If Camelback and Squaw Peak have become routine for you, then Flatiron should be your next hike. It is basically like doing a double version of Camelback with significantly better vistas and scenery. It will take you about 45 to an hour to get here depending on where you are coming from in Phoenix. Also, you need to pay a $7 entrance fee. The hike itself can take anywhere from 3 and a half hours to over 5. It all depends on your pace and how long you lounge at the top. I'd say the first mile is pretty easy. You have to walk a bit to get to the start of the mountainous area. Your first big challenge comes at the waterfall. Its kind of sheer and very steep. I would recommend not looking up as you walk up. Go to the right and follow the old water line for the path of least resistance. Once you scale that, you go over a hump and begin the real climb. This next part takes you through some low hanging trees and a lot of the climb would be better if you use your hands. Take some breaks and watch as the flatiron looms closer and closer. Last big challenge is a 12 foot wall, but it actually is easier than it looks. It will get colder on the top, so prepare for that. Try for a day with highs in the 70s for the best hike. read more

The morning of this hike, I went and bought hiking shoes and boy was that a good decision!! Some people on the trail that were wearing sneakers were looking over at my friend and I saying they wished they had real hiking shoes. Don't be this person! Come prepared, as this is quite a challenging hike. It can definitely be done even if you aren't in the very best shape but you will feel the pain for days after (especially in your thighs). However, being at the top is so rewarding and beautiful that it makes the journey up worth it. Like I said, bring the right shoes. It can be quite steep coming back down and hiking shoes really give you the necessary grip to be able to make it without kissing the ground. Being a girl, i brought gloves as it made it easier to grip onto the rocks going up and coming down as well (especially if you have a manicure or long nails). Gloves aren't a major necessity, though. Bring plenty of water (at least 2L) and snacks for energy, and I would recommend to not let your muscles cool down too much at the top or you will be suffering coming down. My legs were definitely shaking. When you make it to the rock wall that you have to climb, know this: that is the last step till you are at the very top, and if I could do it, you can do it. I really don't think it is that bad, if you can do Camelback, then you can climb this as well. Also, plan to spend most of your day on this with driving there and back (unless you go super early). At the bottom of the trail there are lots of picnic tables. I wish we had brought food for after the hike so we can eat while admiring the mountain we just conquered. If you want to challenge yourself and take your hiking to the next level: this is the place to do it! Good luck! read more

As a high altitude mountain climber I have made Flatiron one of my routine climbs. Its a short but sweet climb, i usually make the round trip in about 3.5 hours. If you like to be more isolated from all the people try going up to the real summit instead of the Flatiron, it takes a bit of a 15 minutes of scrambling around hoo-doos near the summit but you get a full 360 degree view of the valley, superstitions, Four peaks etc. Winter time is prime season for a climb such as this one, i went there during summer once and its fine as long as youre not in there in the middle of the day, be sure to always bring more than enough water. I bring at least 2L plus some high calorie snacks. IMPORTANT! Why pay to park at Lost Dutchman SP when you can park at the Mining Camp Restaurant for free? read more

Amazing trail, one of the most difficult hikes I've experienced in Arizona so far only due to the last stretch that was the closest to rock climbing I have ever been. Suggestions would be good hiking shoes with good grip, longer pants that cover legs so you don't get scratched up by the brush and gloves to help your grip towards the end of the hike! The view was incredible and also the people were very friendly, saw someone get evacuated out so keep in mind it is testing your skill, don't push yourself too hard if you feel unsafe! But so worth it :) read more

Siphon Draw Trail inc. Flatiron, Superstition Mountain - Hiking Near Me - Apache Junction, Arizona

