Siphon Draw leads up the bajada into a rugged canyon within the Superstition Mountain complex. The maintained portion ends at the base of a slickrock chute called The Basin, and continues on a well-established but strenuous route to the Flatiron and summit.

Siphon Draw leads up the bajada into the heart of Superstition Mountain

Loosely packed soils enable plant roots to radiate out and capture surface moisuture

Saguaro grow very slowly; a 10 year old saguaro might only be several inches tall

25M years ago, volcanic steam eruptions formed a huge caldera filled with rhyolite rock formations

Sunny, south facing walls in the upper canyon hold a diverse collection of cacti and agave

Looking west from the upper Basin

Around 30M years ago, pressure from underlying magma thrust solid, overlying rhyolite 2000’ into the air in what is called a resurgence

Palo Verde have deep roots and are drought deciduous, sheading their leaves (and sometimes entire limbs) in times of drought

Superstition Mountain is an eroded resurgent dome

Despite modest distances, reaching the Flatiron (center) takes considerable effort

Siphon Draw reaches the Superstition Wilderness boundary just before entering the canyon

A fully hydrated saguaro can weigh several tons

Rhyolite, basalt and tuff comprise most walls in the upper Basin

Equestrians ride the Crosscut Trail near Siphon Draw

A seasonal stream trickles into the Basin (3,085')

The Sonoran experiences two distinct rainy seasons that support the greatest biological diversity of any North American desert

Hikers relax in the shade by a seasonal pool in the Basin