Hiking to the Boulder Canyon Viewpoint in Arizona

CURRENT INFO

Maps and reviews for the hike to the Boulder Canyon Viewpoint are available on the AllTrails website.

GOOD TO KNOW

• Free parking is available at the Canyon Lake Marina. Ten parking spots are designated for the Boulder Canyon Trailhead. Can you park elsewhere if those spots are full? I’m not 100% sure, but on our November visit the parking lot was mostly empty, with plenty of extra parking available.
• Port-a-potties and a restroom are available at the marina.
• Wear shoes or hiking boots with good traction. Hiking poles are not required, but recommended if you want some extra stability. The trail is rocky and occasionally slippery, with an elevation gain of just over 1000 feet to reach the Boulder Canyon Viewpoint.
• Bring water, shade hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen. There is little shade on the trail.
• I recommend hiking to the Boulder Canyon Viewpoint between late fall and early spring. Here in southern Arizona, the summer weather can be unbearably hot.
• Always follow Leave No Trace principles.

HIGHLIGHTS

With stunning desert canyon and mountain views, the Boulder Canyon Trail is a treat. Discover new views around every corner as you traverse the open trail, and hiking at golden hour really makes the colors of the canyon pop. We hiked on a Monday in November and only encountered a handful of other hikers on the trail, which was a definite plus in my book.

THE KIDS’ TAKE

The Boulder Canyon Trail is a fun little adventure for kids looking to get a taste of desert hiking. For our kids, the highlight was spotting a roadrunner just off the trail. We were hoping to spot a tortoise, too, but no such luck. My older son enjoyed the rocky nature of the trail, but younger kids who aren’t used to hiking may find it challenging. Be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks, and shade hats and sunscreen are a must on sunny days.

WHILE YOU’RE HERE

The trail to the Boulder Canyon Viewpoint is just one option among many in this region rich with hiking opportunities. Those interested in a longer hike can continue further on this same trail. Elsewhere in the Superstition Wilderness, numerous day hikes and multi-night backpacking adventures await. About twenty minutes east of Boulder Canyon, Lost Dutchman State Park offers a wide range of hiking trails and a campground.

The Boulder Canyon Trailhead is located across the road from the Canyon Lake Marina, which offers boat rentals. Tours of Canyon Lake (technically a reservoir) can be booked on the Dolly Steamboat. Personally, if I were visiting Canyon Lake on a hot day, I’d head to the Acacia Day use Area for paddling and swimming.

Prior to our hike, we enjoyed a hearty lunch at Tortilla Flat, a fun, kitschy former “wild west” stagecoach town. On our way to Tortilla Flat, we stopped by the Superstition Mountain Museum, which includes a few outdoor historical exhibits. These are just some of the stops along Highway 88, also known as the Apache Trail. This beautiful scenic drive passes through Tonto National Forest between Apache Junction and Roosevelt Lake. Be aware that east of Tortilla Flat the road becomes much rougher and some sections are currently closed for repairs.

After a filling lunch in Tortilla Flat, we pulled into the parking lot for the Canyon Lake Marina. Although the lot was mostly empty, the ten designated spaces for the Boulder Canyon Trailhead were full. Just as we arrived, another car pulled out, allowing us to claim the tenth spot.

Across the road, the trailhead sign pointed the way up a dusty, rocky trail. My older son, J, noted that the power lines overhead detracted a bit from the experience.

“Don’t worry,” I told him. “Soon, we’ll pass under the lines and leave the sights of civilization behind.”

Sure enough, it wasn’t long before we passed beyond the power lines. Brilliant blue skies drew us onward. I turned around to catch a glimpse of Canyon Lake. The sheet metal roofs of the marina were a clear reminder that we hadn’t left civilization entirely behind, but it was a stunning view nonetheless.

As we continued the hike, Canyon Lake gradually disappeared from view. A viewpoint just off the main trail offered a glimpse of a hidden cove below, and I found myself daydreaming of a peaceful paddle on the calm turquoise water.

The trail climbed steadily as we continued the hike. On this hike, most of the elevation gain occurs within the first half of the outbound trek, and the path can be rough. Fortunately, the November day was pleasantly warm, and the elevation gain was gradual enough that I found it easy to keep a steady pace. Even seven-year-old T, who wasn’t thrilled to learn we were on a five-mile hike, didn’t have much to complain about.

Michael and J forged ahead, while I stopped to offer T a water break. Soon, we heard Michael’s voice call out excitedly, “Roadrunner! There’s a roadrunner!”

T and I scrambled to our feet and made our way down the trail as fast as we could without risk of slipping, hoping the roadrunner might not scamper off before we arrived. Sure enough, there she (or he?) was, calmly cocking her head to one side scarcely six feet from the trail.

After the roadrunner sighting, we got back to business, and soon passed a sign noting that we were entering the Superstition Wilderness. Goodbye, civilization! Well, maybe not quite, but how cool is that name — Superstition Wilderness?

The midway point on hike to the Boulder Canyon Viewpoint also happens to be the highest point along the route. Views spread out in all directions before the trail dips down on the other side of the hill. Earlier on, we passed a handful of other hiking groups along the trail, but from this point onward we were on our own. Considering how close we were to Phoenix, the lack of crowds was somewhat surprising (not that I was complaining).

We passed through a solemn stand of saguaro cactus and continued on our way. The last section of the trail was a series of ups and downs before reaching the viewpoint. The kids petered out at the end, and chose to hang out among the rocks a short distance before the actual viewpoint. Sometimes, when you’re a kid, the chance to play among the rocks beats out any view. As for Michael and I, we continued on, eager to see if the view was worth the extra few hundred feet.

Indeed, it was. Below us, a narrow sliver of a creek ribboned through the canyon, while all manner of different rock formations rose above. As the sun sank toward the horizon, the colors of the mighty cliffs glowed with increasing intensity.

Being mostly downhill, the return hike passed quickly, although we had to watch our step across the rough terrain. Golden hour is a gorgeous time to hike the Boulder Canyon Trail, but we were also mindful of the coming darkness and knew we could not linger.

We approached Canyon Lake after the sun dipped behind the mountains, leaving a faint glow tinting the horizon. It was a serenely beautiful way to end the hike. On our return, our car was the last one remaining in the Boulder Canyon parking spots. We pulled onto the Apache Trail as darkness fell, and began the winding drive back to Apache Junction.

As I write this, I’m no longer in Arizona, but back home in Washington State with winter on its way. But when the winter rains come, I’ll look back on our hike along the Boulder Canyon Trail, and remember the warmth and beauty of the desert.