The Superstition mountains are located east of Phoenix, Arizona. It has a history full of adventure and characters. The pursuit of gold in these mountains has been an on-going activity which has resulted in the legend of the Lost Dutchman's mine and gun battles among the prospectors seeking their fortune. Thankfully, things are much tamer these days and the mountains are very popular with hikers. The photos presented here were taken from 3 different trails. - Treasure Loop in the Lost Dutchman State Park - Peralta Trail - Siphon Draw Trail which is accessed from the Lost Dutchman State Park The picture on the cover was taken from the start of the Treasure Loop trail.
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Early morning shot of a saguaro catus
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This Gambels's quail was calling out from his perch. I think he was looking for some companionship.
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The flowers on this saguaro will turn into a red fruit which is popular with the birds and can be used to make jelly.
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Here are some of the rock formations that can be seen along Treasure Loop.
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These guys are all over the place out here. They are harmless small lizards.
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Another saguaro cactus. If you look closely you can see the moon to the left of its right arm.
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This is a La Cholla (pronounced la choya) cactus. These things can be VERY nasty. Their thorns are barbed and can be painful to remove. I have developed a healthy respect for them and always give them a wide berth.
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Early morning shot from Peralta Trail 13
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Weaver's Needle as shot from Fremont Saddle 22
This is the tree that was in the previous photo of Weaver's Needle.
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This is a baby jack rabbit. Those ears will get quite a bit larger by time he is full grown.
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This is a huge bed of rock found at the end of the Siphon Draw trail. If you look closely, you can see a pair of hikers making their way up. I have left this image at a higher resolution so that you can zoom in to see them better.
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