Superstition Mountains Backpacking

Superstition Mountains Backpacking Itinerary:

• Day 1

  Your trip begins today, 5pm at the REI store in Tempe. Meet your guides and the other group members in the store for a rundown of the trip itinerary, gear check and packing. This is also a good opportunity to pick up some last minute items, including rental gear if needed. We will enjoy dinner and drinks while we get to know each other in eager anticipation of our adventure. Dinner Included. Tonight's Lodging is not included in your trip cost.

• Day 2

  Departing the REI Tempe store at 7:00AM we will drive (one hour) to our starting point on southern side of the Superstitions Mountain Range. Beginning at an elevation of 2,420 feet in a sea of Saguaro cacti we climb past the imposing Miner's Needle. Our highest point of the day will be Miner's Summit (3,260 feet), with spectacular vistas of the canyon walls. We then descend into Whiskey Springs Canyon, an area rich with lore and history. In the late afternoon we arrive at our pleasantly wooded campsite where tall Cottonwood and Sycamore trees stand in stark contrast to the surrounding desert. Meals included: Lunch and Dinner.
  
  Hiking: 6 miles, 1000+ elevation gain.

• Day 3

  After breaking camp we will continue through Marsh Valley and on to West Boulder Canyon. Our guides will provide a wide variety of side adventures and detours throughout today's hike. Drop your pack and venture into the narrows of La Barge Box, bring your bathing suit if you're feeling brave. We will spend time closely examining the Superstition Master Map, a collection of petroglyphs whose origin is hotly debated; Ancient Native American artwork or a Spanish Conquistador creation detailing the location of 18 nearby gold mines. West Boulder Canyon will serve as home for the night. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
  
  Hiking: 6 miles, 700+ elevation gain (plus optional additional side adventures mileage).

• Day 4

  This morning we will ascend the Boulder Canyon trail, this gorgeous ridgeline trail leads us out of the canyon along the high eastern ridge of the canyon before cresting and descending back to Canyon Lake. The views are expansive, while Weaver's Needle absolutely dominates the landscape. This imposing spire of weathered lava, named after famed frontier scout Pauline Weaver, has challenged imagination for more than a century. Most variants of the Lost Dutchman gold mine legend claim that the lost mine lies somewhere under the Needle's shadow. At trail's end we get to relax over a late lunch at the Canyon Lake Marina before returning to the REI Tempe store between 4 and 6PM. Meals included: Breakfast, lunch is on your own today.
  
  Hiking: 4 miles with 1000+ elevation gain.

Although we do our very best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control. This trip is operated rain or shine.

Contact REI Adventures prior to purchasing your airline tickets to confirm the trip has the minimum number of participants required to operate.

Professional instruction and guiding; meals as noted in the daily itinerary; Transportation to/from REI Tempe and trailheads. 2-person tents; group cooking gear; group first aid kit, water filter; campsite and backcountry permit fees.

Transportation from your hometown to group meeting point; insurance of any kind; first night accommodations; snacks and energy food; energy drinks; alcoholic beverages; soft drinks; guide gratuities and items of a personal nature.

Phoenix Sky Harbor, Phoenix

This trip is rated Moderate Plus [3-4]. Participants will be carrying their own backpacks weighing 35-40 pounds distances of 5-7 miles daily over varied terrain. To maximize your enjoyment of the trip, we strongly encourage participants to be involved in a training regimen before the trip. Most important to your enjoyment of the trip is your overall fitness level.

Daytime temperatures usually range between 50^o –80^o F but can sometime climb even higher. Evening temperatures drop into the 30s–40s or even lower. While rain in general is rare, there is always the possibility of rain, so adequate raingear is important, even in this arid landscape.

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Weekend Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and detailed pre-trip information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

The key to staying comfortable while on an active trip is layering. To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection. Try to bring only what is necessary—this will help you and the field staff.

Weather

Daytime temperatures usually range between 50^o –80^o F but can sometime climb even higher. Evening temperatures drop into the 30s–40s or even lower. While rain in general is rare, there is always the possibility of rain, so adequate raingear is important, even in this arid landscape.

Gear Checklist