Lost Dutchman State Park, State park in Pinal County, Arizona, US.
Lost Dutchman State Park is a state reserve at the base of the Superstition Mountains in Pinal County, Arizona, covering 130 hectares of desert landscape. Granite peaks rise to 900 meters (3,000 feet), and saguaro cacti, paloverde trees and creosote bushes grow among the rocks.
This reserve was established in 1977 and takes its name from Jacob Waltz, a 19th-century gold prospector of German origin. His alleged mine sparked dozens of expeditions that continue searching the mountains for the lost gold to this day.
The Apache people held these mountains as sacred ground, and visitors today still encounter pottery fragments and rock carvings along the trails. The name comes from a gold mine legend that has drawn treasure hunters to this area for generations.
Six different hiking trails start in the reserve, from the short Treasure Loop to the demanding climb to Flatiron via Siphon Draw Trail. The best time to visit is between October and April, when temperatures are tolerable and wildflowers bloom.
Five cabins in the reserve use solar panels for electricity and air conditioning, allowing overnight guests to enjoy modern comforts in the middle of the desert. At night the starry sky glows particularly bright, as this area lies far from urban light pollution.
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