Thanks so much for this info! Flatiron via Siphon Draw Trail is a 5.5 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Apache Junction, Arizona that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. The hike begins at the Chautauqua Trailhead and yields dozens of options between the Flatirons and up to Green Mountain. Difficulty: Challenging. Aug 11, 2019 Rick Zieser. If you combine it with the Ancient Juniper Trail, it is a little over 6 miles. Aaron Johnson has been hiking in Colorado for over 20 years. Looks like fun, but it also looks like it could be easy to get turned around in there if you’re not careful. ", Marguerite Falls in Rocky Mountain National Park, Enchanted Mesa Trail Near Boulder, Colorado, Canyon View Nature Trail at Castlewood Canyon, Views of Continental Divide, Expansive Meadows, Wildflowers, Flatirons Rock Formations, Cliffs. The trail begins to descend north, then east, down through a talus field to end at the Third Flatiron Trail, a few hundred yards north of the start to the standard east face climbing route. Trail Tales is an ongoing series. : 5.024 feet Trailhead Elev. It’s not the tallest. Below is a GPS map of a hike that only took me about 1/2 way to Flatiron Rock. This was our first hike up Siphon Draw Trail towards Flatiron. The endless web of lights disappearing into the horizon made suburban neighborhoods look like metropolitan madness. If you just do the Flatrock trail, it around 5.5 miles. A hike of six miles, Trail 53 into Siphon Draw and onward to Flatiron is a perfect representation of the vibrant desert of the Superstitions — and the harsh reality of hiking them. https://dayhikesneardenver.com/hike-the-first-second-flatirons-trail-boulder From the trailhead, hikers have the option of taking the Ancient Juniper trail, a short and pleasant route that links up […] The popular Third Flatiron, which offers even more routes, is usually closed to climbers and hikers from early February to late July to protect nesting raptors. Flatiron-1. Head west on Baseline and turn left just past 9 th Street. This strenuous 6.6-mile hike up Flatiron in Lost Dutchman State Park climbs over 3,000' and is part of the Arizona Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge. Here’s the basic set of trails I’d recommend just because it’s the most direct approach: Chautauqua Trail to First and Second Flatiron Trail. Great hike. The trail ends at the start of the Third Flatiron standard east face climbing route. this area has alot of flood damage but is still very pretty! Maps: Hike … It includes our favorite hikes near Denver, packing lists, hiking food and snack ideas, and tips for hiking the Front Range of Colorado. Go left and pass the Flatiron Rock-Ancient Juniper Trail Junction to continue south on the Flatiron Rock Trail facing Horse Ridge. It happened on Christmas Eve. That’s the time of year that you are likely to spot both Golden and Bald Eagles. But let’s start this hike profile at the trailhead. With the flooding, there are a lot of trails still closed in the Boulder area. https://www.rickcrandall.net/flatiron-and-superstition-mountain-arizona The project is now slightly more than half complete, and the bridge opening is slated to occur at the end of … There are no switchbacks on this trail; it goes straight up. The trail is primarily used for hiking and nature trips. This is why you should pack smart and keep it light. There’s even more though. You see how close Lost Dutchman State Park and the Superstition Mountains are to Phoenix on a map, but then you’re there in person and you can’t even believe it. This helps a lot! The last mile has 2,000 feet of elevation gain, so it is slow on both the up and the down. If you just do the Flatrock trail, it around 5.5 miles. You are responsible for knowing and complying with all closures and OSMP rules & regulations. The view from the top is spectacular. Once inside the park, drive to the last parking area and look for a sign for the Siphon Draw Trailhead. But you can definitely make it a nightmare on yourself by losing the trail. They broke into our locked car, stole the cards/passport, then put everything back and then locked the car so we wouldn’t notice anything. Upon reaching the top of the Flatirons, we will rappel to the base and hike out. The Loops: Longer Flatiron Vista Loop -3.3 miles: Take the South Flatiron Vista trail (about .2 miles down the trailhead connector trail). Yesterday a friend of ours took us on a beautiful and challenging hike. Here I’ll give you a some options on how to make the most of the First and Second Flatiron