Flat Iron is a well known hike in the Superstition Mountains, and it is one of the hardest hikes I have ever done!
It is just East of Phoenix and on a clear day you can see Flat Iron from the city. The fastest hike to Flat Iron starts from Lost Dutchman State Park. They just increased their park fees ($20 for 2-4 people), so I suggest going on a clear day that isn’t too hot. You wouldn’t want to turn around and have to pay the fee again!
About
Flat Iron is a ~6 mile, out and back hike with over 3,000 feet of elevation gain, meaning you are averaging 1,000 feet of elevation gain per mile; however, most of the elevation gain is within the last mile. That’s the equivalent of hiking Camelback Mountain three times, which is already rated an extremely difficult hike.
To Begin
To Begin, you will follow the Siphon Draw trail, which will take you to Siphon Draw. I have an in-depth post about this hike specifically. The park maintains this section of the hike, but they do not maintain the trail after Siphon Draw. The hike to Siphon Draw is 2 miles with a consistent incline. If you struggle with this section of the hike, you will likely not make it to Flat Iron.
Siphon Draw to Flatiron
As Mentioned above, the park does not maintain the trail to Flat Iron. Any trail markers you see were placed by hikers themselves.
Once you finish the hike to Siphon Draw, you will hike a little further until you approach the basin. This is where the trail actually starts. It’s only a mile, but it is insanely difficult. If you are not comfortable with climbing, do not continue.
The trail dips down into the basin, and then begins the extremely difficult part of the hike. This part is characterized by large locks where you have to scramble and climb numerous sections. I describe it as having to do pistol squats for 1 mile. When I did this hike I did not have “fresh legs” so my legs fatigued insanely fast. I probably took a break every 100 feet, and I probably took 25 breaks.
There are numerous shaded areas during this part of the hike–probably the only positive.
When you get to the wall, you are SO close. Do not give up now! To conquer the wall, go left. Far left. Like off the trail, left. Climbing this section is much safer and easier than going straight up the wall.
Once you get to the top of the wall, the hard part is done. You will be level with flat Iron, and all you have to do is walk the trail to the lookout.
While sitting at the top we were met with a guy and his dog. We asked him how he accomplished that, because there are parts where you have to CLIMB. He said he would pick him up like a football and place him on the ledges above. So it is possible to hike this with your dog, but I would not recommend it.
The Descent
Wondering how you are going to get back down the mountain is a daunting thought, especially if you struggled to get up. If you have read some of my other posts, you know I am a big advocate for butt-scootin’ down difficult trails. This is a perfect trail for butt-scootin’, because there are so many large rocks at hip-height. Simply sit, and scoot off the rock to the next one.
Getting down the wall is also easier than you would think. Just remember to focus on what’s in front of you and take your time.
Time
Below is a screenshot of my hike with all my breaks included. I believe my GPS messed up between the 3rd and 4th mile, because my fourth mile happened much later than it should have. The mileage may be off, but the elevation and time should be fairly accurate. (I used a free version of Map My Run, so this is simply a guideline).
The first two miles took me 1 hour.
*The third mile took me 2 hours!*
The three miles down took me about 1.5 hours (~15 min break at the top)
Let that sink in. It took me 2 hours to do one mile, as a fairly active 24-year-old. Do not underestimate the climb.
Summary
Flat Iron is only for those confident in their hiking ability. Hiking to Siphon Draw is a great alternative, as well as a great precursor to Flat Iron. Regardless of how far you make it, make sure to bring plenty of water and snacks! There is very little shade the first two miles, and the breeze may be blocked by the mountains. Grippy shoes is a must! I have seen so many people slip on dusty rocks. I recommend leaving your dog at home, unless you have already completed this hike and are comfortable with lifting your dog.
If you enjoyed this post or are looking for other hikes in the area, I recommend reading my post about the Wave Cave, Siphon Draw, or Butcher Jones (coming soon).
