Lost Dutchman State Park
| Lost Dutchman State Park | |
| Arizona State Park | |
 Entrance to the Lost Dutchman State Park | |
| Named for: Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Arizona |
| County | Pinal |
| Location | Apache Junction |
| - elevation | 2,060 ft (628 m) [1] |
| - coordinates | 33°27′22″N 111°28′36″W / 33.45611°N 111.47667°WCoordinates: 33°27′22″N 111°28′36″W / 33.45611°N 111.47667°W |
| Area | 320 acres (129 ha) |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Management | Arizona State Parks |
  Location of Lost Dutchman State Park in Arizona
| |
Lost Dutchman State Park is a 320-acre (129 ha) state park located near the Superstition Mountains in central Arizona, USA, and named after the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine, a famous gold mine legendary among the tales of the Old West. It is easily accessible about 40 miles east of Phoenix via U.S. Highway 60, the Superstition Freeway.
History
The area was first developed as a day use recreation area by the Bureau of Land Management in 1972. The 292 acres (118 ha) abutting the Tonto National Forest was transferred in 1977 via legislative action to the state of Arizona, creating the Lost Dutchman State Park.[2] The park was expanded to 320 acres (130 ha) in 1983.
Features
The park offers camping facilities, day use parking and acts as a trailhead for the trails leading into the Tonto National Forest in which the Superstition Mountains are located. Some of the most popular walks are from the park onto the National Forest Service trails that lead across the western face of the Superstitions (Jacob's Crosscut trail) and up the face of this edge using Siphon Draw trail. Many people confuse these National Forest trails with trails that are maintained by Lost Dutchman State Park.
Proposed closure averted
The park was scheduled to close on June 3, 2010.[3] A man from Katy, Texas donated $8,000 so the park could stay open.[4]
References
- ↑ "Lost Dutchman State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. 1984-06-27. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
- ↑ History of Lost Dutchman State Park Retrieved 30 March 2015
- ↑ Arizona State Parks. "Lost Dutchman State Park". Retrieved 2010-03-21.
- ↑ Associated Press (March 21, 2010). "Katy man gives $8,000 to keep Ariz. state park open". Houston Chronicle (Houston, Texas). Retrieved 2010-03-21.