Legends of gold, murder permeate this hike
It’s curious that even though geologists say the Superstition Mountains are unlikely to contain rich deposits of gold, myths and legends of finding, losing and raiding the precious mineral in the unforgiving backcountry persist.
From territorial times to the present day, people have been fascinated by strike-it-rich rumors and tales of ill-gotten gains that ring as loudly and off-key as cymbals in the hands of a restless kid.
Exposure, accidents and violence have claimed the lives of many who followed the lure of greed toward the proverbial mother lode. For those who believe in ghosts, Massacre Grounds is a good place to find them.
If you could pick a place to meet your maker, the yucca-studded volcanic mesa surrounded by rolling grasslands, abrupt canyons and sheer cliffs would make for a glorious sendoff.
The hauntingly beautiful spot at the far northwestern edge of the Superstition Wilderness near Apache Junction is the site of an 1848 ambush where a group of Spanish miners met their demise at the hands of a band of irate Apaches.
Hazy historical accounts suggest that the Apaches took the miners’ pack animals but left the gold — further stoking the quest for hidden treasure.
Superstitions history on display
A good place to tease out the vague, conflicting but always intriguing history of the area’s rough-and tumble past is the Superstition Mountain Museum. It’s on State Route 88 not far from major trailheads and has regular educational events and exhibits.
The museum’s new exhibit “The Gold Seekers” uses photos and artifacts to give an overview of the area’s infamous fortune hunters while adding incentive to take a hike into them thar hills. And its gory history notwithstanding, Massacre Ground Trail is a real treat to explore.
Climbing gently along a well-defined path, the route cuts through the remnants of 35-million-year-old volcanic activity. Contorted lava flows, volcanic necks and rugged washes shaded by desert trees and shrubs complement wide-open views of the surrounding wilderness.
The first mile makes a mild ascent of the foothills at the base of craggy mountains. Acres of chain-fruit cholla cover the flats that provide a platform for viewing the Four Peaks on the northern horizon and the colorfully layered mounds of the Goldfield Mountains to the west.
Once past the wilderness boundary fence, the climbing intensifies as the route swings over the saddle of Hill 2636 — a dominant conical butte. From this point, the distant profile of downtown Phoenix is barely visible to the southwest.
After a dip into a damp, shady corridor, the trail meets its most difficult challenge — a 0.1-mile slickrock chute. The loose rock and high steps of this short section look intimidating but getting through isn’t too tough for anybody with nubby footwear and the smarts to take it slow.
Reaching the massacre site
With the climbing mostly in the rear view, the final trudge to the massacre site is a breathtaking journey up a sloping mesa to a junction above a precipice that meets a hoodoo-topped wall of stone.
To the south, the signature stone pinnacles
Length: 6 miles round trip (including side trip to the falls).
Rating: Moderate.
Elevation: 2,116-3,185 feet.
Getting there: From U.S. 60 in Apache Junction, exit at Idaho Road and follow State Route 88 northeast for 7.5 miles to First Water Road (Forest Road 78). It’s just past Lost Dutchman State Park on the right. Go 0.5 mile on FR 78 to the signed Crosscut-Massacre Ground Trailhead on the right. FR 78 is rough dirt passable by carefully driven sedans.
Details: Superstition Mountain Museum, 4087 N. Apache Trail, Apache Junction. 480-983-4888, superstition mountainmuseum.org. Superstition Wilderness, www.fs.usda.gov/tonto.