Backpacking in the Superstition Mountains: Your Epic Desert Adventure Awaits!

Hey there, fellow adventurers! Ever dreamt of escaping the city hustle for a while and diving deep into nature’s embrace? If you’re nodding your head, then let me tell you about a truly special place: the Superstition Mountains in Arizona. Locals affectionately call them “The Supes,” and trust me, they live up to the hype as an adventure hub. You can do pretty much anything here – hiking, biking, horseback riding, rock climbing, and yes, even paragliding if you’re feeling extra brave! But today, we’re going to zero in on something truly incredible: backpacking in the Superstition Mountains.

Now, you might be thinking, “Backpacking? Is that for me?” Well, let me share a little secret: my very first backpacking trip was right here in the Superstition Mountains! As someone who considers herself an expert hiker and an avid outdoor lady (and who’s gone camping a million times), I can tell you that this place is surprisingly perfect for beginners. The trails offer stunning views, and it’s easily accessible, making it a fantastic playground for those new to carrying their home on their back.

Before we dive into all the nitty-gritty details, imagine this: golden hour light painting the rugged peaks, the scent of desert wildflowers on the breeze, and the complete silence of the wilderness broken only by the whispers of the wind. Sounds pretty good, right? Just to whet your appetite, here’s a little sneak peek of the breathtaking views you can expect while backpacking in the Superstition Mountains.

Why the Superstition Mountains Should Be Your Next Backpacking Destination

So, what makes the Superstition Mountains such a prime spot for backpacking? First off, it’s incredibly accessible to the city. Located just 30 minutes east of Phoenix, you can easily escape the urban sprawl and find yourself immersed in stunning desert landscapes in no time. For instance, getting to the Peralta Trailhead, a popular starting point, takes about 1 hour and 13 minutes from Downtown Phoenix. From East Mesa, it’s a quick 40-minute drive. While some of the drive is on a dirt road, it’s totally manageable, even for smaller cars (though a high-clearance 4WD like a Jeep Wrangler, as I happily drive, makes it a breeze!). Just be aware of potential bumps and washes, especially after rain.

Secondly, the Superstition Mountains boast numerous trails, ranging from short day hikes to longer, multi-day backpacking trips. This means you can tailor your adventure to your experience level and how much time you have. And finally, the views? Oh, the views are an absolute 10/10. From dramatic rock formations to iconic landmarks like Weaver’s Needle, every turn offers a new, postcard-worthy panorama. Seriously, the Lone Tree Campsite is, in my humble opinion, one of the most beautiful campsites in the Superstitions.

Speaking of Lone Tree Campsite, let me tell you, backpacking in the Superstition Mountains to Lone Tree Campsite is perfect for beginners. It’s an ideal spot to get your feet wet in the world of backpacking, offering a manageable challenge with incredible rewards.

Best Time to Backpack Superstition Mountains: A Seasonal Guide

Now, listen up, because this is super important: preparation saves lives. Arizona’s desert can be unforgiving, and you don’t want to find yourself in a sticky situation due to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Trust me, being stuck in the middle of the mountains with no shade when it’s scorching hot is miserable. My personal rule of thumb? I don’t hike when the temperature reaches 90-92 degrees.

Given this, the best time to go backpacking in the Superstition Mountains is strictly October to April ONLY. We embarked on our Lone Tree adventure in the middle of March, and it was perfect. The nights were around 50 degrees, so we layered up with base layers, but during the day, a t-shirt was all we needed. The weather was just lovely, making for comfortable hiking and sleeping.

Superstition Mountain Backpacking Guide: Lone Tree Campsite

As I mentioned earlier, the Superstition Mountains offer many backpacking options. But for this guide, we’re focusing on the fantastic Lone Tree Campsite near Weaver’s Needle and how to get there safely. This section serves as your comprehensive Superstition Mountain backpacking guide for this specific route.

Backpacking to Lone Tree – The Details:

• Length: 5.6 miles Round Trip (RT)
• Elevation: 1,600 feet gain
• Time: Approximately 1.5 hours to the campsite
• Dog-Friendly: Yes! Your furry friends are welcome.
• Conditions: Be prepared for potential water crossings and some big rocks on the trail.
• Number of Sites: Less than 10, with one ideal spot.
• Trail to Lone Tree: You can find the specific trail details on AllTrails.

