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 on 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
BLKMSA01: Switching trails for return trip
BLKMSA01: Something blooming
BLKMSA01: Kim with Weavers Needle
BLKMSA01: Typical scenery in Spring 2022
BLKMSA01: Typical scenery in Spring 2022
BTPMSA01: Climbing to Black Top Mesa
BTPMSA01: Nearing the top of Black Top Mesa
BTPMSA01: Weavers Needle from Black Top Mesa
BTPMSA01: Black Top Mesa
BTPMSA01: Black Top Mesa
BTPMSA01: Grazing horses on Black Top Mesa
BTPMSA01: Looking back on Black Top Mesa
DTCHMN51: Sign to Bull Pass Tr
DTCHMN52: Black Top Mesa
DTCHMN54: A reminder
DTCHMN55: Typical scenery in Spring 2022
DTCHMN55: Typical scenery in Spring 2022
DTCHMN55: Tiny view of Weavers Needle
DTCHMN56: Typical scenery in Spring 2022
DTCHMN56: Typical scenery in Spring 2022
SCDWTR01: Field of flowers about to bloom
SCDWTR02: Typical scenery in Winter 2023
SCDWTR03: Switching trails on return trip
SCDWTR03: 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 | DTCHMN56 | Dutchman's Tr (104) | First Water TH to Second Water Tr | 0.30 | 0.30 | -61 |
| 2 | DTCHMN55 | Dutchman's Tr (104) | Second Water Tr to Tim's Saddle Tr | 2.29 | 2.59 | 428 |
| 3 | DTCHMN54 | Dutchman's Tr (104) | Tim's Saddle Tr to W Boulder Canyon Tr | 1.23 | 3.82 | -297 |
| 4 | DTCHMN53 | Dutchman's Tr (104) | W Boulder Canyon Tr to Black Mesa Tr | 0.54 | 4.36 | -66 |
| 5 | DTCHMN52 | Dutchman's Tr (104) | Black Mesa Tr to Boulder Tr | 0.20 | 4.56 | 5 |
| 6 | DTCHMN51 | Dutchman's Tr (104) | Boulder Tr to Bull Pass Tr | 0.12 | 4.68 | 7 |
| 7 | BULLPS01 | Bull Pass Tr (129) | Dutchman's Tr to Black Top Mesa Tr | 0.56 | 5.24 | 423 |
| 8 | BTPMSA01 | Black Top Mesa Tr | Bull Pass Tr to Black Top Mesa | 0.70 | 5.94 | 628 |
| 9 | BTPMSA01 | Black Top Mesa Tr | Black Top Mesa to Bull Pass Tr | 0.70 | 6.65 | -628 |
| 10 | BULLPS01 | Bull Pass Tr (129) | Black Top Mesa Tr to Dutchman's Tr | 0.56 | 7.21 | -423 |
| 11 | DTCHMN51 | Dutchman's Tr (104) | Bull Pass Tr to Boulder Tr | 0.12 | 7.32 | -7 |
| 12 | DTCHMN52 | Dutchman's Tr (104) | Boulder Tr to Black Mesa Tr | 0.20 | 7.52 | -5 |
| 13 | BLKMSA01 | Black Mesa Tr (241) | Dutchman's Tr to Second Water Tr | 3.07 | 10.59 | 122 |
| 14 | SCDWTR03 | Second Water Tr (236) | Black Mesa Tr to | 0.74 | 11.33 | -176 |
| 15 | SCDWTR02 | Second Water Tr (236) | to | 0.60 | 11.93 | -26 |
| 16 | SCDWTR01 | Second Water Tr (236) | to Dutchman's Tr | 0.19 | 12.12 | 10 |
| 17 | DTCHMN56 | Dutchman's Tr (104) | Second Water Tr to First Water TH | 0.30 | 12.42 | 61 |