HIKE OF THE MONTH Boulder Canyon Trail

{hike of the month} There's Natural ‘Treasure’ on the Superstitions' Boulder Canyon Trail

BELOW Soon to be confronted with a steep three-quarter-mile uphill climb, a hiker strolls along Boulder Canyon Trail near its trailhead at the Canyon Lake Marina east of Phoenix.

OPPOSITE PAGE The barely visible 4,553-foot summit of Weavers Needle (top right) pokes the sky beyond angular outcroppings and saguaro-studded hills near Boulder Canyon.

THE ROUGH-HEWN SCENERY OF THE Superstition Wilderness and its alluring legends always provide an intriguing setting for a hike. German prospector Jacob Waltz, nicknamed “the Dutchman,” immortalized the Superstition Mountains with tales of his Lost Dutchman Mine. This legend drew a crowd of prospectors to the mountains in search of a phantom mine the Dutchman described as an 18-inch-thick vein of gold that lies in the shadow of Weavers Needle.

The 7.3-mile-long Boulder Canyon Trail, which starts at La Barge Canyon on the northern edge of the Superstition Wilderness, won't take hikers to Waltz's legendary mine, but it will take them to a cluster of adits midway along the trail. The real treasures of the trail, however, show up in natural features. The most abundant are the extravagant panoramas along the path-some of here, too. Welded columns of volcanic tuff line the canyon wall, and curious rows of rock eroded into fins appear on an outcrop. The massive golden rock wall that comes into distant sight as the trail starts to gradually descend into La Barge Canyon is known as Geronimo Head. Across from it on the west side of the drainage, reminiscent of a ship, looms Battleship Mountain.

When the trail crosses La Barge Canyon's creekbed, it heads into an anomalous area of salmon-colored rock called Indian Paint Saddle. Relics from Indian Paint Mine stand on the top of the tiny saddle. The mine got its name, stories say, because Indians dug red rock from the area to make paint. Prospectors left their mark all around the area - hikers might find rusted equipment and prospect tunnels. The mine, at mile 3.4, makes a good turnaround point for a moderate day hike.

From Indian Paint Mine, the trail drops into Boulder Canyon and heads south along the canyon floor. The trail continually crisscrosses the rocky creekbed that, after a wet winter, fills with a valuable desert commodity-water. Also after a wet winter, more than 50 species of wildflowers congregate along the creekbanks. The trail ends at the Dutchman Trail in Marsh Valley.

Hikers won't need a treasure map to find what prospectors left behind along the Boulder Canyon Trail. Neither, like the prospectors who searched vainly for gold in the Superstition Mountains, are they likely to find any treasure. Unless, of course, they're looking for the natural ones. Al Along the best in the wilderness.

The views start at mile 1 on an overlook that gives a glimpse of the azure shimmer of Canyon Lake to the north and the tempestuous topography of the Superstitions to the south. The trademark rocky Weavers Needle pokes from a mix of formations. In another half-mile, a more uninhibited version of the same view appears. The overlook makes a good turnaround point for a short hike.

As the trail twists around to the south face of the ridge, it passes a stand of saguaro cacti. Some of the giants, close to 20 feet tall with a dozen arms, show their ancient age of 100plus years old. The scenery turns striking

GETTING THERE: From Phoenix, drive east on U.S. Route 60 to Idaho Road, Exit 196. Drive north on Idaho Road about 1 mile, and turn right onto State Route 88, also known as the Apache Trail. Drive 15.8 miles to the trailhead across from the Canyon Lake Marina. Park in the marina parking lot at signs marked "Trailhead Parking." The parking lot is closed from dusk to dawn.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Tonto National Forest, Mesa Ranger District, (480) 610-3300; www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/recreation.