Praying Hands and the Treasure Loop

For our second hike today, we drove over to Lost Dutchman State Park in the Superstition Mountains to hike the Treasure Loop Trail up to Praying Hands. We went a short distance beyond Praying Hands for an overall hike of 3.4 miles and 800 ft of gain. View of the Superstition Mountains from near the start of the Treasure Loop Trail going counterclockwise.

As we neared the mountains, we began hiking bythese lovely rock formations.

buckwheat in bloom

Near the top of the Treasure Loop Trail, we leave the state park and enter Tonto National Forest, about 1 mile from the trailhead is the side trail to Praying Hands, which enters the Superstition Wilderness.

Praying Hands

We continued past praying hands and walked a while below these gorgeous cliff walls.

Praying Hands from the opposite side

We found a lovely sunny spot off of the trail to take a lunch break and enjoy the views.

To the south, we saw a small rock arch on top of a large rock formation (zoom)

some small caves up in the cliffs

On our way back down towards Treasure Loop, we took a short spur trail to this large alcove.

rock formations while we were heading down the Treasure Loop Trail.

Some distant mountain peaks

chain fruit cholla

cholla