MODERATE: Hackberry Springs from Weaver’s Needle Vista Viewpoint

Moderate Hike: Hackberry Springs from Weavers Needle Vista Viewpoint
Trail Distance: 6.4 miles
AEG 800 feet
80 miles R/T; Driver Fee $7
Hike Leader - Scott Downey, 503-936-7239

Hackberry Springs Loop hike in the Superstitions is very scenic. The trailhead is paved and good sized, so parking will not be a problem. However, there are no restroom facilities available, so we will be stopping by the QT gas station as we drive through Apache Junction.

This is an moderate hike with some beautiful views. The prehike was done December 30th. The first 1.5 miles is a new area not previously part of this hike. Sections of the hike do show some burn damage that occurred summer of 2024, but those areas are recovering nicely. Other areas are pristine. This year it is exceptionally green and wildflowers are blooming

Hiking poles are needed because about 1/4 of the hike has us in riverbeds. Other parts of the trail has loose rocks too. Here is a link with some historical about Hackberry Springs and First Water ranch where we will take our break. Hackberry Springs | Jacob Emerick's Blog

Drving time is about 50 to 60 minutes each way and hike time is around 3 1/2 hours. Expect to be back at the Cottonwood parking lot around 1:30pm or 2pm.

If using a GPS device for driving directions enter “Weavers Needle Vista Viewpoint” into your device.

Driving Directions:
Leave Cottonwood parking lot and turn right onto Riggs Road. Take a left turn at McQueen Road. Continue North then go right onto Loop 202 East.
Follow Loop 202 East to US-60 East (exit 30A) towards Apache Junction. From US-60 East take exit 196 for Hwy88 (Idaho Rd) in Apache Junction.
Turn left at the end of the off-ramp. Stay on Hwy 88. After apx. 2.4 miles, then turn right at the traffic light to stay on Hwy88. This section of Hwy88 is called “Apache Trail Road”.
***A restroom break will be done at the QT gas station which is at the SE corner of Idaho Road and Old West Hwy (it’s BEFORE the right turn onto Apache Trail Rd.
Drive on Apache Trail Road 7.2 miles and then turn right into the Weaver’s Needle Vista Viewpoint, which is marked with a sign and separate right turn lane.
80 miles R/T; Driver Fee $7
Call hike leader, Scott Downey, at 503-936-7239 if you need assistance.

Historical Information about First Water Ranch and Hackberry Springs:

Origins and Ownership: First Water Ranch The ranch was begun in 1876. It mostly looks like an old horse corral with an old windmill next to it, but in the early 1900s, it was one of three nearby ranches owned by cattleman William "Tex" Barkley.

Tex was the owner of the Barkley Cattle Company, which held the grazing rights to much of the Superstition Mountains. He owned three ranches: the Quarter Circle U Ranch, which was Tex's home; First Water Ranch, which was the home of Tex's son, William T. (Bill) Barkley; and the Three R's Ranch. Born in 1880, Tex died in 1955.

Tex Barkley was involved in searches and events related to the legendary Lost Dutchman Mine in the Superstition Mountains, including efforts connected to the mysterious disappearance and death of adventurer Adolph Ruth in the 1930s.Historical accounts describe him as a tough, experienced cowman who knew the rugged terrain well. He participated in posse searches and provided insights into the area's dangers

Role in the Superstition Mountains:
The Barkley ranches—including First Water—held grazing rights across much of the Superstition Mountains during the early 20th century. This meant:

• Cattle were run through the First Water area
• Ranch hands maintained water sources, including the spring-fed areas near today’s Hackberry Springs
• Trails like First Water Trail, Second Water Trail, and Dutchman Trail follow old ranch routes and cattle paths.

Texas Longhorn cattle were present in Arizona during the early 1900s, though their numbers had begun to decline as ranchers shifted toward "improved" British breeds like Herefords and Angus for better beef yield.
Longhorns, descendants of Spanish criollo cattle, were introduced to the Southwest (including areas that became Arizona) as early as the 1500s–1700s by Spanish explorers and missionaries, such as Father Eusebio Kino.

After the Civil War, large herds of Texas Longhorns were driven westward to stock Arizona's open ranges, supplying beef to U.S. Army posts, Native American reservations, and growing settlements. This post-war boom in the late 1800s brought millions of Longhorns into the region.

In the early 1900s, the open-range era was ending due to fencing, railroads, overgrazing, and droughts. Ranchers increasingly crossbred or replaced Longhorns with European breeds that matured faster and produced more marbled beef. Pure Longhorns became rarer nationwide, nearing extinction by the 1920s, with preservation efforts starting in the late 1920s.

In Arizona's rugged terrain, like the Superstition Mountains area associated with ranches such as the Quarter Circle U (operated by "Tex" Barkley in the early–mid 1900s), some hardy Longhorn-influenced or "wild" cattle likely persisted into the early 20th century, but modern operations there shifted to breeds like Angus. Longhorns were valued for their toughness in harsh desert conditions but were phased out commercially by the early 1900s in favor of more profitable breeds.