Hike Jacob's Crosscut Trail

We will be starting this hike at the Crosscut/Massacre trailhead off the First Water Road, so this discriprion will be reversed. Suoerstition and Mazatzal Wilderness
HIKE DETAILS

Distance
5.00 [Miles] Total
Hike Distance- Details
The one way hike described is 5.0 miles.
Time
2.00 [Hours]
Time-details
It took us just under 2.0 hours hiking to complete this hike.
Elevation Change
200 Total gain/loss [Feet]
Elevation Details
About 200 ft gradual elevation gain.
Hike Trail Type
One way - Shuttle
SEASON

Best Season
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilOctoberNovemberDecember
Date Hike completed
October 12, 2010
SOLITUDUE

Solitude
Low
Solitude Details
Not on this hike. Expect to meet about 30 people on this hike, especially when you start to get close to the Lost Dutchman State park.
DIFFICULTY

Difficulty Rating
Easy
difficulty detail
This relatively flat hike is a good introduction to the Superstition Mountain Range. This one way hike described here is an Easy hike.
PERMITS

Be Aware of
limited parking at the Broadway Road TH, Car shuttle, fee to park at Lost Dutchman State Park
an easy one way shuttle hike through the Superstition Wilderness
This well signed and easy to follow trail through the Superstition Wilderness makes for a nice, short day hike. This is a one way shuttle hike, so you'll need two cars unless you want to double the hiking length and time. When we took this hike, we dropped a car at the Lost Dutchman State park trailhead and started the hike from the Broadway Road Trailhead. From the small parking area at the Broadway Road Trailhead, the trail start is just to your left if you are facing the Superstition Mountains. The trail starts out headed directly for the ridgeline through the common cacti seen in this area: Saguaro, Prickly Pear, and Cholla. The trail, though rocky along this section, is easy to follow and pretty flat. After about 0.5 miles of hiking, you'll reach the junction with the trail that leads to the Lost Goldmine trail. Stay left at this signed junction (Jct1L on the map). After another 0.5 miles of hiking, there is a sign that marks a change in the trail direction. Now you will be mostly walking North along the circumference of the ridgeline. To your right are impressive views of the Superstition Ridgeline, including Flat Iron. To your left are views of Apache Junction and the East Valley. After about 3.3 miles of total hiking, you'll reach the junction with the Siphon Draw trailhead (also commonly known as the trail to the Flat Iron). Turn left at this signed trail junction (Jct2L on the map).
A quick 0.5 miles of hiking will get you to the campground area of the Lost Dutchman State park. You'll probably have parked at the day use trailhead area, which is an additional 0.3 miles of flat hiking.