Siphon Draw Trail inc. Flatiron, Superstition Mountain

We began our adventure at 6:00am on Saturday morning. Parking is $ 7 and finding the trail head was very easy.
As we passed by the Welcome gate we were in awe of beautiful lush mountains and scenery that looked quite jungle like. I said to my friends, «Wow — wouldn’t it be amazing if we get to that canyon and it’s like a different world! With monkey’s jumping around and herbivorous pterodactyl’s soaring through the air, colorful exotic birds and flowers that fill the air with a beautiful sweet scent as you ascend the mountain!?» Well, they thought I was crazy and my imagination definitely didn’t come to fruition — there were no exotic creatures or wildlife, BUT there was moss and plenty of Gnats! Making my first recommendation: bug spray! We were covered in gnats the entire trip so save yourself 5 – 6 hours of aggravation and get some.
Immediately after starting we were at a consistent incline. It was then that I could tell this wasn’t going to be an easy feat, especially when you look AT Flat Iron and see just how far you have to go! 4,800 feet… Straight up! Yikes! Alas, we dug deep and just took it one step at a time. We got off trail a time or two — following the white dots isn’t as easy as it seems because they blend in. «I see a white dot! Oh, wait, no… that’s bird poop.» My best advice would be that it seemed you ought to stay to the left most times it looks like the trail splits, but that’s just me. Be careful!
Of course, bring water. And plenty of it! I’m 5’1″, 120lbs and went through 68 ounces like it was nothing! Also, bring some wet wipes (and Ziploc baggies for the trash) if you need to do your business.
My second recommendation: take gloves! I can’t stress this enough. I used some old gardening gloves I had that had a little bit of grip and they worked great. We were basically mountain goats the majority of this hike so I don’t know how I would have managed without. Especially, when it came to the dreaded «10 foot wall,» which is actually not daunting at all and upon arrival had us all on an anticlimactic revelation as we realized the wall of terror we heard so much about was not a big feat, but in actuality had us all cawing «that’s it?!?» Lame.
Albeit the hike wasn’t the Avatar inspired vision I had it was still gorgeous! The views throughout are awesome and climbing rocks is really fun! The view (s) at the top are even more breathtaking! There’s no bar, which was disappointing, but it looks like a landscaped garden and has trees that look like something out of the Lorax. You know no one is hiking up there to trim bushes so it’s awesome seeing how pretty «untouched» nature is!
Some other little tips from my experience:
1. Clip your toenails short so your toes don’t get sore when going downhill. You can even buy toe pads that ballerina’s use for extra cushion.
2. Don’t wear cotton, especially socks. I got a major blister on the ball of my right foot.
3. Eat breakfast and bring snacks for energy. When we first started I kept whining, «I don’t wanna!», but I had a Power Bar and 30 minutes later I was PUMPED!
4. Watch out for critters! On our way up a girl asked us if we saw a rattlesnake that apparently was just hanging out near the trail. No thanks!
5. Zig-​zagging downhill helps tremendously instead of trying to go straight down slippery rock.
6. Carb load the night before and get plenty of protein after for recovery.
7. Don’t attempt this hike if you’ve never hiked before or are out of shape. Seriously.
As mentioned before, we started this hike at 6am. Praise Jesus we were able to hike up the entire mountain in the shade, however, our descent wasn’t so enjoyable. By that time (10am or so) the sun was beating down and it was pretty draining. I lathered up with some much needed sunscreen and had to sing my complaints out loud to keep myself from going crazy at how monotonous it was. If I were to do this hike again I would probably start at 5am. On our way down there was a guy in rough shape. He kept saying he didn’t think he was going to make it. He was throwing up, crying, snot running down his nose — so be careful! Heat exhaustion and dehydration are NO joke. If you can’t do Camelback or Piestewa with ease, you can’t do this either.
Overall, this hike took us 6 hours round trip from the parking lot, and covered around 7 miles. I do intermediate yoga at least twice a week and go to the gym so I would consider myself in decent shape; this mountain will kick your butt, but you will survive! Although, I have to admit, some extra inches would have come in handy. I got to a couple of big boulders and thought, «how in the hell are these little legs going to get up THAT!?» But I made like a monkey and made do! I for sure thought I was going to be in pain the day after, but in some magical way I wasn’t sore AT ALL. How that’s even possible? I honestly have no idea. Just get out there and do it! Flat Iron in all of its glory is waiting for you!

