Located at the Superstition Mountains' base, this Arizona park has steep hiking trails to Flatiron peak, blooming wildflowers in spring, and 135 camping sites amid native saguaro cacti and desert wildlife.
Lost Dutchman State Park lies 40 miles east of Phoenix, Arizona, at the base of the Superstition Mountains. You can climb the steep Siphon Draw Trail to reach the 4,861-foot Flatiron peak, walk among saguaro cacti on the Native Plant Trail, or spot mule deer and coyotes in their natural habitat. In spring, yellow brittlebush and orange globe mallow flowers cover the desert slopes.
Lost Dutchman State Park lies 5 miles north of Apache Junction on Arizona State Route 88. The park gates open daily from 6 AM to 8 PM, with entrance fees of $10 per vehicle for up to four adults. Stop at the visitor center to get trail maps and updates about current trail and weather conditions.
Several trails connect throughout the park, ranging from flat desert walks to steep mountain ascents. The 2.4-mile Treasure Loop Trail circles through the foothills, with clear views of the Phoenix skyline and surrounding valleys. The Siphon Draw Trail climbs 1,000 feet over 2 miles to reach a natural basin, where you can continue onto the Flatiron Trail. Mountain bikers can ride 4 miles of singletrack trails through the desert terrain.
The campground has 135 sites, including 68 with electric and water hookups. Each site has a picnic table and fire pit with an adjustable grill gate. Five solar cabins sleep up to six people each, with climate control and two covered porches. Registered campers can use the restrooms and shower facilities, though construction work between October 2024 and May 2025 may limit access.
Dawn and dusk are common times to see desert mule deer, coyotes, javelina, and bobcats moving through the park. The elevation changes in the Superstition Mountains create different temperature zones where various desert plants grow, from low-elevation creosote bush to higher-altitude juniper trees.
The Superstition Mountain Museum across from the park displays mining equipment and local artifacts. At Goldfield Ghost Town, you can watch demonstrations of 1890s mining techniques in restored period buildings. Drive further to Tortilla Flat, the last remaining stagecoach stop on the Apache Trail, where the original saloon and restaurant still operate.
The park's name comes from Jacob Waltz, a German immigrant who claimed to find a gold mine in the 1870s. Waltz never revealed the mine's location before his death in 1891. Earlier, in the 1840s, the Peralta family from Mexico reportedly mined gold in these mountains, adding to the area's mining history.
Tell us about it! Is it place worth visiting, are you coming back?
