out there and enjoy the great outdoors!