I read a lot of reviews before going on this hike and I’m going to just conclude the best of all of the tips in this review.
Let’s start with-I’m a fit 27 year old gal and workout at least 5 times per week. I love hiking but probably go only about 10 times in a year (so, not often.) I can make it up camelback in 45 minutes comfortably and mostly because who I’m with needs to take a few breaks along the way.
Now that the disclaimer is out of the way here is my opinion and best tips!
1. This hike is worth the 3 hours it takes to get up because the view is incredible.
2. Go early. We left the car 8:15am and got back to the car at 1:15pm and by that time it was hot.
3. Bring sunscreen, lots of water (camelpack is ideal), snack for the top, hat, hiking gloves, and good hiking shoes. Many of the parts can be slick and you need good traction. Oh and a camera!
4. This is not for those who cannot do camelback comfortably. In distance and elevation it is literally going up camelback twice and coming down twice in one trip. It’s tedious and you do a lot of scrambling up big boulders. You need steady legs to come down with.
5. Near the top there is a vertical rock before the «nature walk trail» to the summit. Go up the wall on the right, come down that same wall on the left using the sturdy tree! I am kind of afraid of heights and this was valuable info!
We also camped at the campground. We were the only tent camping crew there. It was super clean, quiet, and open. It was the four seasons of camp grounds!

Its $ 7 per car to enter the park & the hike is 7 miles roundtrip, very demanding hike.
Hiking shoe is a must and preferably starting earl would best as it takes 5 –6 hours to complete the hike.
A must do for the hikers & the view from summit is worth the effort.

This is an intense hike. I would recommend preparing for this by hiking at least once a week starting two months prior to this hike. It will take anywhere from 4 to 6 hours depending on your pacing, amount of breaks taken, and how much time you spend at the top.
Some tips:
Wear hiking gloves. You will be using your hands ALOT, and gloves will mean less pain for you.
Wear shoes that have top notch grip. There are a large amount spots with slick, loose rock, and steep inclines.
Be prepared for a little/​novice climbing.
Bring food like power bars. You will burn a lot of calories and will need the nourishment.
Bring at least 3 liters of water per person. You will get thirsty!

I love this trail! I went here late on a Sunday evening an hour before sunset. It’s just one of the most beautiful places outside of Phoenix and it’s not as busy or crowded. The Superstition Mountains is my favorite places to hike if you are looking for quieter scenic area. And also great for photography. I’ve only gone to a few trails here and will definitely seeking out more!

One of the best hikes in Arizona! I have hiked many trails in Arizona and this is at the top of my favorites list. I went with a couple friends (who are also experienced hikers) and it took us an average a 4 and a half hours round trip. The scenery and terrain constantly changes.
I would recommend this hike for anyone. Just be prepared that this is very strenuous and there is loose rocks so hiking shoes are a must and trekking poles are very helpful! This is the perfect hike for training for long hikes such as Humphrey’s Peak and the Grand Canyon. However, not sure everyone can make it all the way due to the tougher rock climbing area at the very top. The views are spectacular all around at the top!

Possibly my favorite hike around the Valley. It DOES kick your butt and it is not for everyone. If you are dad with 3 kiddos in tow under the age of 5 — this hike is not for you. (we stopped to talk to this dad and he wisely turned around) We did hike this with our super limber 11 year old daughter — but the only way it worked was to have one of us in front of her and one of us behind her. The «path» is riddled with large boulders, you will find yourself taking 2 – 3 foot «steps» up and occasionally some hand/​foot/​knee scrambling up — and on the way down you will certainly feel it as your quads/​calves/​hamstrings/​knees shimmy & shake. My only complaint is the flow of people — but I totally understand why they are doing it. The feeling is great and the view is beyond explanation.