Siphon Draw trail is probably my favorite Phoenix area hike. It provides a great mix of unique scenery and physical exercise. The first mile or so, beginning in Lost Dutchman State Park, is relatively boring and easy, but it gets interesting when you approach the cliffs and begin to gain elevation. After the next half mile or so, which is decidedly less maintained than the beginning, you come up to a smooth basin known as Siphon Draw. This provides a nice shady area to rest, or if you're just looking for a nice stroll, a good turnaround point. Once you pass Siphon Draw, you're met with a seemingly vertical quarter mile scramble up to a small saddle. If you struggled to mightily to get up to this point, this could also serve as a good spot to turn around, as it only gets more difficult. The remaining half mile or so to the top of the plateau is a rocky climb that gets steeper and steeper as you go, with some minor climbing involved in a few spots, until you reach a 12 foot vertical wall at the edge of the plateau. Once you pass this barrier, you are atop the plateau, where you can either hike a relatively flat quarter mile to the edge of the cliff formation known as Flatiron, or hang a left and continue to the top of Superstition Mountain. The views from atop Superstition Mountain are phenomenal, with a 360 degree panorama of the Superstition Wilderness, Four Peaks, and the Phoenix area. It's a strenuous hike, with an elevation gain of almost 3,000 feet (most of which occurs in the last mile of hiking), but it's always a fun time. Bring enough water, and be careful not to slip or break your ankles on the way down. Note: Parking in Lost Dutchman State Park costs $5 per vehicle. Free parking is available a mile or so down the road at the First Water Trailhead, but you'll have to hike an extra mile or so each way. read more

My favorite hike in Arizona. Step for step, this is significantly harder than the Grand Canyon. You'll ascend from 2,100 feet to over 4,700 feet in just 2.5 miles. This is like doing Camelback 2.5 times for reference. Make sure to do this hike after checking the weather to see how hot it will be. Bring enough water, and know your level of fitness. It's already a gorgeous hike, but if you can hike it after a recent rain, you have a good shot at seeing a little stream coming down from the draw to the lower part of the trail. One tip: start your hike at the Mining Camp restaurant. You can find the trail around the back. read more

I am a flatland trail ultrarunner who was looking for a vertical workout while visiting the area. This was clearly the most challenging terrain available. It did not disappoint in beauty or difficulty. I went up alone, and I should not have done that. I am extremely fortunate that I took up indoor rock climbing about 6 months ago, and that I am knowledgeable about calories and hydration from running. Without those tools, I would have been in real trouble. As it is, I consider myself lucky to have avoided serious injury. There are a lot of loose rocks. I slipped on some of them on the way down and sprained my shoulder. There is a lot of terrain that uses the same basic skills as rock climbing. The degree of difficulty isn't very high on any of the climbing, but if you make a mistake and fall you are not going find help easy to come by. You will also have to downclimb everything. There were plenty of people on the trail, even on a Monday afternoon in February, but there's only so much that can be done that far up a mountain if you get hurt. I lost the trail near the top and found myself in a bad place. I decided to cut my losses and head down when I saw a couple of people descending the correct path. I made it to the Flatiron. I took some pictures, including a couple of selfies. The fear of the descent is quite evident on my stupid face. I got up and down in just under 4 hours. I probably could have broken 3.5 if I'd stayed on the correct path. I wore Merrell Mix Master 2's, which should be the lightest shoe anyone wears. I wore an Ultimate Direction PB Adventure Pack with 120 oz. of water, which was about 50 oz. extra for a 60-degree, overcast day. I ate 3 GU's and one Clif Bar. Experienced hikers/climbers are going to love this because it's beautiful and rewarding. Other people might, too, but they also might be scared most of the time like I was. Everyone needs to respect it, at least more than I did going in. I'm glad this exists and I'm proud to have done it, but I'm lucky I didn't get hurt. read more

This is an intense hike. I would recommend preparing for this by hiking at least once a week starting two months prior to this hike. It will take anywhere from 4 to 6 hours depending on your pacing, amount of breaks taken, and how much time you spend at the top. Some tips: Wear hiking gloves. You will be using your hands ALOT, and gloves will mean less pain for you. Wear shoes that have top notch grip. There are a large amount spots with slick, loose rock, and steep inclines. Be prepared for a little/novice climbing. Bring food like power bars. You will burn a lot of calories and will need the nourishment. Bring at least 3 liters of water per person. You will get thirsty! read more

I thought this was just like any regular hike but man was I wrong this was extreme hiking/rock climbing just keep in mind it's a very long hike take plenty of water and snacks for you will need it for energy. I really enjoyed this hike and will be going back again even if I live in L.A. read more

