Photo by Mare Czinar Boulder Canyon

SUPERSTITION WILDERNESS

Offering a kaleidoscope of ever-changing, colorful views, Boulder Canyon Trail No. 103 provides a memorable tour of the turbulent landscape of the Superstition Wilderness. From the trailhead, the route takes off on an uphill grind along the rocky cliffs above Canyon Lake, topping out at a saddle where the 224-foot-high crest of Mormon Flat Dam is visible peeking out from within a stony cove. To the north, the mauve-tinged pinnacles of the Four Peaks Wilderness sit like bold sentries above a sea of barren foothills.

From here, the trail moves over a high desert ridgeline of tortured volcanic rock with LaBarge Creek churning hundreds of feet below. During the next few minutes of uphill walking, the blocky massif of Battleship Mountain slowly creeps up until its profile looms large on the horizon. At this point, a gorge-riddled terrain takes center stage as the route transitions into an unrelenting series of ups-and-downs – something to keep in mind for the hike out – before reaching its terminus at the intersection with Dutchman’s Trail No. 104.

Information

Length: 7.3 miles one-way

Rating: moderate

Elevation: 1,680-2,300 feet

Getting there: From Phoenix, take US 60 east to the Idaho Road exit. Turn left at the light and follow Highway 88 to the Canyon Lake Marina between mileposts 211 and 212. A Tonto Pass is not required as long as you park in the “hiker” section near the entrance to the marina.

Information: www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/recreation/rogs/hikingtrail/wilderness/Trails/superstition/BoulderCanyonTrail103.pdf