The Prospector’s View Trail rises through a diversely vegetated bajada at the base of Superstition Mountain. This mild hike offers rangy panoramas across the bajada, and up-close views of the Green Boulder outcrop and Praying Hands spires.

CAM plants open their stomates for gas exchange at night and store carbon dioxide in the form of an organic acid

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

The Praying Hands are spires carved from the main rock mass of Superstition Mountain

Just south of Prospector's View is Siphon Draw, which leads into the heart of Superstition Mountain

Ocotillo can sprout leaves within 48 hours of a brief rain

The Superstition Mountains took shape about 40 M years ago as eroding sedimentary layers exposed a Pre-Cambrian granite foundation

The bajada's deep, loose soil provides ideal growing and draining conditions

The Treasure Loop Trail weaves through the Green Boulder complex

Mistletoe is semi-parasitic, but also produces food through photosynthesis in its evergreen leaves

All cacti are edible; Prickly Pear is commonly used to make jam and candy

Bajadas form as loose rock and soil wash down from the mountains and pile up at their base

Chainfruit cholla gardens are interspersed with comb bur plots in the lower bajada

Creosote is among the longest-living plants in the world, with documented over 11,500 years old

Jacob's Crosscut Trail provides an alternative starting point for reaching Prospector's View

Hedgehog Cactus

Gambel's quail live in groups called coveys; at night they may gather in coveys of 100-200 birds

Treasure seekers have never found the fabled mine first discovered by the Peralta family