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Hiking, and especially trail running, have become big parts of my life. I've been up camelback a few hundred times piestewa peak dozens, toms thumb about 15, pinnacle peak dozens of times , im also an a mountain regular and a Papago frequent since I'm based out of Tempe. This hike tops them all and is my new go to. It's perfect and scenic and friendly. AND I always find parking which is not true for all of the hikes in the greater Phoenix area. When going through the rock basin, either stay left and hug the wall or go far right. I've seen people get hit in the head while going up and down from rocks slipping from under people's feet. read more

This is a difficult hike with the last mile up of 2,000 feet that really hurt up and down. The view is amazing but come ready for boot camp up to this peak. read more

Siphon Draw Trail inc. Flatiron, Superstition Mountain - Very neat place to hike up to before the pain starts. - Hiking Near Me - Apache Junction, Arizona

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Loved the Siphon Draw trail all the way to the top of the Flatiron. Best workout I've had to date. I mainly have just gone to Squaw/Piestewa Peak or Camelback for hiking. Lately, I have been trying to explore new trails and more difficult places to hike. Yesterday, the BF and I, came to the Lost Dutchman State Park. I did read up on it a little bit but didn't fully prepare to do the hike to the very top. I only brought one water bottle and a coconut juice for my trip. My plans initially was to hike the Siphon Draw to the basin and scope out hike to the top of the Flatiron and come back another day to do the full hike. As soon as we hit the basin, my BF looked up onto the Flatiron and got excited. He just HAD to get to the top. Well, we had this great momentum going and decided why the heck not, and just went for it. It was a bit gruesome and more strenuous than other hikes I've done but I freakin made it and it felt awesome! I can't wait to go back! But next time, I will be more prepared. I will have to bring more water and some snacks as this is almost a 5hr hike roundtrip. Thank goodness my BF brought his Camelbak and spared me some water and needless to say we were starving by the time we got back to the car. Side note: Parking is $7. You will absolutely need shoes with good grip. Gloves would also be helpful! read more

"Challenging vertical climb" sums up this trail. Wear a backpack, sunglasses, bring a snack/sandwich for the top, at least 2L of water, bring a long-sleeved shirt for the breeze at the top, or a clean dry shirt to change into for your way down. Wear shoes with GOOD grip, because this trail has tons of small loose rocks and one area of giant flatter rock that you've got to stick your feet to, to climb up. (shown in one of the pics on here). Gloves are helpful on your way down--these rocks can be pretty sharp in places. Easy to cut skin and/or break a nail. We kept a moderate pace and it took us about 2 hours from beginning of trail (Saguaro parking lot) to the lookout. Super fast expert pace is about 90 mins. The trial is marked with White+Blue dots, but it's SO easy to miss and suddenly you're going up the wrong dry creek bed. There are three - take the one on the right! haha. Definitely more difficult than Camelback, but worth the drive. Remember where you park and the path you took to the trailhead - I've gotten lost trying to find my car and ended up in the campground down the road. read more

One of the best hikes in Arizona! I have hiked many trails in Arizona and this is at the top of my favorites list. I went with a couple friends (who are also experienced hikers) and it took us an average a 4 and a half hours round trip. The scenery and terrain constantly changes. I would recommend this hike for anyone. Just be prepared that this is very strenuous and there is loose rocks so hiking shoes are a must and trekking poles are very helpful! This is the perfect hike for training for long hikes such as Humphrey's Peak and the Grand Canyon. However, not sure everyone can make it all the way due to the tougher rock climbing area at the very top. The views are spectacular all around at the top! read more

I've hiked Camelback numerous times but this hike was definitely challenging. I went early in the morning. The drive from Tempe was about a good 30 minutes so you might want to take that into consideration if you are coming from the city. Also, you will have to bring plenty of water. The hike was gorgeous! Definitely worth the effort. Bring a change of socks and change them until you reach the top. There are also a variety of flower bushes on the trail which attracts many bees so you may want to bring a sting ease cream JUST IN CASE. I had no problem with the bees but I did get worried at times. If you feel like a challenge Flat Iron is the way to go. read more