I did the Flatiron hike for the first time on Feb 14^th 2016. Boy was it tough! I have done Piestewa Peak summit trail several times and Camelback Chollo trail once. But Flatiron was by far the hardest I have done yet! It’s like hiking the Piestewa peak summit trail 3 times over.
It IS worth it! A very involved and fun trail with an AMAZING view waiting at the top. We got to see a Gila Monster pretty close to the trail! So keep an eye out for wildlife.
We parked at Saguaro parking lot, it was not too hard to find a spot. It took us about 7 hours round trip from the parking lot, to the top of Flatiron and back. We did take a lot of breaks and my tracker said the round trip was about 10 miles. The trail it-​self was pretty busy, and you kinda have to wait on other people to pass on some spots because the trail gets pretty narrow. I would not say it was hard to find and stay on the trail, but it is NOT clearly marked at all so you have to be careful to watch where you are going. My recommendation is to stay on the creek path that once used to be a river/​waterfall. Hiking boots are a must, and they need to have a good grip and a sturdy bottom. There are several spots where you have to «rock climb» and crawl up with not much to grab onto, especially one spot at the top that’s about 12 – 15 foot high. Some sort of gloves may be helpful. If the park rangers tie a rope here that would be awesome! Bring plenty of water and lots of snacks, I went through about 3L of water plus 2 bottles of Gatorade, an orange, a PB&J sandwich and couple of power bars. Go only as high as you can climb back down, if you spend all of your energy climbing up, you are stuck ;) Coming down is not an easy task either, lots of times i had to use my hands and sit and slide. Overall, the park is beautiful and the weather was perfect for the hike. Flowers are starting to bloom and there are some easier trails for nice walks.
Enjoy and Be Safe!

Great hike. 5 hours up and down. Wear gloves. Don’t wear running shoes. Pet friendly :)

My pictures show our 5-​year-​old climbing to the top, but don’t let that fool you. This mountain is not appropriate for most kids. Don’t bring kids unless you’re experienced on this mountain and you know for sure you won’t get lost. There are very few hikers on this trail, and even the ones you see are probably hiking it for the first time, so don’t assume they’re on trail. If you don’t follow the not-​so-​obvious route markers after the basin, you have very little chance of staying on trail. See Ocean’s review.
Once you get to Flatiron, you have a 180 degree view below, but for a 360 panoramic, you’ll need to keep climbing to the summit (Peak 5024). The trek to the summit is a very different experience. The rocks are bigger, the foliage thicker, but the scenery much, much better. You’ll get to see the giant hoodoos up-​close. The view of Four Peaks is stunning, especially when it’s snow capped. Weaver’s Needle, and the rest of the Tonto National Forest and Superstition Wilderness just opens right up from the summit.
Don’t wear old sneakers. You’ll slip. A lot. Hiking shoes recommended, but if you don’t have those, wear new shoes with lots of tread left.
Hike time = Echo Canyon time x 3

My favorite hike in the Valley! But trust, it will kick your you-​know-​what. You better come prepared for this behemoth. It’s only a couple miles in total distance but that doesn’t take into account the massively steep ascent to the top.
The first part of the hike is a fairly gradual increase in elevation that makes you think it may not be that hard. Then you actually get to the point where you can see the flatiron and your mind changes lol. You will then meet some smooth rock that is actually easier to scale than you’d think. Once you’ve gone past the small waterfall and went over the slippery rocks, you have a long scrambling journey to the top. I recommend gloves especially in the winter due to the boulders getting hot by the sun.
You may get second thoughts about completing the hike about halfway up. Don’t. Give. Up. Continue to watch for spray-​painted dots that mark the trail. Push through and you will be rewarded by one of the best views the Valley has to offer. Be sure to take a picnic up or at least some snacks because you’ll definitely be hungry. If you still have any energy left, I recommend the short climb up to the mountain summit, which adds another 30 minutes to the journey. Overall, prepare to be gone about 4 – 5 hours. Get out there and enjoy!

