Description

Boulder Canyon is a popular trail on the edge of the expansive Superstition Wilderness Area.

This 160,000-acre wilderness protects the wild and rugged Superstition Mountains that rise on the northeastern corner of the Phoenix Metro Area. Boulder Canyon is easily accessible from a trailhead at a marina off of AZ Hwy 88.

This access point to the wilderness can be used as the first leg of a multi-day backpacking trip, to access rugged peaks such as Battleship Mountain, or as a reasonable day hike (as mapped here). Despite being easily accessible, the climbing begins immediately from the trailhead.

The rocky track ascends steeply up a ridge, quickly gaining incredible views of Canyon Lake as it spreads out behind and below you. After cresting the first ridge, you'll get your first glimpses of the rugged Superstition Wilderness, with an endless array of rocky peaks trotting across the skyline.

From this point, the trail begins to roll up and down as it works its way along a mountainside. The trail tread is rocky and rough the entire way, but it doesn't require any true rock scrambling.

Thankfully, the majority of the rocks are also well embedded into the trail tread, making for stable footing most of the way. After climbing and descending a few small hills, the trail winds around the edge of a point, reaching an incredible vista of Battleship Mountain.

This rocky overlook is the marked turnaround point on this out-and-back route.

Take some time to enjoy your lunch and soak in the incredible views of this dramatic mountain range! While you can definitely continue hiking along this trail, the next stretch drops steeply down into the valley below, eventually bottoming out at the creek.

Unless you're heading to another objective, such as Battleship Mountain, descending that steep hillside only to turn around and climb back up seems like a futile endeavor...

so you might as well turn around at the overlook!