Superstition Mountains Backpacking
This craggy high desert wilderness provides the ideal setting for a backpacking expedition like no other. Home to the legend of the Lost Dutchman's Gold, the Superstition Mountains have long been considered one of the premiere hiking destinations in the southwest. This incredibly rugged desert terrain is highlighted by an abundant display of giant Saguaro cacti, bright yellow lichen, and unique flora and fauna. Our northbound one-way through-hike will traverse deep narrow chasms exploring the eroded rock spires and blocky sheer walled mesas. Between hidden 19th century gold mines and unmatched desert beauty, this backpacking adventure is guaranteed to be legendary!
Superstition Mountains Backpacking Itinerary:
Day 1 Meet at the REI store in Tempe for a trip orientation. Enjoy dinner together while eagerly anticipating the adventure ahead!
Day 2 Hike through a sea of Saguaro cacti, past the imposing Miner's Needle, to Miner's Summit with spectacular vistas of canyon walls.
Day 3 A day of exploration, fun and discovery awaits as our route takes us along a detour into the marvels of Le Barge Box and culminates with a grand finale camp experience in beautiful West Boulder Canyon.
Day 4 Hike the Boulder Canyon trail, a ridgeline path with Weaver's Needle dominating the landscape. Relax over lunch at Canyon Lake Marina.
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; snacks to be eaten throughout the day (ex: trail mix, dried fruit, chocolate); roundtrip shuttle from hotel to store for Day1orientation; roundtrip transportation to/from Fiesta Resort 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; shuttles to/from hotels other than Fiesta Resort, energy bars/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 30-35 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 50o –80o 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.
Superstition Mountains Backpacking
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.
Gear Checklist
- Tents (3 season, 2 person)
- Cooking gear
- Stoves and fuel
- Water filter
- Group first aid kit
- Backpack: large internal frame or external frame (4000 – 6000 cu”)
- Pack cover – waterproof
- Lightweight compressible sleeping bag (rated around 20-35 F)
- Sleeping pad
- Rain jacket and pants, lightweight waterproof and breathable
- 1 pair hiking pants, synthetic, quick-drying, lightweight (zip-off legs)
- 1 pair hiking shorts, synthetic, quick-drying, lightweight
- 1-2 T-shirts, synthetic
- Midweight fleece jacket or wool sweater
- Mid- or lightweight thermal top and bottom made of synthetic or wool (weather dependent)
- Sun hat with brim
- Wool or fleece hat and gloves
- 2 changes of underwear
- Hiking socks, 2 pairs of wool or synthetic
- Hiking boots: heavy duty, waterproof, and well broken-in, should rise above ankle
- Camp shoes: comfortable lightweight sneakers or sport-type sandals
- Two 1-quart water bottles or hydration system equivalent (recommended to bring one 1-quart bottle even with hydration system)
- Headlamp with spare batteries and bulb
- Plastic bowl, spoon, travel mug with lid
- Sunglasses and retainer strap
- Sunblock, small amount not the whole bottle, min SPF 25
- Lip balm
- Personal medications
- Toothbrush & trial-sized paste
- Pack towel and/or washcloth
- Bandana
- TP system: toilet paper, 1 Ziploc quart baggie (to hold roll of TP), 1 Ziploc gallon baggie, 1 opaque bag gallon or grocery bag, orange plastic trowel, hand sanitizing wipes
- Trekking Poles - Highly Recommended
- Gaiters
- Pocket knife or small multi-tool
- Compass
- Ear plugs
- Camera and film (think weight)
- Swim suit
- Favorite energy snacks & powdered drinks
- Clean shirt & flip flops or sandals (optional to leave in van and change into at trail’s end)
Feel free to give us a call at (800) 622-2236 should you have any questions regarding the gear list. The staff at our stores and Direct Sales (800-426-4840) will also be happy to help you with gear questions. Or check out www.rei.com/learn. The Expert Advice section on our "Learn" page has great information to help you prepare for your trip.