trail, and some details on what to expect. They will wind you through the ponderosa pines and meadows that skirt of the famous Flatirons just south of Boulder. We pussed-out going to the top as you do have to navigate a fairly steep incline at the end. Beautiful approach, trail turning into rocky ground, then woods. You’ll find the best part of this hike in the Flatirons at the end of the trail: some breathtaking and unmatched views of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Numerical Rating : greater than 200. It was completely dark by the time I reached the basin and, even though I’ve hiked Flatiron before, the trail was foreign at night. #1 – Chautauqua Trailhead: You can start your hike from a couple different places. For the month of November, I lived out of my converted school bus as I took a trip down south from Canada to Arizona. Only well-conditioned and well-prepared hikers should attempt very strenuous hikes. strapping an extra 20–30 pounds to your back and hiking the 3.25 miles and 2780 feet in elevation gain to the top. The Flatiron Vista Loop trail offers 2 loops. Elevation Gain: 2,641 feet. I had fun just being outside and enjoying the hike. What makes backpacking Flatiron more difficult is strapping an extra 20–30 pounds to your back and hiking the 3.25 miles and 2780 feet in elevation gain to the top. Here, you’ll be able to look down into canyon that runs between flatiron two and three, and you get a great view of the imposing profile of flatiron three. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Total 9 … The trail continues behind the flatirons, then bends north and takes you up into a canopy formed by the back of the first flatiron. The hike will generally be long and steep, and may include rock scrambling, stream crossings, and other challenging terrain. Check out my other adventures: Druid Arch, Canyonlands National ParkWest Clear Creek, ArizonaInner Basin Trail, FlagstaffMist Trail, Yosemite National ParkHumphreys Peak, FlagstaffReavis Ranch, Superstition Wilderness, Hiking to “The Crack” at Wet Beaver Creek in Arizona, How to Get the Best Camping & Hiking Permits in Arizona, Off-Roading the Back Way to Crown King, Arizona, Hiking the “Lost Mesa” Loop in the Superstition Wilderness, Osprey Manta 28: An Ode to My Favorite Backpack, Hiking Bear Creek Trail in Telluride, Colorado, Hiking the Kuilau Ridge Trail in Kauai, Hawaii, First-Gen Apple AirPods Are the Best Wireless Headphones for Hiking, 4 liters water (there is no water source at the top, so there’s no avoiding carrying all your water), 2-person tent with no rain fly (zero chance of rain that night and winds were at a minimum), 2 San Tan Devil’s Ales (shut up, I need it). The Siphon Draw trail to the Flatiron in the Superstition Mountains is a challenging hike for even the most avid hiker. Hike; Flatiron hike – difficulty rating D6. Get our Dayhikes Near Denver Hiking Guide. You gain just under 3,000 feet of elevation, most of which is in the last 1 mile of the trail.Despite its steepness, Siphon Draw is one of the most popular hikes in the Phoenix area, and with good reason. That is, if you can get yourself up there. Traverse across the south slope of Sugarloaf Mountain, past a well-placed sitting bench until finally wrapping around the east side of the mountain, gaining the summit after a couple of final switchbacks. They are beautiful to take in from a distance, but they are even better to explore. Permit/Pass Required: Yes.It is $10 per vehicle on weekends. Looks like the Flatiron hike is open. This is one of my favorite hikes in chautauqua! This isn’t Kilimanjaro. Quick update before telling about the hike: Seth did great at his Kingman race! I was really nervous about the tech interview, so I kept postponing my date so I can finish the Bootcamp Prep (a 75+ hours prep course to prepare you to the interview). The Third Flatiron Descent Trail starts in the saddle to the west of the summit of the Third Flatiron. Flatiron Peak Hike. Get there early, parking can be pain on the weekends. If it’s after a rain, be prepared for a lot of rain along what is essentially a fire road. I completed 2 pitches. This one is called the Homestead Trail. This is a great place to stop and relax. What I found most interesting about this section of the trail was the diversity of both plants and trees along the trail. The top of Flatiron is an incredible blend of urban sprawl and desert wilderness meeting in the middle. It’s an easy hike and a trail runner’s dream. Sadly, these are not soft-baked, double-chocolate chunk cookies. Flatiron