Hiking in the desert is inherently dangerous at any time of the year and is very different from hiking in other locales. Don't leave the parking lot unless you have:

• a hiking map of the area
• let others know of your plans and give them contact info for: Superstition Search & Rescue (SSAR) and the Pinal and Maricopa County Sheriffs Offices
• 3 or 4 liters of water per person
• a first aid kit
• sun protection such as sun screen, a hat, and appropriate layers of clothing
• suitable footwear

Daytime temperatures in the 80's can drop into the 20's overnight. Most of the Superstitions are out of cell phone service. Don't count on trail junctions having signs--many trails aren't signed and vandals steal those that have been posted. Don't depend on USGS Topo maps! They are correct as far as terrain but they show many trails that no longer exist or that have been moved. I have found the Beartooth Publishing plastic map of the Superstition Wilderness to be the most reliable.

Your hiking safety depends on your preparation, experience, judgement, fitness, desert acclimation, equipment, and luck. A missed turn, a twisted ankle, a lost or leaking water bottle can turn a pleasant hike into a nightmare. On many of these hikes, it's possible to fall and suffer serious injury or death.

There are no warranties, either expressed or implied, that the information on this Web site is accurate, reliable, or represents current conditions. Your use of this site is an acknowledgement of your sole responsibility for your safety.