Black Mesa Trail

We chose the Black Mesa Trail in the Superstition Mountains. It’s a loop trail made up of the Black Mesa, a bit of the Second Water Trail and a stretch of the Dutchman Trail.

It’s a relatively flat walk. But the hike is long, measuring somewhere near the nine-mile mark.

The loop begins at the First Water Trailhead, where there is plenty of parking and a restroom.

A short distance into the adventure, hikers have the option to take the loop clockwise or counterclockwise. I advise traveling clockwise for a couple of reasons.

First, in this direction, the scenery is better. In one stretch, you have a constant and fantastic view of Weaver’s Needle.

Second, assuming a hiker would begin this journey early in the day, high cliffs offer some refreshing shade on the home stretch. Shade would be scarce hiking the loop counterclockwise.

One warning, though, about hiking clockwise: there is a spot where a crucial turning point isn’t so clear. It’s easy to recover from a wrong turn, but for a few moments, tales of the Lost Dutchman enter your mind.

If hiking clockwise, the first fork in the road is not far from the First Water Trailhead. The sign points to the Second Water Trail on the left. Head that way.

This is a fun little jaunt, as the trail takes hikers into a couple of river rock-strewn washes. This is the only point with measurable climbs, too.

The Second Water Trail leads to an area known as Garden Valley. Thickets of tall, dry grasses sway in the breeze and hundreds upon hundreds of stately saguaros stand like soldiers on the hills.

After 1.5 miles into the hike, Second Water intersects with Black Mesa Trail. Take Black Mesa (right turn) and the trail continues through Garden Valley.

The Black Mesa portion of the trail offers much to see. Hikers stomp through everything from white, powdery sandstone to black lava rock.

Look to the left at the beginning of Black Mesa for an up-close view of Four Peaks, too.

The real highlight of the hike comes as the trail ascends Black Mesa and leads into a thick forest of jumping chollas. A clear trail cuts through the cacti, but they’re thick, tall and some hang over the trail itself.

This area also opens to a clear view of Weaver’s Needle.

The Black Mesa Trail is roughly 3.5 miles long. Near the end of the trail, you’ll climb down a long stretch into Boulder Canyon. This is where it gets a bit tricky.

After tromping down the long hill, you’ll cross a wide, boulder-filled wash. Just on the other side is where the trail veers to the right and meets the Dutchman Trail.

However, this turn is not well marked. In fact, the main trail appears to continue straight through a clearing. Missing the turn and following this trail (as we did), leads to a sign marking the Dutchman Trail.

This is the trail you want, but you need to turn around (otherwise be ready for a 17-mile hike, a ranger told me) and hike the other way – to the west.

Not far along, you’ll come across the Dutchman/Black Mesa sign. Keep on the Dutchman.

The Dutchman Trail is easily a four-mile stretch, but it’s simple to follow and offers breathtaking views of the mesas and high cliffs.

Eventually, it hits Second Water Trail. Turn left and head back to the parking lot.

To get there from the Northeast Valley: From the intersection of Shea Boulevard and the Beeline Highway, turn right onto the Beeline, drive to Gilbert Road. Turn left on Gilbert, drive to Brown Road. Turn left on Brown (it becomes Lost Dutchman Blvd.), drive to Apache Trail (SR 88). Turn left on Apache Trail, drive just past milepost 201.  Turn right onto FS 78.

FS 78 is a dirt road leading to the First Water Trailhead. A pay station is inside the park. Cost is $4 per vehicle.

We completed the loop in a little more than 3.5 hours with a short stop for lunch. Others on the trail said they finished the loop in five hours.

Either case, you’ll be out for a while. Apply liberal amounts of sunscreen, take plenty of water and a snack.

This hike was first featured March 2002 and revised February 2007.