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviewsPros
- Activity level (24)
- Group camaraderie (24)
- Guides (24)
- Exceeded expectations (23)
- Food (21)
Cons
Best Uses
- Reviewer Profile:
- Avid adventurer (11), Casual adventurer (10), Casual/ recreational (7)
- Why Did You Choose to Travel with REI Adventures?:
- Active adventures (20), Destination (18), Travel with like-minded outdoor enthusiasts (18), I liked the itinerary (17), All the details planned for me (15)
Reviewed by 26 customers
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Pros
- Activity Level
- Exceeded Expectations
- Food
- Group Camaraderie
- Guides
- Once in a Lifetime Experience
- Quality Equipment Provided
- Well Organized Itinerary
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about REI Adventures Superstition Mountains Backpacking:
This was our first REI trip - and it will definitely not be our last. We were incredibly impressed by the guides and how they managed to make us feel spoiled in the midst of desert wilderness. For example, Alex baked chocolate chip cookies with mesquite flour and carried them carefully wrapped and kept cool in a tin for TWO days before producing them during a "pack-off" break. "Peeps" also appeared at breakfast on Easter morning. Brian patiently and meticulously treated hot-spots on our feet - and calmly popped a dislocated should back into place after one of us slipped on a rock. And he also treated us to a dramatic telling of the legend of the Lost Dutchman mind at night around the campfire. The food was absolutely delicious and we all felt we ate way too much! The desert itself did not disappoint. Thanks to the right weather, we had a spectacular display of wildflowers that constantly stopped me in my tracks. I had nightmares about encountering a rattlesnake before the trip, but when I actually had a close encounter on the trail, I discovered that they will rattle a warning and you have plenty of opportunity to avoid a problem. We actually saw 4 rattlers on our trip - and no one was in danger. The amount of hiking each day is also very manageable. If at times you feel like you might be at your limit, be assured a break is near (our "pack-off" breaks were often in beautiful spots - under a canopy of trees, next to a stream where we could soak our feet). And our group also just spread out along the trail. One guide was always in the back to make sure everyone was safe. And we really appreciated the wisdom and experience of our guides - we came across more than one group of hikers who had lost their way and added miles and miles to their day of hiking. When we reached camp each day, I was always relieved to dump my back, but certainly not at a point of exhaustion. I'm not sure I can think of any problems. A few suggestions - bring a little bug spray, don't forget to grab hot chocolate/tea/creamer/sugar for evening and morning hot beverages. You'll be sorry if you don't have something! Definitely use hiking poles - they help so much on uphills and downhills - and there are LOTS of stream crossing. The REI tents they gave us were 2 person, not three person (as info said). That was fine (lighter weight), but it was a close fit for my husband and I. On our trip of 12, there were only two couples (including us), everyone else was traveling alone (in some cases, partners stayed home due to health or no interest). I do recommend staying at the Fiesta Resort. It's not a fabulous hotel, but it's nice enough. We came a day early and visited the Desert Botanical Gardens (the hotel shuttle gave us a ride there and back - we just had to wait if they needed to do an airport run). It was a great place to wander and get used to the heat - and start to familiarize ourselves with the flora of the desert (coming from Minnesota). I also recommend not flying back the night you get back, if you can avoid it. It was nice to be able to take a shower and relax by the pool a bit, rather than those that had to rush to the airport.
- Why Did You Choose to Travel with REI Adventures?:
- Active Adventures, All the Details Planned for Me, Destination, Travel with Like-minded Outdoor Enthusiasts
- Why did you choose this trip?:
- We ended up selecting this trip mainly because of timing - I had a period of time when I could get away and I really wanted something active and outdoors, so I looked to see if REI had any trips available. This was the one that fit. Although the reason for selecting this trip wasn't particularly inspiring...we were thrilled with the decision.