The hike to Lone Tree is what I’d call moderate. It’s a steady, gradual elevation gain that can feel tough, especially with a 30-pound pack on your back, but it’s totally doable. The scenery is amazing from start to finish. You won’t catch a glimpse of Weaver’s Needle or the campsite until you reach Freemont Saddle, but the views of the canyon below are spectacular. If Arizona has seen some rain in the weeks leading up to your trip, you might even be treated to the beautiful sound of rushing water in the stream – a bonus of February and March trips!

The Hike Review (Spoiler: It’s Awesome!)

While this article is all about backpacking, let me just give you a quick lowdown on the hike itself. The initial climb up Peralta Canyon offers breathtaking views. You’ll wind your way up, enjoying the unique desert flora and towering rock formations.

The popular Weaver’s Needle hike actually ends at Freemont Saddle, which is about 2.3 miles up from the trailhead. This saddle is a perfect spot to take a quick breather, rehydrate, and soak in the incredible views. From there, it’s just a short 0.5-mile journey to the Lone Tree Campsite.

Freemont Saddle to Lone Tree: The Final Stretch

Looking out from Freemont Saddle, you can often spot the lone tree to the right of Weaver’s Needle. It’s a quick 0.5 miles over a few mild ridges. Overall, I felt like the hike from Peralta Trailhead to Lone Tree was moderate and incredibly rewarding. I would absolutely do it again!

Pro Tip: Always use the AllTrails App when navigating to Lone Tree. It’s a lifesaver. Once you’re at Freemont Saddle and facing Weaver’s Needle, simply go right over the rocks, and you’ll find a small, easily followable trail leading to the campsite.

Wilderness Camping in Superstition Mountains: Campsite Options at Lone Tree

When you’re backpacking in the Superstition Mountains, knowing your campsite options is key. What I love about Lone Tree is that it’s not a developed campground. It’s truly wild, which adds to the adventure! However, there are a few areas where you can set up camp, perfect for wilderness camping in Superstition Mountains.

The Main Campsite – Under the Tree

This is the holy grail of campsites. It’s stunningly beautiful, flat, sandy, and spacious enough for multiple tents if you’re with a group. My only bummer on my trip was that someone was already there when we arrived! But hey, you can’t plan for everything.

Alternate Campsite – Near the Tree

If the main spot is taken, don’t despair! There are other great options. We found a semi-flat spot nestled between some rocks just to the left of the main tree. It was a bit cramped for my taste, but perfectly fine for a one-night stay. Plus, it was far enough away that we couldn’t hear the other campers, and the views of Weaver’s Needle were still a perfect 10/10. The only minor complaint was not being perfectly flat while sleeping, but that’s a small price to pay for such a prime location. There are also a few flat spots along the trail to Lone Tree itself, though they might not offer the same iconic Weaver’s Needle views.

Extra Backup – Freemont Saddle

Always have a backup plan! If you can’t find any flat ground near Lone Tree or if you arrive at Freemont Saddle after dark, you can always camp there. We actually saw a group arrive at dusk and set up camp at the saddle, then hike over to Lone Tree in the morning. Sometimes trips don’t go exactly as planned, so having these backup options is super important for a stress-free experience.

Arizona Backpacking Adventures: My 24-Hour Itinerary

As I mentioned, this was my very first backpacking experience, and I used it as practice for a much bigger adventure to Havasupai in the Grand Canyon. I honestly believe this is the perfect trail to practice backpacking on, even if you’ve done it before. Here’s how our 24-hour adventure unfolded, so you can get an idea of timing and what to expect from your own Arizona backpacking adventures:

Evening Activities:

• 3:15 PM: Left our house in Mesa, Arizona.
• 4:00 PM: Arrived at Peralta Trailhead.
• 4:15 PM: Started hiking after getting everything ready.
• 5:20 PM: Reached Freemont Saddle.
• 5:30 PM: Arrived at Lone Tree.
• 6:00 PM: Finished setting up camp.
• 6:15 PM: Sunset – time for some epic photos, of course!
• 6:30 PM: Started dinner on the Jetboil.
• 7:00 PM: Finished dinner and soaked in the incredible views.
• 8:00 PM: Stargazing and dabbling in astrophotography.
• 8:30 PM: Bedtime! (Early nights are a luxury in the backcountry!)

We timed this hike perfectly. We got camp set up before dark and had plenty of time to enjoy the beautiful sunset. The other campers were far enough away that we felt like we had the place to ourselves. Staying up after the sky went completely dark was truly magical; seeing Weaver’s Needle silhouetted against a sky full of stars was an unforgettable experience.