via Needle Peak Trail is a 6.9 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Hope, British Columbia, Canada that features a lake and is rated as difficult. Join our Community. Flatiron is considered one of the best bootcamps and it allegedly has a ~6% acceptance rate. Dog Friendly: To Siphon Draw - Yes!Beyond - No. Flatiron Hike – Superstition Mountains, Arizona. January 1, 2016 January 2, 2016 / Marshall. Dr Randall H wrote a review Nov 2020. If you are trying to go to Flatiron … I hiked up a half mile the wrong way to hike back down then to hike back up the right way. It starts from the bottom of the First Flatiron (a 30- to 40-minute hike from Chautauqua) and ascends about 1,000 feet up 10 pitches that max out at 5.6, a low moderate difficulty rating. Could you be more specific? From here, you can walk across to Chautauqua Park and pick up the Chatauqua Trail, or you can make a longer trip out of it by following the McClintock Upper Trail in. The hot tea tasted like god's drink up at the top - I was tired and it was cold. Awesome experience! If you want to view logged hikes for just one of the peaks, click the mountain name. The vi… Distance: 6.5 miles. Flatiron Mountain does not have a trail, but the open ridge is easy to follow and offers beautiful views of the Yaak and Kootenai areas. Flatiron Hike -- April 2015 : Home: Lauren, Ryan, Garrett and I hiked to the top of the Flatiron near Phoenix via the Siphon Draw Trail. There is some boulder hopping to get to the top and a 10 foot cliff climb (not vertical, about 70 degrees). Got to the parking lot at 6:45 and the parking lot was almost full. Flatiron climbing is a great way to spend the day. : 2,010 feet Elevation Gain: 3,015 feet Round Trip: 6.5 miles Trailhead: Siphon Draw in the Lost Dutchman State Park Climbers: Rick Crandall; Wayne Crandall May 16, 2015 The Legends: Superstition Mountain, located east of Phoenix, is famous for the Lost Dutchman’s Mine where The Flatiron Vista Loops are a great destination for winter hikes as well. Chris Wright August 6, 2018 Photo Trips. For those who have been wimping out of this hike, hey! That means the rules of Lost Dutchman are off and you can camp almost anywhere. There is a greater variety of deciduous trees and shrubs that I’ve seen anywhere on the front range. Here you can see all the hikes logged in our 2020 winter challenge for Flatiron, with the most recent at the top. This makes for a roughly 2.5 mile hike. That is where Freeway starts. The next landmark you’ll reach is the notch between the first and second flatiron; you’ll see the angled outcrop of the second flatiron just below the notch (photo below). When the trail starts rising again you go past the Fourth Flatironette. First and Second Flatirons Hike in Boulder, © Copyright 2010-2020 Dayhikes Near Denver LLC, We use cookies to give you the best experience on our website. The Second Flatiron rests between the much more imposing First and Third Flatirons. If parking is overflowing, check out either the Cholla or Saguaro day-use parking areas. The Siphon Draw trail to the Flatiron in the Superstition Mountains is a challenging hike for even the most avid hiker. There aren’t a lot of places in the continental United States where it’s possible to clamber through a long, well-preserved lava tube, so it’s no wonder that this hike is one of the most popular parts of the Coconino National Forest. Fees, Regulations, etc. I drank my San Tan Devil’s Ales on the cliff side, said hello to a friendly ring-tale cat that crept my way (no pics, sorry) and slept soundly above the Phoenix valley lights — a rarity for me. ★★★★★Difficult / Phoenix Area: Breathtaking views, from the bow of this immense “granite ship,” reward hikers who finish the butt-kicking scramble up Siphon Draw Hiking Trail. Named for a prominent outcropping on the west end of Superstition Mountain, this is a difficult but very popular hike/scramble. The trail draws you across an green meadow, then up through a notch between the First and Second Flatiron. Flatiron is always a doozy of a hike.. and I broke the rule of thumb and went right on one part of the trail when I definitely should have stayed left. It’s not the steepest. Distance: 4 miles round-trip to Siphon Draw; 5.5 miles round-trip to the Flatiron. You’ll hit a saddle but the trail will continue to bend to the right, until you find yourself in the shade of the massive top of the first flatiron. With moderate difficulty and consistent climbing, the Flatirons are a great place for experienced and intermediate climbers alike. Flatiron Peak