HIKE OF THE MONTH

HIKE of the month SIPHON DRAW/FLATIRON TRAIL In the space between the trailhead for this hike and the edge of the precipice where it ends, you'll see saguaros, wildflowers and maybe a few overambitious hikers on their last legs.

Depending on how you approach it, Trail begins at the end of a paved road ers are part of the landscape, too - the this doubleheader can be either in Lost Dutchman State Park, which was intensity depends on how much rain falls a walk in the park or a gantlet developed in 1972 as a day-use area by the on the desert the previous winter. At the lined with piles of rocks, potential misBureau of Land Management. It became a very least, you can expect to see yellow steps and overambitious hikers on their state park on December 5, 1977. The first waves of brittlebush. And if it's a "good last legs - the minimal mileage to the steps are the easiest as the well-marked year," you'll also see chuparosas, poppies, top belies the amount of energy it takes path winds through the park and past the fiddlenecks, globemallows, lupines and to get there. That dichotomy, however, park campground. desert evening primroses. is what makes this one of the great hikes As you'd expect, the signage in the About 15 minutes in, the trail crosses in the Sonoran Desert. In the space park is superb, making it just about from the park into the Tonto National between the trailhead and the edge of impossible to make a wrong turn. The the precipice, this scenic route ranges other extreme becomes the norm later from easy to strenuous. There's someon. Meanwhile, the trail continues its thing for everyone. casual zigzag past saguaros, chollas and Part 1 of the combo, the Siphon Draw creosote bushes. In March, wildflowForest. A few minutes after that, it passes an intersection with the Jacob's Crosscut Trail. At this point, the trail is still rated easy, but the slow ascent is beginning as the rocky track gets rockier and downhill hikers start asking, with intrigue, "Are you going all the way to the top?"

Continuing on, the trail quickly arrives at the Superstition Wilderness, which cradles 160,236 acres, including all of those from this point forward. The line is invisible, but the wilderness boundary is where the wide, easy-to-follow path starts giving way to a narrow, rugged trail that will have you rock-hopping the rest of the day. In the distance, you'll get your first look at Siphon Draw. And farther on, the Flatiron. If "easy" is the extent of your comfort zone, this is where you'll turn around. However, if you can handle "moderate," keep climbing to the basin of the draw. You'll know it when you see it. It looks like Mother Nature installed an Olympic-sized halfpipe at the foot of the mountain.

The climb through the basin isn't tech-nical, or very long, but it's steep and the slick-rock can be iffy. Be careful as you make your way to the saddle at the upper end (elevation: 3,389 feet). This is the turnaround point for Part 1, the Siphon Draw Trail. The rest of the route, Part 2, This is the grueling, rock-infested climb to the Flatiron. The gantlet.

The first challenge is getting over the saddle some minor technical prowess comes in handy. After that, route-finding and conditioning will be your biggest concerns. From the saddle, make your way to the riparian wash on the right. Once in there, the rule of thumb is "Keep left." Several side trails to the right will try to draw you in, and make things confusing, but resist the temptation. When in doubt, remember: Left is right.

In addition to staying on track, you'll need to pace yourself. This last mile demands everything you've got. It's an hourlong (at least) slog to the next saddle, which is blocked by an 8-foot wall of rock. After carefully climbing over, it's an easy scramble to the summit. Your legs will be on fire when you get there, but once you're standing at the edge of the precipice, taking in the view, it won't matter. You'll be glad you ran the gantlet.

ADDITIONAL READING: For more hikes, pick up a copy of Arizona Highways Hiking Guide, which features 52 of the state's best trails one for each weekend of the year, sorted by seasons. To order a copy, visit shoparizonahighways.com /hikingguide.

LENGTH: 4.28 miles round-trip (6.05 miles round-trip to the Flatiron)

DIFFICULTY: Moderate (strenuous to the Flatiron)

ELEVATION: 2,058 to 3,389 feet (4,671 at the Flatiron)

TRAILHEAD GPS: N 33°27.561', W 111°28.798'

DIRECTIONS: From Idaho Road in Apache Junction, go east on State Route 88 (the Apache Trail) for 4.8 miles to Lost Dutchman State Park. Proceed to the entrance gate, then follow the signs to the Siphon Draw Trailhead.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATION: A $7 day pass is required.

VEHICLE REQUIREMENTS: None

DOGS ALLOWED: Yes

HORSES ALLOWED: No

USGS MAP: Goldfield

INFORMATION: Lost Dutchman State Park, 480982-4485 or azstateparks.com/lost-dutchman; Mesa Ranger District, 480-610-3300 or fs.usda.gov/tonto