Someone suggested we hike this and we were told it was a six hour hike but also heard it was six miles - but we didn't really research it so we just got in the car and followed the signs to Lost Dutchman which was a 40 minute drive from Scottsdale. Took a while to park but followed the signs and off we went. There were rules posted but none said no alcohol and somehow we managed to drink some beers so it was a fun day. I've hiked maybe 15 times and this was by far the toughest hike. Several climbs - a few narrow and difficult maneuvers - lots of shade (got to 39° at one point) - lots of sand and gravel so we all fell a few times - but not a lot of people traffic. Took us 3 hours to get up (had several breaks) - chilled up top for about 30 minutes - then got back down in 1.5 hours -- much easier going down surprisingly. The elevation gain was 2,748 so we got up to about 4,800ft and burned over 1,200 Cals. Saw several elderly people, some kids, and dogs - so while I thought it was a challenge, clearly anyone can do it. Honestly I would do it all over again but I would start earlier than 1pm to avoid the cold, being gloves, and a GoPro. read more

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Great hike. 5 hours up and down. Wear gloves. Don't wear running shoes. Pet friendly :) read more

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Wow!! I underestimated this hike despite reading the reviews. I didn't believe it was 6 hours considering I do 6 mile hikes in CA in 3/4 hours tops. It took us almost 7! But we did end up off trail for a while which was pretty scary. You are legit rock climbing almost the whole way up!!! I didn't account for that. Going down was scary.  I didn't listen about bringing food to eat at the top either and was pretty starving on the way down. Really wish I brought food! I also failed to wear sunblock and I might or might not resemble a tomato... however, most the trail was shaded by the mtn which I appreciated. One thing I'm glad I brought is my trekking poles, gloves and good traction shoes. Confident those poles saved my life several times going up and going down. The gravel can be very slippery and I put my weight on my pole. Gave my aunt the other to help her too. Let's talk about that final rock wall at the top you have to climb over. Ppl will tell you the middle is easier. I tried and failed. I went to the left and it was much easier for me. Everyone on this hike will say the left is the best place to go on the way up. I found that to be true. Ppl brought dogs although I read no dogs. I wouldn't! Unless you plan on picking your dog up over the tall boulders in some areas. I also was pretty sure one dog was gonna die with how fast it was breathing. I just don't recommend if you love your fur baby and don't want an expensive vet bill. Overall a cool hike with a great view. I'll be sore for days. Oh and most importantly, I drank 3 liters of water. Ran out a little before the end so an extra bottle would of been nice. read more

Siphon Draw Trail inc. Flatiron, Superstition Mountain - Hiking Near Me - Apache Junction, Arizona

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Wow! Amazing and people are right, it's for experience. Avid hiker, I was not is such great shape at this time and took my 2 kids since it says 6miles to flat iron on the state park map. Online it says 9miles. First 2 miles is an incline and then a bit more to siphon where there are smooth rocks. After that's it's been pretty much climbing. Gloves and some use of sticks would be great. There is cactus and thorns. Pace yourselves and it'll be fine! Pack lots of water, snacks and maybe even lunch. I brought fruit, protein bars and sandwiches. Especially if you have kids. I have been taking my kids hiking since they were babies so they are used to it, 8yr old & 12yr old. But they didn't expect it to be this long but they did awesome. Once you pass a wall of rocks your pretty much on top! The way back down was the hardest. It took us about 9hrs total. We ran out of water at the end and had a camelbak each, about 88degs in the sun. Walked to Ampatheatre to get water for the rest of the hike to the car. Great experience! read more

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Best hike in the Phoenix area! We hike Camelback mountain at least once a week carrying 15 lbs of weight in our backpacks and we thought that was difficult...until we got to Flat Iron! Took us 4.5 hours to finish the round trip today 7/6/2014. We started the hike at 6 a.m. and were lucky to have overcast all the way up. However, on the way down, it was extremely hot and a friend of ours who only carried 2 liters of water nearly passed out from dehydration. I carried 3 liters of water and 1 powrade and I was barely able to make it down; I was looking fwd to the hydration station to soak my body and cool down. 7 year-old sister and 47 year-old mom came along and they loved the hike. They almost gave up but I made it to the top before them and returned to give them some motivation that the peak was a short distance away. The view was beautiful. read more

