| Superstition Wilderness | |
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IUCN Category Ib (Wilderness Area)
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The Flat Iron peak |
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| Location | Maricopa / Pinal / Gila counties, Arizona, USA |
| Nearest city | Apache Junction, Arizona |
| Area | 159,757 acres (64,651 ha) |
| Established | 1939 |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
The Superstition Mountains (O'odham: Wiʼikam Gakoḍk), popularly referred to as "The Superstitions", are a range of mountains in Arizona located to the east of the Phoenix metropolitan area. They are anchored by Superstition Mountain, a large mountain that is a popular recreation destination for residents of the Phoenix, Arizona area.
The mountain range is in the federally designated Superstition Wilderness Area, and includes a variety of natural features in addition to the mountain that is its namesake. Weaver's Needle, a prominent landmark and rock climbing destination set behind and to the east of Superstition Mountain, is a tall erosional remnant [1] that plays a significant role in the legend of the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine. Peralta Canyon, on the northeast side of Superstition Mountain, contains a popular trail that leads up to Freemont Saddle, which provides a very picturesque view of Weaver's Needle. Miner's Needle is another prominent formation in the wilderness and a popular hiking destination.
As with most of the terrain surrounding the Phoenix metropolitan area, the Superstition Mountains have a desert climate, with high summer temperatures and a handful of perennial sources of water. The altitude in the more remote, eastern portion of the wilderness is higher than the western portion, which lowers temperatures slightly. Numerous hiking trails cross the mountains from multiple access points, including the Peralta Trailhead, the most popular.[2] The Lost Dutchman State Park, located on the west side of Superstition Mountain, includes several short walking trails.
The Superstition Mountains are bounded roughly by U.S. Route 60 on the south, State Route 88 on the northwest, and State Route 188 on the northeast.
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The legend of the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine centers around the Superstition Mountains. According to the legend, a German immigrant named Jacob Walzer discovered a mother lode in the Superstition Wilderness and revealed its location on his deathbed in Phoenix in 1891 to Julia Thomas, a boarding-house owner who had taken care of him for many years. Several mines have been claimed to be the actual mine that Walzer discovered, but none of those claims have been verified.[1]
Some Apaches believe that the hole leading down into the lower world is located in the Superstition Mountains. Winds blowing from the hole are supposed to be the cause of severe dust storms.[3]
On Wednesday November 23, 2011, a plane crashed into the Flat Iron area of the mountains.[4][5] Investigation is ongoing, Three children and three men were on board. Early reports from the Federal Aviation Administration report that a Twin Commander aircraft, owned by Ponderosa Aviation of Safford, AZ was involved. Reported to depart from Falcon Field. A spokesperson with the Falcon Executive Aviation Flight School in Mesa tells KPHO-TV the pilot flew in from Safford to Falcon Field to pick up his children and says when they were returning to Safford the two-engine plane crashed. The spokesperson tells CBS 5 there were three adults and three children onboard.But it was confirmed to have three children and two men onboard.