Picket Post Mountain trail best suited for experienced hikers

Picket Post Mountain

The small town of Superior, Arizona,  got its start as a military camp on a nearby mountain.

The military established a camp at the base of a nearby mountain in 1870. Soldiers named it Picket Post Mountain because sentinels were posted at the top to warn the camp of impending attacks.

Today, it’s a hiking trail. The 3.9-mile trail is rated as difficult, but some hikers say it almost becomes like mountain climbing the nearer one gets to the top. Those who reach the top will be rewarded with stunning desert views. There’s a trail box at the top where hikers can sign a log book.

Dogs are allowed on the trail, but some hikers report their dogs had problems coming down.

Picket Post Mountain is in the southern part of Tonto National Forest. It’s a good place to enjoy wildflowers and desert scenery.

Superior is located on Highway 60 east of Phoenix.

Arizona's Gila: once mighty river now a meandering stream

The Gila River at Winkelman, Arizona

You’d never guess it by looking at it today, but the Gila River was once one of Arizona’s greatest rivers. Today it’s a shadow of its former self.

Once upon a time, however, water flowed so plentiful through it, the Hohokams, a tribe in southcentral Arizona, diverted its waters to create the world’s most advanced irrigation system in the Third Century B.C. near what is now Coolidge, Arizona.

The Hohokams began abandoning their settlement sometime in the early 1500s. By 1550 no one was left. No one knows the real reason why they left, but there is some speculation the Gila began drying up and could no longer support their irrigation systems. Remains of the irrigation canals can be seen at Casa Grande Ruins National Monument at Coolidge.

Remains of the Hohokams' irrigation system

Today, it’s a meandering stream as it winds its way through the mountains along Highway 77 in Arizona.  It grows shallow underneath the hot Arizona sun, and sometimes completely dries up in this area. When it’s like this, it’s hard to imagine, that at 640miles long, it’s one of the longest rivers in the western United States. The river starts in New Mexico, winds its way down Arizona where, what’s left of it, empties into the Colorado River near Yuma.

Much of its route is through wilderness area that is rich in wildlife such as elk, bighorn sheep and black bears. It also is a good place to see birds such as wild turkeys and grouse.

Pyramid atop Poston Hill honors "father of Arizona"

Poston hill

It’s difficult to see from Highway 79 just outside of Florence, Arizona, but that pointy thing atop Poston Hill is a 15-foot high pyramid. It’s also a burial site.

Beneath it lies the remains of Charles D. Poston, known as the “father of Arizona,” because of his lobbying efforts before Congress and President Lincoln to get Arizona elevated to territorial status in 1863. Before his death in 1902, he served in several federal posts, including Arizona superintendent of Indian Affairs, land register in nearly Florence, and Arizona’s first Congressional delegate.

Poston always wanted to build a temple to the sun atop the hill now named for him, but ran out of money. When he died, he was buried at a Phoenix cemetery.  In 1925, his friends had him dug up and re-interred facing the sun inside this pyramid.  The reburial was attended by 1,500 people, including the governor.

The pyramid is accessible on foot by a half-mile trail. Go north on Highway 79 out of Florence, turn left at milepost 136 and follow the signs to Poston Butte Monument Park.