Bluff Springs Loop Hike

Happy New Year
Bluff Springs Loop- clockwise.
A nine mile loop hike in the West Superstition Wilderness

According to hikearizona.com=difficulty 3.5 of 5
Bluff Spring Loop & Weaver's View, AZ

According to AllTrails= Hard
Dutchman's Trail and Bluff Springs Loop

Probably because of the initial climb up 'cardio hill', it is a ~ 19% grade for ~ .5 mi. Than a bit more up for another .75 mi. Then small elevation changes. Then it more or less levels out.

The hike starts on at Peralta TH TR 235 (Bluff Springs TR), after climbing goes past Bluff Springs, then connects to TR 104 (Lost Dutchman) and swings around Miners Needle and makes a long (rocky) descent to Barkley Basin and then back to Peralta TH.

The first part of the hike is through beautiful, as yet untouched by fire or the pestilence of invasive grass, Sonoran desert. The back half, not so much. Like any (loop) hike in the Supes' now you have to take the good with the bad, the second half traverses the Superstition fire scar.

This is one of my favorite hikes. I do it often .
Would love to share it.

The initial climb is challenging if you have trouble ascending. However, if you like downhill, well, that the descent into Barkley Basin will be a delight. As for me, I can climb anything, but downhill is my bane, I can't go down 'cardio hill'- so no turning around for me, and I slow down a lot on any down hill.

There may be water at the spring, but I will carry 2 liters, just to be sure, and would recommend the same.

If you read the group description. I am slow. The last time I did this hike (last week) it took me 5.5 hours!

As the 'About' section says "All hiking is shine only!"
It is supposed to be clear WED. If it looks like rain, I'll reschedule.