Superstition Mountains, Mountain range in East Mesa, Arizona.
The Superstition Mountains rise roughly 1,500 meters (5,000 feet) above the Sonoran Desert and display volcanic rock formations with jagged peaks and saguaro cacti. The slopes consist of tuff and basalt, cut through by deep canyons filled with boulders and thorny shrubs.
Spanish explorers called the area Sierra de la Espuma in the 16th century before American prospectors arrived in the 19th century. The area gained federal wilderness protection in 1939, limiting further mining activities.
The name comes from Spanish tales about cursed areas that American settlers later adopted. Hikers today follow old paths through canyons while geologists study volcanic structures.
Several trailheads offer access to hiking paths of varying difficulty levels, with conditions changing by season. Early morning hours during spring or fall are recommended because of desert heat, and water must be carried.
A story about the lost gold mine of Jacob Waltz has drawn treasure hunters for over a century, though no one has located it. Warnings about snakes and extreme temperatures appear on all information boards at trailhead entrances.
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