This is a great hike without having to go too far away from Phoenix and would be somewhere between camelback and humphreys in flagstaff. It’s tougher than camelback as it is a much longer trail and you can get lost but does not have the elevation that humphreys has and is slightly shorter than humphreys as well. As long as you stay in the trail especially after you get to the basin, it is not bad.
My friends and I got off the trail at some point and ended up climbing up a lot of loose rocks to get back to the main trail which added a good 45 min to our ascent. If you come in December like I did, I would definitely recommend bringing some gloves as the stone is very cold and a warm jacket as well as there were times with howling winds. There are blue and white dots to follow after the basin which my friends and I forgot about after the ranger told us at the entrance.
It is definitely a beautiful home up and worth the climb to see the view at the top and see the entirety of the valley. From the beginning its a little bit intimidating to look up and see how far up you have to go but getting to the top is worth every step you have to take! Bring some food to enjoy at the top while you take in the great scenery!

Have I not learned a lesson from the Flagstaff Extreme yet? That was my thought when someone pulled me up and two other people pushed me up to climb up the 12 feet boulder near the top. I am not strong enough pull myself up when I am tired. Coming back down later at the same spot, I wished my legs were longer…
Driving to the flatiron, when I started seeing the mountain, I was intimidated by the shape and height of this mountain. I was told we will take a little over 2 hours to the top and kept thinking how am I supposed to do that in 2 hours?
This hike ended up being really fun and I enjoyed climbing rocks. Looking up, each area where I had to climb with both hands on the rocks, I kept thinking how I was supposed to be able to do that? Well I did. I was actually surprised how I was able to climb rocks like I did. Some of the part we climbed wasn’t necessary if we went left. One person went right, and 10 others followed and we ended up climbing steep area. Blue dot where it supposed to help you stay on the track was difficult to spot.
Some parts are really slippery. I used ski technics, going zig zag slowly so I don’t slip and fall. Good hiking shoes were helpful.
Gloves helped me firmly grips some sharp rocks both going up and down. I think about 80% of hikers had gloves on the day we visited.
Took us 2 hours and 15 mins to the top. Felt really great to be at the top. I enjoyed beautiful rock formation while I ate my snacks at the top. Overall trip was 5 hours and from the parking lot and back was 8.5 miles. I had energy left to run the very end of the trail close to the parking. When I compare this hike to the Humphrey’s peak, my knees felt so weak it was difficult to take one step after the Humphrey. I wouldn’t say it was easier here but slightly being less distance and being lower altitude here, I had plenty of energy left after I was done hiking/​climbing the flatiron.
I consumed about 2.0l of water during my hike in November. I took 4.0l of water with me just in case. I ate one protein bar, one banana and a few piece of beef jerky. I ended up taking most of the food home. Everyone’s fitness level is different. Some may need more or less. I always like to be prepared. I saw one person really hurt. I saw him climbing earlier in the morning and thought he wasn’t ready but he pushed himself too much. I like to challenge a mountain but if a mountain challenges me, I walk away. Mountains will always be there.

I’ve hiked Camelback numerous times but this hike was definitely challenging. I went early in the morning. The drive from Tempe was about a good 30 minutes so you might want to take that into consideration if you are coming from the city. Also, you will have to bring plenty of water.
The hike was gorgeous! Definitely worth the effort. Bring a change of socks and change them until you reach the top. There are also a variety of flower bushes on the trail which attracts many bees so you may want to bring a sting ease cream JUST IN CASE. I had no problem with the bees but I did get worried at times.
If you feel like a challenge Flat Iron is the way to go.

