Massacre Grounds Loop
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Massacre Grounds Loop
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The Massacre Grounds Loop leads you through an area once defined by Arizona’s gold rush. While its storied boom and bust past is fascinating, it draws hikers for its natural beauty above all else. With the Superstition Mountains spread before you on this route, you’ll be able to appreciate Arizona’s desert scenery as it climbs towards the base of the mountains ahead. This route is family-friendly and dog-friendly (leashed). It can get very hot out here, so take advantage of the fountains at the trailhead and fill up your bottles before setting out.
Getting there
The trailhead for the Massacre Grounds Loop is on Forest Road 78.
About
| Backcountry Campground | No |
| When to do | October-May |
| Pets allowed | Yes - On Leash |
| Family friendly | Yes |
| Route Signage | Average |
| Crowd Levels | Moderate |
| Route Type | Loop |
Massacre Grounds Loop
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Massacre Grounds Loop Description
The Massacre Grounds Loop takes you through the desert underneath Peak 5024 and the Superstition Mountains in the Tonto National Forest. On this route, you’ll get awesome views without needing to do much climbing at all. This area has a rich gold mining history and is famed for the Lost Dutchman’s buried treasure. While we can’t guarantee you’ll strike gold here, you will love this scenic, family-friendly hike through a region previously caught up in the gold rush.
As with all hikes in Central Arizona, it can get extremely hot on this route. We don’t recommend trying this hike between June and September and we always recommend bringing more water than you think you’ll need. Bring water for dogs, too. Wear sunscreen and don a hat to keep cool.
From the trailhead, take Massacre Falls Trail to your right as it cruises through the desert and between interesting rock formations. Near the base of Peak 5024, you’ll turn around and loop back through the rocks, first on a trail and then lastly on the forest road to the trailhead.
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