Lost Dutchman State Park/Superstitions Mountain

I loved Lost Dutchman State Park and the hiking out there. The drive from Phoenix was easy—just about an hour—and totally worth it. The park rangers were super kind, it wasn’t overly crowded, and there were trails for any skill level.

Parking was easy, the restrooms were clean, and there was potable water right at the trailhead (which is both nice and important when you're hiking in Arizona). Even in March, it got hot fast. The trail I started on split in a few directions, and I accidentally took a wrong turn at first—but it was easy to find my way back. I probably could’ve stayed on the original path, but I’m a bit of a nervous nelly and was trying to stick to my plan. I’m working on that—trying to let go a bit and be more “go with the flow.”

Anyway, the hike had tons of places to stop and soak It all In. It was so beautiful.

On the way in, I passed an old mining town-turned-tourist stop that looked pretty fun. I’m not above a tourist trap—plus, a girl’s gotta eat. I stopped in after my hikes and it turned out to be a fun little spot. It had an old jail, a mine shaft, some restored buildings turned into a coffee shop, an apothecary, and a pottery shop. There was even a little train that went around the area (I didn’t ride it, but it looked cute!).The burger I grabbed was... not the best, but honestly? Still a 10/10 experience. I’d totally go back.

All in all, this was such a solid day trip out of Phoenix. If you’re in the area and looking for a chill, beautiful adventure, this one’s a must.

And if you're curious, here's a little history on that mining town I stopped at—Goldfield Ghost Town is a revived 1890s town at the base of the Superstition Mountains. It’s full of Wild West charm and makes for a funny, memorable stop. Goldfield got its start in 1892, when gold was discovered in the nearby Superstition Mountains. Like most mining towns of the Old West, it sprang up almost overnight. Within a couple of months, the town had saloons, a general store, a blacksmith, and a school. However, It didn't last long. The gold veins turned out to be tricky and inconsistent, and by 1898, the town was practically abandoned—earning it the “ghost town” title.

Gotta get to the laundromat,

 Kat