Dear diary, this is my video of the hike:
Actual review to follow, when I feel like writing it

Wow! Amazing and people are right, it’s for experience. Avid hiker, I was not is such great shape at this time and took my 2 kids since it says 6miles to flat iron on the state park map. Online it says 9miles.
First 2 miles is an incline and then a bit more to siphon where there are smooth rocks. After that’s it’s been pretty much climbing. Gloves and some use of sticks would be great. There is cactus and thorns. Pace yourselves and it’ll be fine! Pack lots of water, snacks and maybe even lunch. I brought fruit, protein bars and sandwiches. Especially if you have kids. I have been taking my kids hiking since they were babies so they are used to it, 8yr old & 12yr old. But they didn’t expect it to be this long but they did awesome. Once you pass a wall of rocks your pretty much on top! The way back down was the hardest. It took us about 9hrs total. We ran out of water at the end and had a camelbak each, about 88degs in the sun. Walked to Ampatheatre to get water for the rest of the hike to the car.
Great experience!

Hiking, and especially trail running, have become big parts of my life. I’ve been up camelback a few hundred times piestewa peak dozens, toms thumb about 15, pinnacle peak dozens of times, im also an a mountain regular and a Papago frequent since I’m based out of Tempe.
This hike tops them all and is my new go to. It’s perfect and scenic and friendly. AND I always find parking which is not true for all of the hikes in the greater Phoenix area.
When going through the rock basin, either stay left and hug the wall or go far right. I’ve seen people get hit in the head while going up and down from rocks slipping from under people’s feet.

I have hiked many trails in Arizona and this is at the top of my favorites list. I went with a few co workers of all skill levels. It took us an average a 4 and a half hours round trip. The scenery and terrain constantly changes.
I would recommend this hike for anyone. However, not sure everyone can make it all the way due to the tougher rock climbing area at the very top.

The hike to Flat Iron, which is a plateau more than a summit, is now officially my favorite hike just outside of the Valley. The drive to the Superstitions is well worth the gorgeous views and unique variety of terrain.
After reading numerous reviews, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t intimidated by this trail’s reputation for being one of the toughest. My friend and I just did our first full marathon a few weekends ago, so we are still not supposed to be bouncing on our feet everywhere, but stubbornness always presides over common sense and this morning, we planned to do the hike no matter what!
So it turns out, I expected the worst and the hike wasn’t as tough as I envisioned.
1) Going early, like 6am early, helped greatly. The canyon was windy and shaded as we started, and being mid March, the temp at the beginning was mid 60 degrees.
2) I wore my 2L water backpack. I rarely sipped until it got warmer during the descent but at least I was ready and didn’t have to hand carry a water bottle. Sadly, some peeps left empty water bottles between rocks because they didn’t want to struggle carrying them. It’s tough having something in your hand (camera, bottle, poles) when you are scrambling up a mountain.
3) I brought energy GUs. I had a couple protein bars too with me. All that vertical climbing wears on you — headaches form from being dehydrated and improperly fueled.
4) Take your time and make sure you spot the blue (or white dots/​arrows) before ascending. If the rocks are way too slippery, as though you’re causing numerous avalanches, chances are you missed the right route and must waste time going back to the «suggested» way. Trust me, I’m impatient. I learned this the hard way! On a side note, there’s blue dots on the way down too!
5) I’m a dog lover, owning 2 labs myself, but did not bring them. It is a bit too challenging for them after you pass the basin of Siphon Draw. You won’t enjoy the hike as much if you bring them because you will be worrying about them — if they’re going to get heat exhaustion, if they’ll get injured, if they have enough water, if they get in the way of people. You catch my drift…
Overall, I loved the challenge of this hike and the rewarding journey (not just the finale)! I’m definitely returning again! At approximately 5 – 6 miles round trip to Flat Iron and back, you get a nice little adventure. Just don’t forget to have $ 7 cash (exactly) if you plan to go early like we did, because sometimes the pay station won’t be open yet and you have to self pay.

This is a difficult hike with the last mile up of 2,000 feet that really hurt up and down. The view is amazing but come ready for boot camp up to this peak.