Hike | Garden Valley Loop | Superstitions — Arizona Hikers Guide

• Length:  5.3 miles round trip
• Trail Type: Loop
• Trailhead Elevation:  2,310 ft.
• Gain/Loss:  -200 ft.
• Difficulty: Easy
• Dog Friendly: Yes, however there is Cholla cactus

Garden Valley Loop hike is a great beginner hike into the vast Superstition Mountains. If you are looking for an easy, minimal elevation loop hike through picturesque Sonoran Desert than this is the hike for you!

The Hike:This trail begins at the First Water Trailhead. The TH itself is very large and has 50 or so parking spots. There are restrooms and facilities at the TH. From the parking lot, begin heading south on the trail for about 1/4 mile until you reach the first junction. To the right is Dutchman’s Trail #104 and to the left is Second Water Trail #236. Stay to the left on Second Water Trail.

You will continue down this nice wide trail through First Water, which is almost always dry, until you reach Garden Valley. The valley is flat and covered in chain fruit Cholla. If you look back to the south you can see Weaver’s Needle which is quite a sight. Right in the middle of the valley you will come to a junction with Black Mesa Trail. Stay on the Second Water Trail #236 past the junction until you see an unmarked path veering left not far from the junction. Here, you will take the unmarked path and leave Second Water Trail.