Black Top Mesa from First Water TH
Dutchman’s & Second Water Trail Loop
On March 9, 2022 Kim and I hiked to Black Top Mesa from the First Water trailhead via Dutchman’s and Bull Pass trails. This was a long walk for us (~12.5 mi) but offered stunning views of Weaver’s Needle from the north, which we had not seen before. The climb up to the top was steep but the trail was fairly easy to navigate. We returned to the trailhead via the Black Mesa and Second Water trails. There were many more cacti no the trail back. Fun hike. Details are below.
Walk-Specific Map
See Superstition Wilderness Overview page for an overview map of all hikes.
Elevation Profile
Images
BMSA01: Typical scenery in Spring 2022
BMSA01: Typical scenery in Spring 2022
BMSA02: Typical scenery in Spring 2022
BMSA02: Typical scenery in Spring 2022
BMSA02: Tiny view of Weavers Needle
BMSA03: A reminder
BMSA05: Black Top Mesa
BMSA06: Sign to Bull Pass Tr
BMSA08: Climbing to Black Top Mesa
BMSA08: Nearing the top of Black Top Mesa
BMSA08: Weavers Needle from Black Top Mesa
BMSA08: Black Top Mesa
BMSA08: Black Top Mesa
BMSA08: Grazing horses on Black Top Mesa
BMSA08: Looking back on Black Top Mesa
BMSA10: Switching trails for return trip
BMSA10: Something blooming
BMSA10: Kim with Weavers Needle
BMSA10: Typical scenery in Spring 2022
BMSA10: Typical scenery in Spring 2022
BMSA11: Switching trails on return trip
BMSA11: Typical scenery in Spring 2022
GPX Download
A sanitized GPX file of our hike is here.
Summary Information
| NUM | trackID | Primary | Description | Distance | CumDist | DeltaElev |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BMSA01 | Black Top Mesa Hike (Dutchman's Tr 104) | First Water TH to Second Water Tr (236) | 0.29 | 0.29 | -53 |
| 2 | BMSA02 | Black Top Mesa Hike (Dutchman's Tr 104) | Second Water Tr (236) to Tim's Saddle Tr | 2.31 | 2.60 | 428 |
| 3 | BMSA03 | Black Top Mesa Hike (Dutchman's Tr 104) | Tim's Saddle Tr to W Boulder Canyon Tr | 1.24 | 3.84 | -297 |
| 4 | BMSA04 | Black Top Mesa Hike (Dutchman's Tr 104) | W Boulder Canyon Tr to Black Mesa Tr (241) | 0.54 | 4.39 | -66 |
| 5 | BMSA05 | Black Top Mesa Hike (Dutchman's Tr 104) | Black Mesa Tr (241) to Boulder Canyon Tr (103) | 0.20 | 4.59 | 5 |
| 6 | BMSA06 | Black Top Mesa Hike (Dutchman's Tr 104) | Boulder Canyon Tr (103) to leave Dutchman's Tr | 0.11 | 4.71 | 1 |
| 7 | BMSA07 | Black Top Mesa Hike (Bull Pass Tr 129) | start Bull Pass Tr to leave Bull Pass Tr | 0.58 | 5.28 | 423 |
| 8 | BMSA08 | Black Top Mesa Hike (Black Top Mesa Tr) | start Black Top Mesa Tr to arrive Black Top Mesa | 0.72 | 6.00 | 628 |
| 9 | BMSA08 | Black Top Mesa Hike (Black Top Mesa Tr) | arrive Black Top Mesa to start Black Top Mesa Tr | 0.72 | 6.72 | -628 |
| 10 | BMSA07 | Black Top Mesa Hike (Bull Pass Tr 129) | leave Bull Pass Tr to start Bull Pass Tr | 0.58 | 7.30 | -423 |
| 11 | BMSA06 | Black Top Mesa Hike (Dutchman's Tr 104) | leave Dutchman's Tr to Boulder Canyon Tr (103) | 0.11 | 7.41 | -1 |
| 12 | BMSA05 | Black Top Mesa Hike (Dutchman's Tr 104) | Boulder Canyon Tr (103) to Black Mesa Tr (241) | 0.20 | 7.62 | -5 |
| 13 | BMSA10 | Black Top Mesa Hike (Black Mesa Tr 241) | start Black Mesa Tr to leave Black Mesa Tr | 3.07 | 10.69 | 122 |
| 14 | BMSA11 | Black Top Mesa Hike (Second Water Tr 236) | start Second Water Tr to Hackberry Springs Tr [North] | 0.74 | 11.43 | -176 |
| 15 | BMSA12 | Black Top Mesa Hike (Second Water Tr 236) | Hackberry Springs Tr [North] to Hackberry Springs Tr [South] | 0.60 | 12.03 | -26 |
| 16 | BMSA13 | Black Top Mesa Hike (Second Water Tr 236) | Hackberry Springs Tr [South] to leave Second Waters Tr | 0.19 | 12.23 | 12 |
| 17 | BMSA01 | Black Top Mesa Hike (Dutchman's Tr 104) | Second Water Tr (236) to First Water TH | 0.29 | 12.52 | 53 |