Lost Dutchman State Park

Named after the fabled lost gold mine, Lost Dutchman is located in the Sonoran Desert at an elevation of 2000 feet.

Named after the fabled lost gold mine, Lost Dutchman State Park is located in the Sonoran Desert, 40 miles east of Phoenix. Several trails lead from the park into the Superstition Wilderness and surrounding Tonto National Forest. Take a stroll along the Native Plant Trail or hike the challenging Siphon Draw Trail to the top of the Flatiron. Depending on the year’s rainfall, you might be treated to a carpet of desert wildflowers in the spring. Enjoy a weekend of camping and experience native wildlife including coyote, javelina and jackrabbit.

The park offers a variety of hiking trails, nature trails, picnic facilities, 70 campsites, a dump station, restrooms, showers, and group use areas. The visitor center sells maps and other publications.

Before you hike, be prepared with enough water and proper footwear as the trails are steep and challenging.

Friday Night Astronomy Events

Learn about the night skies with astronomer Bill Dellinges. Friday nights at 7 pm. Free with park admission.

January 16
February 13
March 13 (7:30 pm start time)

Moonlight Hikes

Monthly Ranger led night hikes during week of full moon, 7 - 9 pm. $5 day use fee per vehicle.

Friday, January 9
Sunday, February 8
Sunday, March 8 (7:30 - 9:30 pm for March hike)

Spring 2009 Saturday Events

These Saturday events start at 7 pm and are free with park admission.

Janaury 10: Plants of the Sonoran Desert
Janaury 17: Silver King Mine with Jack San Felice
Janaury 24: Goldfield Mountains with Ted Tenny
Janaury 31: Superstition Mt. History with Ron Feldman
February 7: Harvest of the Desert
February 14: Birds of the Sonoran Desert with Vera Walters.
February 21: Reel west vs. the real west: Hollywood vs. history with Chris Demille
February 28: Fangs and Stings with Andrew Baldwin
March 7: Rocks and Geology with Marlo Buchmann
March 14: Once, I'm lost what do I do? with Robert Cooper & Mike Wallace
March 21: Kartchner Carvens Revisited with Marti Murphy
March 28: Reel west vs. the real west: Hollywood vs. history with Chris Demille
April 4, 2009: World of bats with Bill Burger
April 11, 2009: Reptiles with Randy Babb

Saturday Morning Guided Hikes

Starting January 17 take a guided Saturday morning hike. These ranger led hikes are 2–3 miles and take between 2–3 hours. The hike focuses on plants and animals as well as the history of Superstition Mountain area.

Mystery and Legend

The Superstition Mountains have been a source of mystery and legend since early times. The area is dotted with ancient cliff dwellings and caves, many showing signs of former habitation by a number of different Native American groups, up until the 1800s. Even the name is inspired by Pima Indian legends.

During the 1840s, the Peralta family of northern Mexico supposedly developed a rich gold mine in the Superstitions. According to legend, an Apache ambush ended the family's last expedition, and the gold remained in the area. In the 1870s, Jacob Waltz ("the Dutchman") was said to have located the mine through the aid of the Peralta descendant. Waltz and his partner, Jacob Weiser, worked in the mine and allegedly hid one or more caches of gold in the Superstitions. Most stories place the gold in the vicinity of Weaver's Needle.

After Waltz's death in 1891, several people attempted to seek out the Lost Dutchman's Mine, all without luck. Later searchers have sometimes met with foul play or even death, contributing to the superstition and legend of these mountains.

The legend of the "lost mine" has been fueled by a number of people who were supposed to have known the mine's location or even worked it. Maps have surfaced over the years, only to become lost or misplaced.

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