Peralta Trail to Cave to Bluff Springs

Gold Canyon, Arizona

Save Add Photo

Add Photo

Save Review Directions Add Photo

Details

Distance

5.36 miles

Elevation Gain

1427 ft

Route Type

Loop

Description

This is a new adventure! Be the first to share your experience.

Join a supporting community of travelers and adventurers sharing their photos and local insights.

Added by Outbound

The Peralta Trail to Cave to Bluff Springs in Gold Canyon, Arizona is a moderately challenging hiking trail. Spanning approximately 5.36 miles, this trail offers a variety of terrain and elevation changes. The trail begins with a steady incline, leading hikers through a landscape dotted with saguaro cacti and desert scrub. The trail's main attraction is the Fremont Saddle, a natural rock formation that provides panoramic views of the surrounding desert and the distinctive Weaver's Needle. The trail then descends into a canyon, where hikers will find a small cave. The final stretch of the trail leads to Bluff Springs, a seasonal waterfall that is particularly impressive after heavy rainfall. Hikers should come prepared with plenty of water, sun protection, and sturdy footwear. The trail is well-marked, but the rocky terrain and steep sections may be challenging for inexperienced hikers. Despite its challenges, the Peralta Trail to Cave to Bluff Springs offers a rewarding hike with diverse scenery and unique natural features.

Download Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app

Download GPX File

Features

Hiking

Dog Friendly

Scenic

Wildlife

Peralta Trail to Cave to Bluff Springs Reviews

Have you done this adventure? Be the first to leave a review!

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Fremont Saddle via Peralta Canyon Trail

After taking Peralta Road all the way to the end, park your car in the parking lot and you'll see the sign for the trail head. Sign in at the register and then begin our hike on Peralta Trail. This trail winds through the canyon and then takes you up switch backs until you reach the saddle. The breath-taking view of Weavers Needle may convince you to stop here for the day, but I suggest going ...

Weavers Needle

Lace up your boots, stock up your gear, bid farewell to civilization and head out to the wild. This adventure is not one for the faint of heart. It will scrape, snag, trip and stumble you. It will scare, taunt and tantalize you. You will need to earn this one, and it is more than worth the effort. On a serious note, the actual climb of Weavers Needle, though not very technical, should only be ...

Bluff Springs Loop

From the Peralta Trailhead, start hiking on Bluff Springs Trail. This trail will wind over a few hills past incredible views, and then take you down into a wash. In the wash you will intersect with the Terrapin Trail. Turn left onto the Terrapin Trail, and it will take you out of the wash and past views of Weavers Needle. This trail goes up and down a few hills, and after 3 miles you will reac...

Weavers Needle Loop

This is a difficult hike! Plan on a lot of time and an early start. I did this hike in a clockwise direction (Peralta Trail) which really doesn't matter much but I recommend the direction to get the steepest part of the hike done first. Most people just do an out and back hike to Freemont Saddle to view Weavers Needle. This is the first section and very steep. If you are doing the loop plan on ...

Catch a Sunset at Three Sisters

Three Sisters is a huge rock formation in the southern area of the Superstition Mountains. This spot is only about an hour outside of Phoenix and it's a great spot to do photography in the evening or morning.This is accessed from the Wave Cave parking lot on the way to the nearby Peralta Trailhead. If you have time to hike while you're here, consider following the trail up to the Wave Cave it...

Superstition Peak 5057 via Carney Springs

This is the true beast hike of the Superstitions. If you think Flatiron is a toughy, give this a whirl! You will be poked, prodded, slapped, smacked, jolted, tripped and stabbed the entire way, but rewarded with arguably the finest sights the valley of the sun has to offer: the entire Superstition Ridgeline, Flatiron and the sprawling city to your west, Gold Canyon and Hieroglyphics to the Sout...