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Superstition Mountain | |
---|---|
Highest point | |
Elevation | 5,059 ft (1,542 m) NAVD 88 [1] |
Prominence | 1,817 ft (554 m) [2] |
Coordinates | 33°24′40″N111°24′03″W / 33.411016967°N 111.400765347°W [1] |
Naming | |
Native name | |
Geography | |
Location | Pinal County, Arizona, US |
Parent range | Superstition Mountains |
Topo map | USGS Goldfield |
Superstition Mountain (Yavapai : Wi:kchsawa, O'odham : Gakoḍk) is a prominent mountain and regional landmark located in the Phoenix metropolitan area of Arizona, immediately east of Apache Junction and north of Gold Canyon. It anchors the west end of the Superstition Mountains (within the federally designated Superstition Wilderness Area) and is a popular outdoor recreation destination, home to numerous trails for hiking and horseback riding. [3] The legend of the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine centers around the mountain.
Apache Junction resident and Superstition Mountain historian Tom Kollenborn reported the Pima people's name for the mountain (in the Oʼodham language) was "kakatak tamai", meaning "Crooked-Top Mountain". [4] The name "Superstition Mountains" first appears on a map produced in 1872, with the singular "Superstition Mountain" appearing on an 1874 map. [4] A 1927 map shows both "Coronado Mountain" and "Monte de Espuma" for the mountain, [4] while the USGS reports "Monte de la Expuma" as an alternative name. [5] "Sierra de Espuma" is another reported name for the mountain, sometimes attributed to Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, but it is unlikely he saw the mountain. [4]
Native peoples of the Salado culture settled near the mountain, possibly as early as 1,000 CE, and constructed cliff dwellings in nearby Rogers Canyon. [4] Sometime between 700 CE and 1,100 CE, the Hohokam people left petroglyphs in the incorrectly named Hieroglyphic Canyon. [3] The Superstition Wilderness contains other petroglyph sites. [4] The Pima people arrived in the region around 1,400 CE, by which point the Hohokam were no longer living there. [4] By the time Europeans entered the region, the Yavapai also lived in the region near the mountain, and Western Apache bands conducted hit-and-run raids on settlers and travelers into the 19th century. [4]
Marcos de Niza may have been the first European to see Superstition Mountain in 1539 during his search for the Seven Cities of Cibola. [4] Superstition Mountain was located on the northern frontier of New Spain, and then fell within the territory of Mexico prior to the end of the Mexican–American War in 1848. The Mexican Cession moved the mountain into the United States when the border shifted south to the Gila River. [3] By 1853, a United States War Department map of the area showed Weaver's Needle. [4] Two minor skirmishes may have occurred around the mountain during the American Civil War. [6] A skirmish with the Yavapai also occurred near the mountain during a campaign led by John D. Walker in 1866. [7] The first Anglo-American settler in the wilderness was Elisha Reavis, who established a homestead and garden east of the mountain around 1878. [4]
Gold prospecting and mining activity occurred around the mountain in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The possibly-apocryphal Peralta massacre reportedly occurred in 1848, when members of the Peralta family tried to transport gold out of the mountains before they became U.S. territory. [3] The first mining claim in the region was the Buckhorn Claim, now known as the Palmer Mine, staked in 1886, [3] and at least 15 gold mines were established near the mountain, including the Mammoth Mine and Bull Dog Mine. [3] The mountain is featured in the legend of the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine, and treasure hunters have continued to search for the mine to the present day, despite strict rules limiting prospecting and mining activity in the Superstition Wilderness Area. [3] [8]
Ranching in the area began with a few cattlemen moving into the area in 1872, [4] with an organized ranch established as early as 1876 at the present-day Quarter Circle U Ranch. [3] The first survey benchmark was placed on Superstition Peak in 1899. [3] The Apache Trail was constructed near the western base of the mountain between 1903 and 1905, connecting Mesa to Roosevelt Dam. Apacheland Movie Ranch was built near Gold Canyon [9] and served as the backdrop for numerous western films. [10] The Superstition Wilderness was established in 1964, protecting much of the mountain and the range it lies within, [3] and it was expanded to approximately 160,200 acres (64,800 ha) in 1984. [11]
Superstition Mountain has been the site of several airplane crashes, including the 1948 crash of a World War II training aircraft on the west side of the mountain in Monument Canyon [12] and the 2011 crash of a Rockwell Turbo Commander near the Flatiron with six fatalities. [13] [14] Other plane crashes have occurred in the vicinity of the mountain, such as the crash of a Fleet Aircraft biplane in 1942 or 1943 near Whiskey Spring Canyon with both occupants surviving; the aircraft was recovered in 1963 and returned to flying condition. [3]
During the 20th and 21st centuries, the Phoenix metropolitan area has expanded to the vicinity of the mountain. In 1940, nearby Apache Junction was "nothing more than a filling station and a small zoo", [4] but by 2019 its population was estimated at 42,571. [15] The population of the unincorporated community of Gold Canyon located south of the mountain has grown rapidly, increasing 68.5% between the United States Census in 2000 and 2010. Both now serve as bedroom communities for the fast-growing Phoenix area.[ citation needed ]
Superstition Mountain is located within the greater Superstition Mountains range 43 miles east of Phoenix, Arizona, in the fringe of the state's central mountain region. It is a prominent landmark located generally south and east of the Salt River, rising approximately 3,000 feet (910 m) above the Salt River Valley. [4] The city of Apache Junction is located immediately to the west of the mountain, and the unincorporated community of Gold Canyon is located to the south.
