Calvary Trail - Superstition Mountains

Finally, I did this 15.5 mile day hike out to the Calvary Trail and Marsh Valley. I had been planning this loop trail all winter. I was waiting for perfect weather. It is now the longest distance I had ever hiked in one day. So nice to be free of anxieties on the trail. That's why I keep planning more difficult and longer journeys into the wilderness.

The Calvary Trail is beyond the capabilities of most day hikers which is nice. It took me 8.5 hours. I started at the First Water Trail Parking Lot, and took the left on to Second Water Trail, to Boulder Canyon Trail. From my car it had taken a little over 2 hours to reach the Calvary Trail. From there it took 2.5 hours to reach the Dutchman Trail. I followed that to the Needle Canyon Trail to Upper Black Top Mesa Pass, and then to East Bloulder Canyon, and back to the Dutchman Trail, and back to my car at First Water Trailhead.

The Little Four Peaks

Boulder Canyon

Battleship Mountain form the Calvary Trail.

Boulder Canyon from the Calvary Trail.

Looking back at the Calvary Trail.

 

LaBarge Canyon

The Calvary Trail into LaBarge Canyon.

Malapais Mountain

Malapais Mountain

LaBarge Creek

Malapais Mountain

Looking back at the Calvary Trail in Marsh Valley.

LaBarge Creek

Junction of the Calvary Trail and the Dutchman Trail.

The start on the left, and the end on the right.

Little Four Peaks - Superstition Mountains

While driving route 88/Apache Trail just past Lost Dutchman State Park the Little Four Peaks loom underneath the Four Peaks. There is a small parking area just past milepost 205 on the west side of the highway. I climbed all four peaks in the afternoon, and the loop hike took about 3 hours. There were many social trails, and the rock cairns were helpful. Earlier in the day I had gone hiking with my sister and her husband in Bulldog Canyon. Afterwards we had pizza at Prospect Park in Apache Junction. Then I needed something to keep myself busy in the afternoon. Too much free time isn't good for me. My OCD starts annoying me. So I did the best thing that always keeps the OCD away. I went on another hike.

Looking back at the fourth and final summit I climbed.

Camelback Mountain - Phoenix

I had been putting off Camelback Mountain, because I didn't want to deal with hundreds of people, and hiking in a city. It's a very steep hike nearly the entire distance. It certainly is a very good workout. The summit is 2,707 feet with 1,280 feet of elevation gain, and 2.5 miles round trip. Took me 58 minutes to reach the summit. It was a worthwhile hike, and I will do it again for the exercise. 

Me on the summit.