Morning Activities:

• 5:30 AM: Sunrise – waking up to the desert waking up.
• 6:30 AM: Breakfast and more photos.
• 7:30 AM: Packed up camp.
• 8:00 AM: Started the hike down.
• 9:15 AM: Finished hiking and reached the car.
• 10:30 AM: Got home.

Waking up without a strict schedule was amazing. I simply woke up to watch the sunrise and cook breakfast. We packed up camp in a swift 30 minutes and were back at the car. We even managed to grab a yummy breakfast on the way home, getting back by 10:30 AM on a Sunday – plenty of time to unwind before the start of the new week!

Backpacking Gear for Desert Terrain: What I Used and Loved

You’re probably wondering, what kind of gear do you need for a trip like this? Well, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite gear, and I always try to keep my recommendations as affordable as possible. While I won’t go into super-detailed reviews here, I can tell you about some fantastic new items I tried on a recent trip to the Superstition Mountains with students from my online backpacking program for women, The Confident Solo Female Backpacker System (imagine a hyperlink to her program/website here!). This section highlights crucial backpacking gear for desert terrain.

Thanks to my friends at Underwood Aggregator, I got to test out ‘The One’ Ultralight Trekking Pole Backpacking Tent, the Lightrek Hiking Umbrella, and the Handsfree Umbrella Clamp. And let me tell you, I loved all of this gear!

Gossamer Gear is the same small cottage company that makes my beloved backpacking pack, the Mariposa 60, which I’ve been using for years.

‘The One’ Ultralight Trekking Pole Backpacking Tent: A Game Changer

• Weight: This tent is incredibly light! It uses two trekking poles as its structure instead of traditional tent poles, keeping the total weight (including shelter, stuff sack, stakes, and extra cord) at just 22 ounces – a little over a pound! Talk about ultralight backpacking!
• Space: The tent floor is made of lightweight, waterproof nylon with factory-taped seams. At 43 inches long, and tapering from 33 inches at the head to 21 inches at the foot, it comfortably fit my regular-length inflatable sleeping pad with room to spare for my pack at the foot.
• Cost: Backpacking gear can be pricey, but ‘The One’ sells for around $255 on the Gossamer Gear website. That’s a steal for an ultralight backpacking tent! My previous tent cost over $400, was much heavier, and broke multiple times.
• Single-Walled Tent: This is a 3-season, single-walled tent, meaning the body and rainfly are combined. This cuts down on material and weight. While you might experience some condensation depending on how close you are to water, it’s a small trade-off for the huge weight savings.
• Easy Setup: I was intimidated by trekking pole tents, but this one is incredibly easy to set up.
  1. Set your trekking poles to 125 cm.
  2. Layout your ground sheet and then the tent.
  3. Stake out all 4 corners at a 45-degree angle.
  4. In the front of the tent near the door, insert a trekking pole with the handle at the top and then put the tip into the grommet.
  5. Stake out the front door vestibule.
  6. Repeat for the back side with the other trekking pole.
  7. Once both trekking poles are up and both vestibules staked out, tighten each of the 4 corners.
  8. You can also give the tent structure a little more stability by attaching each of the trekking poles to the outside of the tent.
  9. ‘The One’ comes with 6 stakes, but if you add 4 more, you can use those additional stakes to stake out the bathtub floor for more interior room.Then, you’re ready to unpack and settle into your backcountry home!

Tent Tour: Inside and Out

• Outside: You’ll notice that the front and back side of ‘The One’ tent are different. The vestibule in the back of the tent doesn’t go down as far but provides a ton of ventilation. There’s only one door on the front of the tent, which also helps make setting up the tent really easy. You can roll up both sides of the vestibule and allow for even more airflow.
• Inside: Inside the tent, there’s one interior pocket, which is where I keep my battery pack and headlamp. The inside of the tent has a fully enclosed bathtub floor, which provides plenty of protection from outside dirt, elements, and bugs. There’s plenty of head room inside when you sit up, even when¹ sitting on a fully inflated sleeping pad. If you want even more headroom, you can always attach the extra guy lines on the side of the tent and stake them out when setting the tent up.
• Vestibule: Also, the vestibule is quite spacious. I normally keep my shoes and extra water out in my vestibule, but if you needed to, you’d have plenty of space to use your stove in this covered area if you were caught in a storm.

Lightweight Hiking Umbrella & Handsfree Umbrella Clamp: Desert Must-Haves

For that same trip, Gossamer Gear also sent me their Lightrek Hiking Umbrella and the Handsfree Umbrella Clamp. These two items were absolute lifesavers for hiking in the desert. The umbrella is full-sized yet incredibly light, and the clamp allows you to use it hands-free, so you can still use both of your trekking poles while hiking. This was my first time hiking with an umbrella, and I completely understand the hype now! It provides incredible sun protection, making those exposed desert stretches much more bearable.