- What was the highlight of your trip?:
- Impossible to choose. The guides (Brian and Alex) were fantastic. They were friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and completely focused on giving us the best experience possible. The flora and fauna was spectacular - the wildflowers were in full bloom and we spotted Gila Monsters and rattlesnakes. And the interesting mix of other hikers in our group led to lots of laughs and shared experiences.
- What would be your advice to potential travelers?:
- Go! Get yourself in shape and do some training hikes with a heavy pack. However, the pace is really comfortable, with plenty of stops and "pack-off" breaks. Be smart about what you pack - but bring layers. Our trip was the last of the season before it gets too hot, but the nights were still very cold - 90s in the day, 40s at night. Bring a little bug spray, we did encounter some mosquitos.
Bottom LineYes, I would recommend this to a friend
Images shared by Christina in Minnesota
Spectacular wildflowers greeted us everywhere!
Images shared by Christina in Minnesota
Amazing views all day long.
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Pros
- Activity Level
- Guides
- Well Organized Itinerary
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about REI Adventures Superstition Mountains Backpacking:
This was the February 21-24 trip.
Another wonderful adventure with REI! Guides were great - Chris, Brian, Danny.
Thanks REI/Mariann for the very nice framed picture acknowledging my previous trips.
It took three times, but I think now I have experienced it all, including some Superstition secrets...
- Why Did You Choose to Travel with REI Adventures?:
- Active Adventures, All the Details Planned for Me, Destination, Good Value, I Liked the Itinerary, Travel with Like-minded Outdoor Enthusiasts
- Why did you choose this trip?:
- 3rd time's a charm! This was my third trip here in four years...love the area this time of year...itinerary/trip level is perfect for me...
- What was the highlight of your trip?:
- snow!
- What would be your advice to potential travelers?:
- book this trip, even if you have little previous experience
Bottom LineYes, I would recommend this to a friend
Images shared by Peggy R.
Images shared by Peggy R.
(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
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Pros
- Accommodations
- Activity Level
- Exceeded Expectations
- Food
- Group Camaraderie
- Guides
- Quality Equipment Provided
- Well Organized Itinerary
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about REI Adventures Superstition Mountains Backpacking:
I was floored by my surroundings. For someone who has never hiked/backpacked before, this trip was a great choice! Our guides (Chris, Brian, Jimmy) were very knowledgeable and provided the group with great tips before and during our hike. I also appreciated the history behind the Superstition Mountains and the stories told by the campfire. The food was terrific! Blueberry pancakes on our last morning, and toblerone s'mores in the evenings (brilliant!). Overall, I had an amazing experience!
- Why Did You Choose to Travel with REI Adventures?:
- Active Adventures, Destination, Good Value, I Liked the Itinerary, Recommended by a Friend
- Why did you choose this trip?:
- Choosing Arizona for my first hiking trip was easy. I knew that the climate would be dry, and that it rarely rained there. The terrain was also just so vastly different from what I am usually exposed to. I also wanted to choose a trip that would be a good combination of physical challenge, education, and breathtaking views.
- What was the highlight of your trip?:
- The learning experience, the physical challenge, and the breathtaking views.
- What would be your advice to potential travelers?:
- I found it helpful to fill my backpack with 30 pounds of textbooks and do the stair-climber for 1-1.5 hours a day. Just getting use to the weight on my back helped with respect to balance - especially true when stepping stones to get across water, or on the last day of the hike where we were hiking downhill close to the edge with cactus on your one side and not a lot of room on your other side.
Bottom LineYes, I would recommend this to a friend
Images shared by Christine L
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Pros
- Accommodations
- Activity Level
- Exceeded Expectations
- Food
- Group Camaraderie
- Guides
- Well Organized Itinerary
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about REI Adventures Superstition Mountains Backpacking:
My trip experience was awesome. I had a wonderful experience right from my interactions with Martha over email and phone, our fabulous guides, Steve and Bailey, the group's camaraderie, the incredible variety in the fauna in the mountains, the places we picked for camping, the delicious food....Above all, just knowing that I was able to do it, and that it set me to want to do more!
