The trail up to Flatiron in the Superstition Mountains is a very steep climb uphill, but the views from the top and along the trail are spectacular. It is very much worth the effort!

Getting There

Superstition Mountain is one-hour drive south-east of Phoenix close to Apache Junction. Once you are on route 88 from Apache Junction, turn right on Lost Dutch Man State Park. There is a park entrance fee to pay. We did this as a day trip from Phoenix, but the park also offers the option of overnight camping. The campground is surrounded by the mountains. Quite a view!

The Trail

At the parking lot look for the Siphon Draw Trail. These directions from AllTrails are helpful. The trail is very well marked and heavily trafficked. The trail can be divided into different sections:

1. The first part of the trail is relatively large, well marked and gently climbs uphill.
2. The trail then becomes narrower and climbs uphill more steeply through a canyon. This part of the trail is relatively easy to follow but it might not always be immediately clear where to go. There are in fact alternative routes uphill, but some are more difficult or more exposed than others. When in doubt, it’s better to follow the map from AllTrails and keep left within the canyon.
3. At the very top of the canyon, you’ll have to climb a nearly vertical wall. This is by no means difficult or dangerous. There is a tree branch on the side that is very helpful. This will take no more than a few minutes.
4. After the wall with the tree branch, the trail is essentially flat. If you turn right, you’ll reach the top of Flatiron which is a flat expansive surface with stunning 360 views of the surroundings. This is an ideal place to have lunch, take in the views and even camp overnight if you plan to continue onwards.
5. The way downhill is the same as the one uphill but it will be hard on your knees. Take it slowly!

More If You Want

Instead of turning right onto Flatiron, the trail continues along the ridge all the way to the top of Superstition Mountain and beyond. We did not go this route so we do not know what the trail looks like. We plan to do this another time! The trail could be hiked as a multi-day backpacking trip while camping at intermediate spots. We saw a few tents on top of Flatiron.

When to go?

We hike the Flatiron Siphon Draw trail in December 2020. It was a nice sunny day, but it got a bit chilly on the top. We thought this was the ideal temperature to hike. The trail uphill has little shade so it is probably going to be scorching hot in the summer months!