Sunrise in the Superstitions—hmmm, that sounds like a song title from the 70s. And to think this rugged wilderness is 45 minutes east of metro Phoenix—the Crown Jewel of Apache Junction.

The Superstition Wilderness is a land of extremes: blistering heat prevails in the summer months (119°) and below-freezing temps in the winter. It is not uncommon to see snow on the high desert peaks. October through March is the best time to hike.

Some Apaches believe that the hole leading down into the lower world, or hell, is located in the Superstition Mountains. Winds blowing from the deep canyon are supposed to be the cause of severe dust storms in the metropolitan region. [8]

Searching for hell was not on our agenda. We arrived at the First Water Trailhead at dawn and headed towards Parker’s Pass on Dutchman’s Trail 104. 

The trail was scenic and varied, with areas resembling nature-curated gardens.

The rising sun highlighted mountain tops as deep shadows softened spiny cacti along the route. The kindest light bestowed upon the desert is dawn or twilight.

We passed a nifty formation that resembled an English teapot. 

From Parker’s Pass, the back of Weaver’s Needle appeared in the hazy distance. 

We chose not to complete the loop—thus avoiding the arduous trek down to Black Mesa, followed by a steep climb to Second Water. The shortened route kept our hike to a pleasurable 600 ft of elevation and kept us out of the charred, burn-scarred areas of last summer. In all, we traveled around 6 miles. 

With the sun overhead, the magic began to fade—making the return trip an efficient one. 

A sunrise hike pays off in many ways—keep in mind that one can always catch a nap later.