There could be a better sync-up between the literature that was sent to us prior to the trip and what to expect. For example, I carried a backpack that fit all the things that I was planning to take on the trip, but, I had no clue on what to expect as additional group gear and tent to be added. (Remember, first time backpacking!). I had no problems doing my part and carrying the stuff, but, would have liked to be better prepared instead of having to do some last minute scrambling in renting a backpack. Something along - expect to carry a tent and gear that weigh... would be nice for beginners.
- Why Did You Choose to Travel with REI Adventures?:
- Active Adventures, All the Details Planned for Me, Commitment to Sustainability, I Liked the Itinerary, Travel with Like-minded Outdoor Enthusiasts
- Why did you choose this trip?:
- This was my first backpacking trip. I had done long day hikes before, and was looking for a backpacking trip for beginners. Also, I was looking for something to coincide with my 40th birthday so I could set the trend for the rest of my 40s :)
- What was the highlight of your trip?:
- EVERYTHING! Specifically, the incredible motivation that I received from everyone in the group though I was always the last to finish :)
- What would be your advice to potential travelers?:
- Prepare for the trip by hiking on different terrains, particularly rocky and uneven terrains, and good downhill slopes. Also, make sure you practice with a 34 pound backpack for at least a couple of hikes.
Pros
- Accommodations
- Activity Level
- Exceeded Expectations
- Food
- Group Camaraderie
- Guides
- Once in a Lifetime Experience
- Quality Equipment Provided
- Well Organized Itinerary
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about REI Adventures Superstition Mountains Backpacking:
Our guides Chris and Megan really made the trip special. The biggest surprise of the trip was the meals they prepared, they were all awesome. I also couldn't beleive it when Megan took my nasty dirty foot in her lap in the middle of a long hard day's hike and doctored on a blister on my big toe, ABOVE AND BEYOND.
- Why Did You Choose to Travel with REI Adventures?:
- Recommended by a Friend
- Why did you choose this trip?:
- It fit in our groups schedule
- What was the highlight of your trip?:
- The guides were the highlight of the trip! The trip and scenery were amazing, but the guides truly made the trip. They challenged us so we felt true accomplishment while also keeping a close eye on safety and physical condition. They took time out to teach skills and enviromental awareness, but also joked around and made the trip fun.
- What would be your advice to potential travelers?:
- Purchase a quality 3 liter water bladder for your backpack in addition to the two 1 liter bottles the gear list suggest. You will need more water than the gear list recommends and the terrain is challenging so the conveneint tube to drink is needed. Trekking poles are an absolute must. I also highly recommend Chris and Megan as guides.
Pros
- Activity Level
- Exceeded Expectations
- Food
- Group Camaraderie
- Guides
- Once in a Lifetime Experience
- Well Organized Itinerary
Cons
- None
Best Uses
Comments about REI Adventures Superstition Mountains Backpacking:
This was one of the best experiences we have ever had. Each one of the people we met were remarkable and a complete joy to spend three days with. Our guides (Steven & Alex) were awesome and knew their stuff. The views were incredible and neverending.
If you are even remotely considering this trip, don't give it another thought - book it, now!
- Why Did You Choose to Travel with REI Adventures?:
- Destination, I Liked the Itinerary, Travel with Like-minded Outdoor Enthusiasts
- Why did you choose this trip?:
- Wanted to experience the desert in a backcountry setting.
- What was the highlight of your trip?:
- Getting water from backcountry resources. You haven't lived until you filter water from a pool that your feet are soaking in! Take that Survivorman!
- What would be your advice to potential travelers?:
- Pack light and practice with a loaded backpack. Also, have good hiking boots and break them in. If there is one thing to spend extra money on, it is good boots. Keep your feet in good shape and the hiking is so much easier.