Hike. The hike to the top of Flatiron is difficult, but doable for persons in good shape. November 2015. I did the Chatauqua Trail on May22. It starts from the bottom of the First Flatiron (a 30- to 40-minute hike from Chautauqua) and ascends about 1,000 feet up 10 pitches that max out at 5.6, a low moderate difficulty rating. There is some boulder hopping to get to the top and a 10 foot cliff climb (not vertical, about 70 degrees). There is an impressive canyon between the second and third flatirons that you’ll get to peer down into towards the end of the trail. The approach takes approximately half an hour. Generally 8 miles and over. Hiking the Flatirons near Boulder, Colorado is a must. The last mile or so to the top, has some hand over hand climbing involved that will make many hikers uneasy. The parking lot will fill up fast, by 8:30 on the weekend, but you can park along Baseline Road. Badlands Oregon Hike. On the way back, I’d recommend the Bluebird Mesa trail; it takes you through a pine glade along the spine of a Bluebird Mesa, then gently drops back down to the Chautauqua trail near the trailhead. I had my debit card and credit cards and my daughter had her passport stolen out of our locked car and the thieves made over $6000 in purchases before we knew the cards were missing. Begin the hike from the Sugarloaf Mountain Trailhead dirt parking lot. The Third Flatiron Descent Trail starts in the saddle to the west of the summit of the Third Flatiron. Are you taking the Arizona Winter Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge? It's worth fighting the crowds, though, to scale the titanic slabs Flatiron Hike Logs. Although it is very close to the actual summit of the mountain, The Flatiron seems to be a destination of its own. Are the trek closed on Thurday and Firday? You can’t get lost on Siphon Draw Trail the way you can in other parts of the Superstition Wilderness — you’re always heading the right direction no matter what. The trail goes in and out of the shade, over a lot of rock, and eventually to a short scramble over some larger rock to regain the trail. Length: 4.28 miles round-trip (6.05 miles round-trip to the Flatiron) I do this hike every winter, usually in January or February. Elevation Gain: 2,641 feet. The trail is primarily used for hiking and is best used from September until June. All reviews great hike chautauqua park royal arch beautiful scenery ranger station baseline road mesa trail beautiful area easy hike mountains irons altitude hikers nature colorado rocks paths peak workout difficulty foothills cottage. You don’t get a sense of how close it is to civilization until you stand at the top of Flatiron and see the city lights blanketing the horizon. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. After that, it’s a pretty easy climb up six pitches to a ridge. The hot beverage rejuvenated me so much that I decided to go to the summit as well. Back here you’ll find all kinds of rock shelves and nooks to sit and take in some of fantastic views of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains to the West. There’s no mistaking the rock formation known as the Flatiron, which juts out like the prow of a ship high in the Superstition Mountains northwest of Phoenix. Then take the trail up a few switchbacks as it bends north. Upon reaching the top of the Flatirons, we will rappel to the base and hike out. Emerging from the woods, you’ll hike up through a long talus field, but the trail is well-constructed through this gigantic pile of rock. Flatiron climbing is a great way to spend the day. Going back to make the summit in a couple days though! #2 – Enchanted Mesa Trailhead: This is a lesser known trailhead (but probably well known by locals). I brought both. We did this trail early this month. Dog Friendly: To Siphon Draw - Yes!Beyond - No. Check out the details on her loop trail profile if you’re interested in taking this route. But don’t let that deter you, just park out on Baseline. Fully enjoyed it.. difficulty and all.. every time! Scrambles of considerable length, and other challenging terrain that ’ flatiron hike difficulty on the front.... Landscape, but they are beautiful to take the 1st Flatiron was amazing is... Miles and the parking lot white dots along the trail widens and deposits you at the Chautauqua,... Experienced and intermediate climbers alike about 1/2 way to Flatiron rock Trailhead beverage rejuvenated me much! Couple sitting on a beautiful and challenging hike picture to take in from distance. 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