Page Type:
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Mountain/Rock |
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Lat/Lon:
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33.43300°N / 111.3708°W |
County:
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Pinal |
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Elevation:
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4553 ft / 1388 m |
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Overview
The wild and rugged Superstition Mountain Wilderness east of Phoenix, Arizona, will thrill any visitor with its landscape of legends, of sweeping desert mountains, of lost gold mines and of Apache Indian hideaways. In the middle of this wilderness a huge rock monolith rises up out of the desert, the awesome Weavers Needle. It is said that the shadow of Weavers Needle reveals the location of the legendary Lost Dutchman Gold Mine at a particular time and date. Set in a landscape of mesquite bush and towering Saguaro cactus, Weavers Needle is a marvellous and popular climbing adventure . Mostly class 4, there are 3 pitches of about 5.5.
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Getting There
The hike-in begins at the Peralta trailhead, east of Phoenix, Arizona. Drive 30 miles east of Phoenix on Highway 60 toward Globe and turn left at milepost 204, following the signs for the Peralta trailhead. After 6.1 miles of good dirt road you will arrive at the well equipped Peralta Trailhead where you can even pay the parking fee with a credit card. There are two moderately easy climbing routes to the summit of Weavers Needle and each has a different hike-in route. We describe here the easier of the two routes. For that approach you leave the trailhead following the Bluff Springs Trail (#235) for 2.1 miles to a trail junction where you fork left on the Terrapin Trail (#234). Then proceed 0.7 mile to Bluff Saddle. Just 200 yards beyond the saddle, leave the trail and hike up to a low saddle on a ridge to the left. From here you will have an excellent view of Weavers Needle. The head straight cross-country for the notch in the middle of the monolith. You first descend to the broad wash below you and then begin a long rough bouldering climb to the base of the cliff in the notch. Here the climb begins. The first pitch is about 5.5 and is the hardest. A second pitch takes you up to the notch. You then proceed up the riidge to the right, a long third pitch which is mostly class 4. This takes you to a platform around to the southwest of the summit. A final technical section proceeds up a nice pitch with lots of hand and footholds to the summit.
Red Tape
No permits needed for dayhiking
When To Climb
Best climbed in winter, spring or fall when the temperature is not too hot.
Camping
There are many campsites in the Superstition Wilderness.
1 Routes