The mountain has two major peaks, Superstition Peak [5] or Peak 5057 (elevation recorded as 5,059 feet (1,542 m) using NAVD 88, but formerly recorded as 5,057 feet (1,541 m) [1] ) near Hieroglyphic Canyon and Peak 5024 (5,024 feet (1,531 m)) above Lost Dutchman State Park near a visually prominent feature called the Flatiron. [3] Lost Dutchman State Park is located on the western side of the mountain, as is the Goldfield ghost town in modern-day Youngberg. The northern and eastern sides of the mountain consist of very rugged terrain and wilderness. Weavers Needle, popular for rock climbing, is on the east side of the mountain.
The mountain was formed by a series of volcanic eruptions between 20.5 and 18 million years ago. [16] The west face of the mountain is composed of dacite lava and rhyolitic tuff. [17] The overlying tuff was deposited during an eruption which created a collapse caldera bounded by faults. Dome resurgence reactivated these faults, causing uplift of the caldera floor which juxtaposed the softer tuff and more resistant dacite. [17] Differential weathering caused the outer tuff to erode faster, leaving the dacite cliffs exposed and creating the prominent mountain visible today.
Superstition Mountain is located in a semi-arid zone, receiving between 8 inches (20 cm) and 25 inches (64 cm) of precipitation annually, depending on elevation. The average annual temperature is 72 °F (22 °C), but summer temperatures above 112 °F (44 °C) are common, with temperatures sometimes falling below freezing in winter. The North American Monsoon brings rain and thunderstorms in July and early August, with a danger of flash floods. [4]
The mountain has numerous trails for hiking and horseback riding, along with limited trails for mountain biking. Trailheads include the First Water Trailhead near Youngberg, several trailheads in Lost Dutchman State Park, [18] the Tonto Trailhead and Broadway Trailhead near Apache Junction, and the Hieroglyphic Trailhead and Peralta Trailhead near Gold Canyon. [3] The Superstition Ridgeline Trail follows the contour of the top of the mountain. [19] [3] Mountain bikes are not permitted within the Superstition Wilderness, which protects much of the mountain.[ citation needed ]
Rock climbing is also popular on and around Superstition Mountain, with popular climbs including The Hand (also known as Praying Hands) and Crying Dinosaur along trails near Lost Dutchman State Park, [3] as well as Weaver's Needle north of Fremont Saddle.
U.S. Route 60 and Apache Trail are two primary roads used to access Superstition Mountain.
Yavapai County is a county near the center of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2020 census, its population was 236,209, making it the fourth-most populous county in Arizona. The county seat is Prescott.
Apache Junction is a city in Pinal and Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 38,499, most of whom lived in Pinal County. It is named for the junction of the Apache Trail and Old West Highway. The area where Apache Junction is located used to be known as Youngberg. Superstition Mountain, the westernmost peak of the Superstition Mountains, is to the east.
The Peralta Stones are a set of engraved stones suppsedly indicating the location of the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine, in Arizona, United States. The "Dutchman" was actually a German immigrant named Jacob Waltz.
The Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine is, according to legend, a rich gold mine hidden in the Southwestern United States. The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, Arizona. There have been many stories about how to find the mine, and each year people search for the mine. Some have died on the search.
Tortilla Flat is a small unincorporated community in far eastern Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. It is located in the central part of the state, northeast of Apache Junction. It is the last surviving stagecoach stop along the Apache Trail. According to the Gross Management Department of Arizona's main U.S. Post Office in Phoenix, Tortilla Flat is presumed to be Arizona's smallest official "community" having a U.S. Post Office and voting precinct. The town has a population of 6. Tortilla Flat can be reached by vehicles on the Apache Trail, via Apache Junction.
Mount Wrightson is a 9,456-foot (2,882 m) peak in the Santa Rita Mountains within the Coronado National Forest, in southern Arizona, United States.
The Hualapai Mountains are a mountain range located in Mohave County, east of Kingman, Arizona. Rising up to 8,417 feet at its highest peak, the higher elevations of the Hualapai Mountains support Madrean Sky Island habitats, and are host to a plethora of unique flora and fauna in a wide range of microclimates, high above the surrounding Mojave Desert.
