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6109 N. Apache Trail
Apache Junction, Arizona 85219
Phone: (480) 982-4485
The park is located 5
miles north of Apache Junction, off AZ 88 (the old Apache Trail), at
the base of the Superstition Mountains.
The park is open 365
days a year from sunrise to 10 p.m.
Named after the
fabled lost gold mine, this park is located in the Sonoran Desert at
an elevation of 2000 feet. The park offers a variety of hiking trails,
nature trails, 35 regular campsites, picnic facilities, and special
programs throughout the year.
Mild winter climates
and the close proximity to the Valley of the Sun makes this an ideal
destination for many. During the winter, daytime temperatures usually
reach about 60°F., while the summer months can see temperatures soar
above 100°F.
The Superstition
Mountains have been a source of mystery and legend since early times.
The area is dotted with ancient cliff dwellings and caves, many
showing signs of former habitation by a number of different Native
American groups, up until the 1800's. Even the name is inspired by
Pima Indian legends.
During the 1840's,
the Peralta family of northern Mexico supposedly developed a rich gold
mine in the Superstitions. According to legend, an Apache ambush ended
the family's last expedition, and the gold remained in the area. In
the 1870's, Jacob Waltz (“the Dutchman”) was said to have located
the mine through the aid of the Peralta descendant. Waltz and his
partner, Jacob Weiser, worked in the mine and allegedly hid one or
more caches of gold in the Superstitions. Most stories place the gold
in the vicinity of Weaver's Needle.
After Waltz's death
in 1891, several people attempted to seek out the Lost Dutchman's
Mine, all without luck. Later searchers have sometimes met with foul
play or even death, contributing to the superstition and legend of
these mountains.
The legend of the “lost
mine” has been fueled by a number of people who were supposed to
have known the mine's location or even worked it. Maps have surfaced
over the years, only to become lost or misplaced.
Facilities:
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Camping
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Visitor Center
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Handicap Access
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Restrooms
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Picnic Area
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Picnic Shelters
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Group Use Area
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Hiking Trails
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Equestrian Trails
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Dump Station
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Mountain Biking
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