Bottom LineYes, I would recommend this to a friend
Images shared by ma5150
Images shared by ma5150
(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)
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Pros
- Beautiful scenery excel
- Food
- Group Camaraderie
- Guides
- Once in a Lifetime Experience
- Well Organized Itinerary
Cons
- Needs emergency plan
Best Uses
Comments about REI Adventures Superstition Mountains Backpacking:
Guides should go over safety emergency plan for group
- Why Did You Choose to Travel with REI Adventures?:
- Active Adventures, All the Details Planned for Me
- What was the highlight of your trip?:
- Scenery
- What would be your advice to potential travelers?:
- Pack light
Pros
- Activity Level
- Exceeded Expectations
- Food
- Group Camaraderie
- Guides
- Well Organized Itinerary
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about REI Adventures Superstition Mountains Backpacking:
Great commraderie with the other travelers and Chris and Steve were great. They taught us a lot and were very patient and took great care of us. You guys ROCKED!
- Why Did You Choose to Travel with REI Adventures?:
- Active Adventures, All the Details Planned for Me, Destination, Previous trip was great
- Why did you choose this trip?:
- We are avid hikers but had little experience backpacking and camping. We hoped this trip would teach us some outdoor skills. We did learn a lot.
- What was the highlight of your trip?:
- The views were great.
- What would be your advice to potential travelers?:
- Train hard and bring a large memory card for your camera.
Bottom LineYes, I would recommend this to a friend
Images shared by KBDoane
The group just before starting
Images shared by KBDoane
The view from where we came
(0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
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Pros
- Exceeded Expectations
- Food
- Group Camaraderie
- Guides
- Once in a Lifetime Experience
- Quality Equipment Provided
- Well Organized Itinerary
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about REI Adventures Superstition Mountains Backpacking:
Just prepare for a hard hike and go enjoy it as everything else is handled.
- Why Did You Choose to Travel with REI Adventures?:
- Active Adventures, Destination, Travel with Like-minded Outdoor Enthusiasts
- Why did you choose this trip?:
- I wanted to get some backpacking experience so I could do some other trips on my own or with friends. It also was something that I just wanted to experience and say I have done.
- What was the highlight of your trip?:
- Seeing the beauty of the mountains, learning lots about backpacking, and experiencing the group camaraderie. Both Chris and Steve were great guides too and made things fun with stories and polar bear jokes. :)
- What would be your advice to potential travelers?:
- Practice some serious hiking with a heavy backpack. I've done lots of hard day hikes, but backpacking is more than just a little different. The hike overall was awesome, but at several points it was like just trying to put one foot in front of the other. Definitely not the guides' fault, but it's just more fun if you are prepared. Also went in late March and was pretty warm, so it would be more enjoyable to do it earlier in mid November to mid March.
Pros
- Activity Level
- Group Camaraderie
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about REI Adventures Superstition Mountains Backpacking:
This was a great little adventure, a brisk hike through a fascinating, varied and dramatic landscape led by knowledgable and dedicated guides. I was fortunate to join a great group of fun people from all over the country and experience the Sonoran Desert in early winter. Stiff hiking during the daytime, good talk over a fire and good camp food at night, a full moon hanging overheard like a giant nuclear-powered pearl illuminating everything till dawn -- for me, this was the right trip at just the right time.
- Why Did You Choose to Travel with REI Adventures?:
- Active Adventures, Destination
- Why did you choose this trip?:
- I was able to book it on very short notice, thanks to alert REI office staff who noticed that there had been a cancellation. Also, I've always enjoyed the desert. Finally, I hadn't loaded a pack and tried to go somewhere in many years, and wanted to push myself.
- What was the highlight of your trip?:
- The Sonoran Desert, an environment of grandeur and complexity -- and, when the wind isn't blowing, the quietest place I've ever been.
- What would be your advice to potential travelers?:
- Do be in good shape. Do be open to the environment you're hiking through, and to the people you're hiking with. Do take care of your feet, especially if you haven't done this kind of hiking in a long time. Don't stress out about all the things REI's pre-trip materials warn you about; you can get in trouble in the desert if you do something dumb, but the risks otherwise are modest.
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