Such a cool hike. Probably the hardest hike I've done but totally worth it when you get to the top. The views are amazing the whole way. Took us about 4.5 hours round trip. A lot of rock scrambling. Nothing too technical. I brought some gloves for the way down which helped a lot. Just the kind you get at Home Depot with the rubber fronts. Me knees hurt really bad. Towards the end on my way down my legs were really rubbery. I am not in the best shape and made it to the top one step at a time. I didn't have any problems with the trail. Just follow the paint. read more

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Pretty much summed up by the previous reviewers. This hike involves steep places and those who are scared of heights n climbing steep places better avoid. 1. Be prepared that this is a difficult n strenuous hike. 2. Wear good hiking shoes 3. Carry few energy bars and good amount of water. 4. I prefer not wearing gloves but if they provide good grip carry a pair of them. read more

I love this trail! I went here late on a Sunday evening an hour before sunset. It's just one of the most beautiful places outside of Phoenix and it's not as busy or crowded. The Superstition Mountains is my favorite places to hike if you are looking for quieter scenic area. And also great for photography. I've only gone to a few trails here and will definitely seeking out more! read more

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Love this trail, most rewarding hike in Phoenix. Watch out for the smooth rocks if its raining, very slippery. Awesome views read more

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Read my review and experience with Siphon Draw, Flat Iron and the Superstition Mountains here: http://aliroundtheworld.com/tag/superstition-mountains/ read more

Amazing hike, lots of boulder hopping up the mountain. This is a longer steeper hike and I would hesitate to bring kids on it. Also, it is easy to get lost at times. There is one difficult part in particular where it is like scaling a 45 degree slippery rock. Overall I think I'd recommend this trail, it was amazing at the top!! read more

This was probably the hardest hike I've done in AZ. I'm relatively fit but I was sore for 3-4 days after doing this hike. They charge per vehicle and there's enough parking. I didn't think the trails were too busy, but there were a decent amount of people. The views at the top and along the way are beautiful so it's definitely worth it. This is a whole day adventure as it takes about 6 hours (including water and picture breaks). Tip 1- get hiking shoes. I had sneakers with no traction and fell multiple times. Then again, I saw some people do it in sandals but I'd still say hiking shoes or good grip shoes are a must. Tip 2- start early. On our way down, it got very dark. We couldn't see anything, which was pretty dangerous. Tip 3- follow the trail or go with someone who can. We went off trail and had to climb a flimsy tree to get back on the trail. This was hella scary. Other than that, one of the best hikes I've done here in AZ. read more

Alright, not so much a review as much as a heads up for people. I hike all over the state and Flatiron remains in my top 5 hikes of all time. A great trail, easy access, killer views and a fantastic workout. That being said, this hike is in a designated federal wilderness area. Lately there have been people not respecting and trashing the place. The iconic wilderness sign at the base of the climb was torn down and broken this past week. In addition someone spray painted over 100 blue dots and arrows on the trail. In a wilderness area you need to practice "leave no trace". Graffiti is graffiti whether you spray paint something on the side of a building or on a rock. If you need to follow the blue dots in order to avoid getting lost, then you are on the wrong trail. This is a wilderness area. In addition, to maintain the wilderness experience you should travel in small groups and my personal pet peeve don't play music on your phone. That's what head phones are for. Nobody else wants to hear your crappy music. read more

This is honestly the perfect hike. There are restrooms at the entrance and they were pristine when I visited here. The hike is definitely steep so wear good shoes. And if rock climbing is not your thing at all, you will not like this trail. But the views are incredible, and I think this is one of the most fun hikes that I've been on. read more

Done and dusted! But it's an extremely difficult hike. I felt like quitting several times but you just have to keep going. There are have been several rescue operations in this trail, but don't lose heart! read more

