Hike | Lost Goldmine Trail – Arizona Hikers Guide

The Lost Goldmine Trail is an easy stroll through Sonoran Desert with great views of the Superstition Mountains.  This trail skirts the southern base of the Superstition Wilderness and is a relatively flat, wide path suitable for just about any hiker!  This is one of my first recommendations to my out-of-state visitors!

History:
The Lost Goldmine Trail was completed in 2002 with the help of many volunteers.  The trail now connects the Lost Dutchman State Park and the Peralta Trailhead.  To read more about the history of the trail click here!  There is also an online brochure with a map if you are interested.

Hike:

This description begins at the Cloudview TH and heads east toward the Peralta TH.

The hike begins after winding through neighborhoods that were once precious desert.  The urban sprawl has pushed itself up nearly to the base of the Superstitions Mountain range.  It is easy, however, to navigate to the Cloudview TH because there are hiking signs at every corner that lead the way.  The TH parking lot is free of charge and is HUGE!  It is a very popular trailhead and can get very crowded on weekends.

The hike itself is very straight forward. From the Cloudview TH you will begin by climbing gradually uphill for a few hundred yards until you reach a junction in the trail. To the left is a sign for the Hieroglyphic Trial and to the right is a sign pointing you east on the Lost Goldmine Trail. Go right. The trail will begin to descend and make it’s way to the base of the mountains. You will stay right of the barbed wire fencing and continue east. The trail is very distinct and almost impossible to get lost. You will see plenty of cactus and low desert plant varieties on this hike. The views are great so stop and enjoy them. When you reach the Lost Goldmine TH you can either arrange for a shuttle (your own shuttle, not provided) or return the way you came.