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As much as we love winter adventures in Minnesota… a quick getaway is never looked down upon. For a winter getaway this season, we went to Arizona to spend time with family for the holidays, and in between the family celebrations, we were able to enjoy some trail time on the outskirts of Mesa in the Superstition Mountains.
A challenging hike at the Superstition Mountains is the Siphon Draw Trailhead.
We were prepared for a challenging hike and that is exactly what we hiked into. This hike is recommended for experienced hikers only and I strongly recommend taking that into consideration when planning. The hike round trip took us about 5 hours (we took minimal breaks, and only spent about 15 minutes at the top of the mountain). Be sure to have plenty of water to hydrate along the way, and start EARLY so you can be done before the high-heat temperatures midday. By the time we were hiking back at 1:30 pm the sun was beating hot and our Camelbak hydration packs were dried out. We didn’t have sunscreen but did have sun hats for protection.
The elevation always becomes a challenge for us since of course, Minnesota’s elevation is no comparison to the mountains. The hike begins with a 2-mile hike to get to the basin. This can be considered a warm-up climb for what lies ahead. The hike to the basin has no shade so be prepared here. There were some campsites along the trail that would be perfect for an overnight stay… wouldn’t be a private site because you’re right off the trail but a nice easy place to make a campsite for a night.
The real challenge of the hike begins at the base of the mountain, where you are scrambling up a steep incline, and using all your muscles to balance and keep you moving in an upward motion. Many people used a bear crawl to get up the steep incline which we tried out and found useful. This was especially challenging because, along the way, you need to watch out and keep from falling into any cactus along the trail.
There are some parts of the trail that can easily be compared to “beginners” bouldering as you are scrambling rocks to climb the mountain. Keeping your foot grip on the rocks was the trickiest part especially as all the small pebbles slip under your feet. Always be sure to have strong hand grips and footing before making your next moves! Some people we passed had climber’s gloves. I wished I had known to bring these prior to the hike. My hands were a bit scraped up at the end. One mistake I made was bringing a walking stick with me on the hike. Since it had steep elevation gains I thought it may be helpful, but that was before I knew the elevation gains required scrambling along rocks.
All challenging hikes come with a rewarding view at the end that makes it all worth it.
Climbing down was just about as challenging, if not more challenging as the climb up. I heard comments from other hikers on the way down, “This is like a controlled fall the whole way.” The amount of trail you need to (VERY) cautiously hike down is never-ending, and often times sliding on your butt becomes the easier way down.
The hardest part about the climb down was the steep loose gravel section. Sorry, no pictures of that section. We were too preoccupied trying to control our slide down so it didn’t turn into an very long and painful tumble. There was a group of about 20 people butt sliding down this ahead of us. If you don’t butt slide I suggest holding onto the edges to stay balanced. I did a little bit of both. By the end of the hike, my thighs and feet were sore and I was ready for my hiking boots to be off!
The other big hike we did in the Superstition Mountains was Peralta Trail. This took roughly 3 hours round trip and that was with about a 15-minute lunch and rest at the top.
This hike was a walk in the park compared to Siphon Draw Trailhead, but it still offers stunning views and some decent elevation gain (1345 feet). I would recommend this to people who are new to mountain hiking but want some challenge. The trail is rocky and has loose gravel, but is a steady trail the whole time, unlike Siphon Draw where you need to scramble rocks to create your own path. The day we did the hike there was a ranger at the trailhead to answer questions and make sure people signed in and out of the trail registration book. The ranger is not there all the time, but it was nice to have someone to answer questions about the trails. The trailhead is even equipped with an outhouse… not all trailheads are that fancy! No running water though, so bring your own water for hydration.
At the very beginning of the hike we got off trail a bit and we began scrambling rocks. We then realized this was supposed to be a relatively easy hike, so we backtracked to find the trail! There are plenty of hikers on the trail to reassure yourself that you’re heading in the right direction… guess we are just used to creating our own trails and that’s why this happened 😉
The view from the top offers stunning mountain views from miles. There are plenty of trails in this area and you could spend a whole day hiking around here…or even camp overnight.
Some family-friendly easier hikes we did around in the McDowell Mountain Preserve area include Frasefiled Trailhead and the Gateway Loop Trailhead. These are both moderate length day hikes (5 miles each round trip) with minimal elevation change, and a clear path the whole way, very appropriate for all ages! Have good walking shoes and plenty of water for these hikes.
Now that the holidays are over, the constant eating of holiday cookies has come to an end and you’ve set your New year’s resolutions… I challenge you with one more. I challenge you to get outside MORE than you did last year.
What outside adventures are you inspired to conquer this year? Hike? Bike? Ski? Canoe? Camp?
After our ski adventure last year we decided to invest in a pair of skis for me. As a couple, we wanted to hit the hills more this winter and for the winters ahead. So the challenge I’m giving myself this year, is going from those “easy beginner” hills to more “black diamond” level hills…without pizza slicing (braking) the whole way down 😉
No matter your adventure in mind, you can conquer it if you put the effort forth… and then repeat the adventure. The outdoors brings a balance of thrill and peace simultaneously. So… get out, go, and have a safe adventurous 2018… Cheers!
Peace, love, and hike thru life!