Four Peaks is a prominent landmark on the eastern skyline of Phoenix. Part of the Mazatzal Mountains, it is located in the Four Peaks Wilderness in the Tonto National Forest, 40 miles (64 km) east-northeast of Phoenix. In winter, Four Peaks offers much of the Phoenix metro area a view of snow-covered peaks. Four Peaks is the site of an amethyst mine that produces top-grade amethyst.
The Superstition Mountains is 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. They are roughly bounded by U.S. Route 60 on the south, Arizona State Route 88 on the northwest, and Arizona State Route 188 on the northeast.
Weavers Needle is a 1,000-foot-high (300 m) column of rock that forms a distinctive peak visible for many miles around. Located in the Superstition Mountains east of Phoenix, Arizona, Weavers Needle was created when a thick layer of tuff —a volcanic plug—was heavily eroded, creating the spire as an erosional remnant with a summit elevation of 4,555 feet (1,388 m). It is set in a desert landscape of cactus and mesquite bush, with large Saguaro cacti particularly prominent. The peak was named after mountain man Pauline Weaver.
Miller Peak, at 9,470 feet (2,886 m), is the second-highest mountain in Cochise County, Arizona. Located approximately 10 miles south of Sierra Vista, Arizona, it is the highest mountain in the Huachuca mountain range and a popular local hiking destination. The Miller Peak Wilderness encompasses 20,190 acres and is managed by the Coronado National Forest. This is also the most southerly peak and land area to rise above 9,000 feet in the continental United States. The area was affected by the 2011 Monument fire and most of the pine trees seen in older photographs were burned and destroyed. Scrub oak are beginning to replace the areas that were previously covered by pine.
Sycamore Canyon is the second largest canyon in the Arizona redrock country, after Oak Creek Canyon. The 21-mile (34 km) long scenic canyon reaches a maximum width of about 7 miles (11 km). It is in North Central Arizona bordering and below the Mogollon Rim, and is located west and northwest of Sedona in Yavapai and Coconino counties.
Wet Beaver Wilderness is a 6,155-acre wilderness area located in the Coconino National Forest in the U.S. state of Arizona.
The Hieroglyphic Mountains are a mountain range located in central Arizona. The Hieroglyphics roughly straddle the border between Maricopa and Yavapai counties and form an effective physical barrier northwest of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. Due to their proximity to Phoenix and its environs, the mountains offer a number of outdoor recreational activities.
Lost Dutchman State Park is a 320-acre (129 ha) state park located in northwestern Pinal County, Arizona on the Apache Trail north of Apache Junction, near the Superstition Mountains in central Arizona. It is named after the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine, a famously lost gold mine legendary in the tales of the Old West. It is accessible about 40 miles (64 km) east of Phoenix via U.S. Highway 60, the Superstition Freeway.
The Black Hills of Yavapai County are a large mountain range of central Arizona in southeast Yavapai County. It is bordered by the Verde Valley to the east. The northwest section of the range is bisected from the southeast section by Interstate 17, which is the main route connecting Phoenix to Sedona, Oak Creek Canyon, and Flagstaff. This bisection point is the approximate center of the mostly northwest by southeast trending range. The northwest section contains a steep escarpment on the northeast with the Verde Valley, the escarpment being the location of the fault-block that created the historic mining district at Jerome. The United Verde Mine was one of the largest copper mines in the United States, producing large quantities of copper, gold, silver and zinc.
Carr Peak is the third-highest mountain in Cochise County, Arizona and is the second-highest mountain in the Huachuca Mountains. It rises about 10 miles (16 km) south of Sierra Vista, Arizona. The summit is in the Miller Peak Wilderness on the Coronado National Forest and about 4 miles (6 km) south of the Nature Conservancy's Ramsey Canyon Preserve. The area is well known among birders because of the variety of hummingbird species seen in the area as well as the dozens of southwestern specialties such as Apache pine, Chihuahua pine, ridge-nosed rattlesnake, lesser long-nosed bat and elegant trogon.
The Pinal Mountains are a mountain range located in Gila County, Arizona. They have a maximum elevation of 7,848 ft (2,392 m) at Pinal Peak and a prominence of over 4,000 ft (1,200 m). The closest city is the Globe, Arizona/Miami, Arizona area, which is just a few miles north of the mountain range. The mountains are located within the Tonto National Forest, and their recreational facilities are maintained by the USDA's United States Forest Service. The San Carlos Indian Reservation is very close to the mountain range, with its boundaries being just a few miles east/northeast of the range. The mountains are covered with Ponderosa Pine and white fir and experience cooler weather than the Globe/Miami area, so that they are a popular recreation area in the summer. The maintained facilities include a maintained dirt road that goes all the way to the summit of Pinal Peak, a campsite and recreational area, many hiking trails, as well as some radio towers near both Pinal and Signal peaks. The mountain range covers an area of 45,760 acres.
Silly Mountain, also known as "Roadside Benchmark", is a mountain in Arizona, United States, located near the city of Apache Junction. It is part of the Superstition Mountain range. The elevation of the mountain is 2,139 feet (652 m), and the prominence is 358 feet (109 m).