Lost Dutchman State Park, AZ

 Early December, 2021

After leaving SW Arizona, we made a final stop at Lost Dutchman State Park, AZ before returning home to Tucson.  This State Park sits on the east periphery of Phoenix and is much beloved by the city residents. The story goes that a German prospector named Jacob Waltz found gold in the Superstition mountains in the 1800s in this area.  He left lots of clues on where he hid the gold, and people still look for that gold with the clues.

We got a spot on a very busy weekend.  There were almost more dogs than campers.  Also, this State Park is very popular with photographers. At sunset, on the way back from a short hike up the Treasure Trail (Trail #56), we encountered engagement couples and large families taking pictures against the sunset.  The night was quiet though after we got back to the RV and after a glass of wine and a beautiful sunset, we slept very well.

In the morning, we got up early enough to hike the complete Treasure Trail (2.4 miles), across the Prospector Trail, and down the lower part of the Siphon Trail totaling about 5 miles.  It was perfect weather for a hike (75 degrees).  These are the Superstition Mountains and they are quite magnificent.  They rise straight out of the Sonoran Desert.  They are truly photogenic.  I know why those photographers were there at sunset.  We rose up from the desert into the mountains and could see the whole desert in front of us.  I asked everyone coming down, if they had found the gold, but no one had any luck:-)

I felt really good taking that hike.  That knee of mine did not bother me as much as it usually does, but I think it is because we were hiking in the morning.  Next year, when I have a knee replacement...and I will, I will remember how lovely that hike was.  The colors of the rock mirrored every color from bright orange to soft pink.

After finishing the hike, we decided to head over to the Goldfield Ghost Town, a reconstructed ghost town left from the 1890s that is about 3 miles outside the State campground.  It was fun to walk around and I am sure if I had grandchildren it would have been great, but the best I can  offer here was a good coffee and pastry.