Massacre Grounds

This trail has a wicked name but provides a splendid trek in the Superstition Mountains. The trail is 1.5 miles in each direction and leads to a tranquil valley lush with a variety of cacti, including cholla, prickly pear, and barrel cacti. Near the First Water Trailhead, this path gets much less traffic thanks to its uninviting name.

The hike is simple and pleasant, going over an easy pass and up a wash to an open area with great panoramas of the nearby mountaintops. The lush valley at the end of the trail provides a wonderful location for a break or even a meal.

For the record, the area is so-named after an incident in which a group of Mexican gold hunters were murdered by Apaches in the 1800s.

Getting There: To reach the Massacre Grounds Trailhead, follow the Apache Trail (Highway 88) past Lost Dutchman State Park and turn right on Forest Road 78 (marked by a First Water Trailhead sign). Take the first road to your right off FR 78 and continue a short distance to the wilderness boundary and trailhead sign.

home / superstition mountains / massacre grounds