So before we begin our adventure, you will first have a small history lesson.
The Superstition Mountains have been a source of mystery and legend since early times. The area is dotted with ancient cliff dwellings and caves. When Anglos settled this area, they learned about odd noises, strange disappearances, and mysterious deaths in the mountains. Native Americans’ fear of the area were based on superstitions, and so the name was given. To this day, the Superstitions claim more than their fair share of disappearances and mysterious events.
During the 1840s the Peralta family of northern Mexico supposedly developed rich gold mines in the Superstitions. Their last expedition to carry gold back to Mexico occurred in 1848. In the 1870s Jacob Waltz, "the Dutchman" (actually a native of Germany), was said to have located the mine through the aid of a Peralta descendant. Waltz and his partner, Jacob Weiser worked the mine and allegedly hid one or more caches of gold in the Superstitions. Most stories place the gold in the vicinity of Weaver's Needle, a well-known landmark. Weiser was killed by Apaches, or according to some, by Waltz himself.
In failing health, Jacob Waltz moved to Phoenix and died some twenty years later in 1891. He supposedly described the mine's location to Julia Thomas, a neighbor who took care of him prior to his death. Neither she nor dozens of other seekers in the years that followed were able to find the "Lost Dutchman's Mine." Subsequent searchers have sometimes met with foul play or even death, contributing to the superstition and legend that surround these mountains.
SO …. Our first stop was at the Lost Dutchman Monument in Apache Junction. In 1938 an Arizona historical group erected the monument to Waltz. The city of Apache Junction grew up around the monument which is the oldest structure in town!
A few miles down the road we stopped at the Superstition Mountain Museum which lies in the southwest end of the foothills of the Superstition Mountains. Opened in 1990 by the Superstition Historical Society, we were impressed with the displays both inside and out. They had several maps on display and we were sure we would be able to find the gold if we used one of these.
I love the description of the height of the pine and cactus as landmarks to find the mine and gold!
This map is probably our best bet for finding the gold!
We liked seeing the equipment used in the mining operations.
They also have a barn that was moved here from the Apacheland Movie set after it closed in 2004. It was fun to see the photos of the actors who had movies and television shows filmed there.
After lunch, we were able to get into our campsite at the park … except someone was parked there! We politely had them check their reservation and they were wrong, so they moved. Our spot has an amazing view of the mountain!
As soon as we were parked, we filled our water bottles and were off on our first hike.
We headed off on the Upper Siphon Draw trail toward Flatiron. The sun was out and we were both hot before we had gone too far! The temperature had risen to about 75 degrees!
They also have a barn that was moved here from the Apacheland Movie set after it closed in 2004. It was fun to see the photos of the actors who had movies and television shows filmed there.
After lunch, we were able to get into our campsite at the park … except someone was parked there! We politely had them check their reservation and they were wrong, so they moved. Our spot has an amazing view of the mountain!
As soon as we were parked, we filled our water bottles and were off on our first hike.
We headed off on the Upper Siphon Draw trail toward Flatiron. The sun was out and we were both hot before we had gone too far! The temperature had risen to about 75 degrees!
At one of MY resting stops, we both thought this part of the mountain looked like a horse’s head.
When we finally made it to the “Basin” area, we were in the shade and enjoyed the coolness it provided.
There was a small pool among the rocks.
We turned around and returned to our campsite rather than continuing on to the Flatiron. We had already gained 950 feet in elevation and the Flatiron trail is another two miles and over 1000 feet up! We had a beautiful view back into the valley where we are camped.
A little over two hours later, we were home after hiking 3.4 miles roundtrip. 
The sun was getting low in the sky casting a beautiful glow on the mountains.
As the sun went down over the valley, Tobey grilled steaks and we watched a movie after dinner. 
All in all, it was a great day in the mountains!
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