One of the most challenging hikes I've ever done but also one of the best. 6 miles round trip and the last mile gains 2000 feet in elevation! Its basically rock wall climbing at some points especially towards the top. Once you're up there its gorgeous, enjoy the views and some snacks if you bring any (I recommend you do so you can load up on some energy for the way back). Going down is harder in a way because you need to be super focused not to misstep on rocks. I wore my bike gloves on the way down and was leaning on my arms quite a lot so that helped speed up the descent. The next day it seemed that every muscle of my body hurt, I guess it was a fully body workout! I hope I can do this hike many more times! read more

The first couple miles is pretty annoying, very gradual to the base of the mountain but than it gets good! Awesome hike, unrelenting and some climbing. Once on the saddle take a left to go to the "top" (not the summit) or right to go to the flat iron. If you take a left follow the cairns - some climbing/bouldering here. read more

The view from the top of flatiron Is cool, you see lots of interesting mountain ranges of Unique shapes. The hike up is challenging in its own way, being that there are many dangerous, rocky, sandy parts of the trail that send rocks flying down at you if you are following someone (that got annoying at times). I would recommend going early in the morning so you arent trying to beat the sunset, hiking this mountain at night would not be smart. This hike is good for the scenery (saw a lot of photographers hiking with really nice cameras) but I didn't feel like it was as challenging as I expected (a little let down). Maybe it was a slower incline than I like? I expected and was excited to be sore from the workout, but I wasn't, It was just very, very long (5 hours total). Although my feet felt like I had just walked hours in heels, everything else was fine...probably could have gone for a run afterwards. This is a hike I would do again to take some cool pictures and see the wildflowers, but I would go early in the morning so that I could do other things in the day after the hike. I still enjoy my camelback hikes a lot more -hands down. Maybe I'm bias, just sayin. read more

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Impeccable, incredible views! We hiked to our campground at Lost Dutchman and stayed over night! It was surreal hearing how close the coyotes were to us! Awesome! The next day we hiked to the top! Cool trail, amazing views and we brought our dogs! We will be back! read more

It's a tough one, but one of the most rewarding hikes I've ever experienced! Your legs will be jello by the end! We went straight to a well earned In N Out as soon as we were done, and I have no regrets! read more

Great hike! Trail isn't marked well after the flatiron... you also need to stay to the right at the first fork. If you're in great shape, it will take you 3.5 hours... Otherwise, it's a 4-6 hour hike, but well worth it. read more

I hiked this trail with a few classmates and Yes it is definitely a challenging hike! Make sure to bring lots of water and food! We took lots of breaks to enjoy the scenery and make more friends along the way. I would also suggest eating a large breakfast so you can muster up the energy to take this on! Before hiking the Superstition, I didn't train -- and we got by OK! The hike is long but once you get to the scenic Flat Iron, it's worth the hike! I would probably expect to be here 1/2 a day! Hike with friends! It's a great community builder! read more

My very very favorite hike in the valley!!!! I love flat iron!!! The scenery and theme of this trail change quite a bit making it super fun to climb up it. You probably should be a little bit experienced to hike this trail in decent shape. Also, make sure you bring enough water. I bring 70-100 fl oz in my camelback and that's enough. read more

I'm from Seattle and have been to Phoenix a few times to visit our son. We drove by the Superstitions once while driving the Apache Trail to Lk. Roosevelt. A solid wall of mountains, broken by steep canyons and draws - who wouldn't want to climb there? But when and how? An old friend now in Mesa took me up last Friday. We had a go up the Siphon Draw trail and made it to the top. Great experience. It also kicked our a** scrambling up, and then kicked it again scrambling down, making us wonder how we got up in the first place. The western facing and tight draw keep you in shade most of the morning, a great benefit. Outstanding 360 view of pretty much central Arizona. It must be doubly amazing at night, looking at the lights of Phoenix to the west. You can take a four hour ridge walk between Flatiron/Superstition Mountain to another mountain due east, and descend to a different exit point from there. You would need someone to pick you up there, but it seems like it would be an outstanding, if a bit long, full day hike. read more

Bring a flashlight, be ready for non-stop breathtaking vertical and views. It just keeps going, the views are worth the effort. The basin and vertical rocks with gravel get slick in the rain and are downright terrifying in places if you come down by flashlight. Worth it. read more