To see a complete list (including links!) of all the backpacking gear I brought with me for my trip, you can check out this resource (imagine a hyperlink to a detailed gear list here). A huge thank you to Gossamer Gear for hooking me up with such fabulous gear for this backpacking trip! They truly support my epic backpacking adventures.

Superstition Mountains Hiking Trails: Beyond Lone Tree

While our focus has been on Lone Tree Campsite, it’s important to remember that the Superstition Mountains offer a vast network of Superstition Mountains hiking trails. Beyond Peralta Trail, other popular routes include Dutchman’s Trail, Boulder Canyon Trail, and more. Each trail offers its own unique challenges and breathtaking vistas, ensuring that you can find the perfect adventure for your skill level and desired length. Many experienced backpackers enjoy tackling the clockwise loop from Peralta Trailhead around Weaver’s Needle via the Peralta and Dutchman’s Trails, often camping at spots like Charlebois Spring or below Weaver’s Needle. The intriguing terrain with its “cozy” basins, saguaros, and colorful rock walls provides an endless array of epic campsites, provided you’re willing to haul water.

Lost Dutchman State Park Backpacking & Superstition Wilderness Permits

It’s worth noting that a portion of the Superstition Mountains lies within Lost Dutchman State Park. While the park offers developed campgrounds and day-use facilities, for deeper backpacking into the wilderness, you’ll typically be entering the Superstition Wilderness Area.

A common question is about Superstition wilderness permits. For most general backpacking within the federally designated Superstition Wilderness, no permits are needed for overnight stays. This simplifies the planning process considerably. However, it’s always a good idea to check with the Tonto National Forest (who manages the wilderness area) for any updated regulations or fire restrictions, especially during dry seasons.

Desert Hiking Safety Tips: Stay Safe Out There!

Hiking in the desert presents unique challenges, and it’s crucial to prioritize desert hiking safety tips for a successful and enjoyable trip. Beyond packing plenty of water and checking the weather, here are some key considerations:

• Hydration is paramount: Carry more water than you think you’ll need. Even in cooler months, the dry air can dehydrate you quickly. Consider bringing a water filter or purification tablets for reliable water sources.
• Sun Protection: Wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and apply high-SPF sunscreen regularly. My new Lightrek Hiking Umbrella and Handsfree Umbrella Clamp were incredibly effective for this!
• Navigation: While AllTrails App is great, also carry a physical map and compass and know how to use them. Trails can be indistinct in some areas.
• Footwear: Sturdy, broken-in hiking boots are essential for navigating rocky and uneven terrain.
• Wildlife: Be aware of local wildlife, including snakes and scorpions. Know what to do if you encounter them.
• Leave No Trace: Always follow Leave No Trace principles: pack out everything you pack in, respect wildlife, and minimize your impact on the environment. Pick a campsite that’s already been camped at before instead of creating a new one.

Scenic Trails in Superstition Wilderness: A Photographer’s Dream

The Superstition Mountains are a photographer’s paradise, offering some of the most scenic trails in Superstition Wilderness. From the dramatic silhouette of Weaver’s Needle at sunrise to the vibrant wildflowers in spring, every turn offers a new opportunity for stunning photos. The unique desert flora, including towering saguaros and various cacti, adds to the distinctive beauty. Looking down Peralta Canyon provides sweeping vistas, while Freemont Saddle offers an iconic viewpoint of Weaver’s Needle. Even the “Stonehenge” campsite, with its rocky pinnacles, bathed in the glow of Phoenix, creates a truly unique backdrop. Whether you’re an amateur photographer or just someone who appreciates natural beauty, these trails promise unforgettable visual experiences.

Final Thoughts on the Superstition Mountains

My final thoughts on “The Supes”? I absolutely love them. This trip was another powerful reminder of why I adore desert hiking, especially during the winter months when much of the country is cold and snowy. The unique beauty of the Superstition Wilderness is truly something special.

Backpacking in the Superstition Mountains was an amazing experience. It was excellent practice, incredibly peaceful, and truly revitalizing. If you, like me, appreciate areas that aren’t overly trafficked, you’ll fall in love with these mountains. So, pack your bags, grab your trekking poles, and get ready for an unforgettable adventure in the heart of Arizona’s wilderness. The Superstition Mountains are waiting for you!

Are you ready to plan your own backpacking adventure in the Superstition Mountains?