During the last week of February Linda and I camped at Lost Dutchman State Park, northeast of Apache Junction. We spent three nights camped there. On our second day, Tuesday February 27, I hiked Superstition Benchmark (Peak 5057), the highpoint of Superstition Ridge. Superstition Benchmark is the 90th most prominent peak in Arizona with 1817 feet of topographic prominence.

Superstition Benchmark is accessible from the State Park. But I chose to access it from the Carney Springs Trailhead. The route would be shorter and I would be more likely to reach the summit my first time in the area.

The route started on a closed road, then entered the Superstition Wilderness. The trail system was confusing at this point. So I took the most traveled but incorrect route before realizing my mistake. I turned back and found the unmarked Superstition Ridgeline Route which I followed upward.

The trail was steep and rocky as it climbed to the Superstition Ridge. Eventually I saw what I thought was the summit ahead. As I climbed the route I saw the summit area was surrounded by hoodoos, pillars of rock.

I passed between the hoodoos and enjoyed a short class 3 climb up rock slabs to the summit. I was glad the summit was not on the top of one of those hoodoos.

I had seen no one since leaving the busy trail system below. Perhaps I would not see anyone until I returned. But after entering my name in the new summit registry and having my lunch another hiker arrived from another route.

A cold front was approaching from the west and the summit was getting windy. The valley below was starting to get dusty. I began my descent, stopping frequently for photos of the peak behind me and of the surrounding peaks and towers in the Superstition Wilderness.

We enjoyed camping at Lost Dutchman State Park. Should we ever return I would like to hike the Siphon Draw Trail to gain the Superstition Ridgeline and see how the route to the summit goes from there. It would be a very scenic hike.