Hiking the Superstition Ridgeline Trail - Is this the toughest hike in the Valley?
I've done Flatiron. I hiked past it to Hill 5024 even. From there, you can see miles into the Superstition Wilderness. At that moment on Hill 5024, I never expected that I would hike all the way across that wilderness.
A few months later and Tina and I were looking for a challenge. I threw out the idea of a trail I had heard about but NEVER thought I would do: The Superstition Ridgeline Trail. It almost seemed like a myth. Most people I talked to had never heard of it. None had done it.
Challenge accepted.
We packed up the lightest set of overnight gear we could. We weren't sure if we wanted to spend the night or just day hike it.
You can start the Superstition Ridgeline Trail from the Siphon Draw trailhead or the Carney Springs trailhead. Either way, you have to spot a car at one end or the other. Carney Springs is steep, but Flatiron is steep and known for being slick. Since it had been raining for several days before our hike, we (wisely) chose to go up Flatiron and out Carney Springs.
Soon enough, we were on top of Flatiron and heading on past the saddle and into the Superstition Wilderness. The views were incredible from start to finish. The challenge was brutal and seemed like it went on forever.
I'll let the video tell the story, but obviously we made it. The Superstition Ridgeline Trail left us with great memories, bruised egos and really sore legs. But it's done, and now I can brag about it. So if you like views and punishment, the Superstition Ridgeline Trail may be for you.
(I won't be doing it again.)