There is a well known legend, of the Lost Dutchman's Gold, buried deep in the Superstition Mountains. The story dates back to around 1840 when the Peralta family was ambushed and killed by the Apaches as they were carrying gold back to Mexico from the Superstitions. About 30 years later Jacob Walz, a German prospector (AKA The Dutchman), was working the area and supposedly came across the mine, some think with assistance from a relative of the Perlata family. For years, Walz and his partner Jacob Weiser were known for paying for supplies with gold throughout the Phoenix area. Weiser suddenly disappeared and stories say he was killed by Apaches, or perhaps by Walz himself. After Walz died in 1891 many others have tried to seek the treasure, many dying suspicious deaths such as decapitations and bullet wounds, leading some to believe the Superstitions may be cursed. To this day it is believed about 8000 people per year set out to search for the gold. Another legend talks about gold at the end of the rainbow. Well it appears our last monsoon has uncovered the Lost Dutchman's Gold. While it was tempting to chase the rainbow and discover the gold we decided it was best not to upset the cursed mine. With that being said, here are the pictures pointing to the gold for those who are strong believers in the legend. The beauty of the mountains and the gorgeous evening were enough treasure for us.
These images contradict other stories that imply that the mine is located in the area around Weaver's Needle, a well know rock formation. Weaver's needle can be hiked and camped at from the Peralta Trail Head (suggest to check All Trails for any closures due to wildfires/pandemics/etc). A highly recommended trail for landscape photographers (see images below). If you don't want to hike all the way to Weaver's needle you can stop at Fremont Saddle for a great view and then turn and head back (total of about 5.8 miles out and back). That is the trail the pictures below were taken on.
The Superstitions stand tall over 159,757 acres of desert terrain. There are many gorgeous locations to view and photograph the mountains including: Lost Dutchman State Park, Goldfield Ghost Town, Superior AZ, First Water Trailhead, Peralta Trail, Wave Cave, Montana Mountain Loop, Superstition Mountain Museum, Tortilla Flat, and so much more. We will try to add blogs for each location that we explore with our camera. There are several options whether you are looking for rigorous hikes, short walks, or to sit and just enjoy the view! The skies at night are just as impressive as the majestic views during the day!
In addition to landscapes, it is also a very popular place for portraits. Lost Dutchman State Park does charge both a personal and professional photography permit fee, but most other areas of the Superstitions are free. If you are looking to just explore and are not concerned about photography or permit fees there are several trails (of all levels) as well as campgrounds. It is definitely one of our favorite local parks. We hope if you come and visit Phoenix, you make a special effort to explore the Superstitions with your camera! You will not regret it!
As always we want to remind you of the importance of respecting all these locations and wildlife. It's up to us as a community to set an example. If we don't clean up after ourselves or act disrespectful we are going to lose accessibility to so many places. Please do your best to leave no trace behind and respect each other as fellow photographers and explorers as we share these spaces.
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