Fremont Saddle and Weavers Needle

Dogs Leashed

This is the famous hike via Peralta Canyon Trail to Fremont Saddle, earning a jaw-dropping view of Weavers Needle peak in the Superstition Wilderness. The classic hike is to "the saddle" and back, but the Peralta Trail can take you much farther into the wilderness if you choose to go.

The trailhead has one main and one overflow parking lot, and on busy days there is a ranger at the trailhead to suggest hikes and offer advice. No permit or fee is required, but a log book should be filled out for each hiking party. As with any trail in the Arizona desert, it's best to go during the cooler seasons and to start quite early in the day.

The trail presents a gradual ascent for the entire 2.25 miles up to Fremont Saddle, and the last quarter mile is pretty steep. The canyon is sprinkled rock tower formations, many of which seem quite large until the Weavers Needle itself finally comes into view. Don't forget to look over your shoulder often to see expanding views of the dramatic canyon behind you.

After a final set of rocky switchbacks you'll reach the top, and then be rewarded with a panoramic view of Weavers Needle, the 1,000-foot rock formation that figures strongly in the local lore about the lost Dutchman's gold mine. Linger as long as you like and take in the views, then decide if you want a longer hike down into the next canyon, or if you'll turn to head back from here. - Description by Denis LeBlanc, Outdoor Project.

Saguaro cactus, ocotillo, prickly pear, and a variety of Sonoran desert scrub grow plentifully on these slopes. The vegetation was badly damaged in recent wildfires, but is steadily regenerating.