Hike to Reavis Ranch 2025

Reavis Ranch 01.04 - 01.05, 2025

Deep in the Superstition Mountains is a hidden oasis. Here, pine trees tower over grassy meadows, apple trees, and a clear-water spring, providing sanctuary to the abundant wildlife in the area. Once I heard of Reavis Ranch, I knew I had to find it immediately. I gathered a party of four, and we set off on an adventure.

Road to the Trailhead Parking Lot.

A group of four, including myself, gathered our packs, loaded the Jeep, and drove toward the eastern edge of the Superstition Wilderness. We entered through Superior, Arizona. Starting at 7:00 am, the journey from Apache Junction to the trailhead of Rodgers Canyon would take us over three hours.

The road from Superior to the Rodgers Canyon and Reavis Ranch trailhead parking lot was challenging. My stock four-door Jeep Wrangler was put to the test. The road isn't harsh, but it is technical. You can expect your vehicle to bottom if you miscalculate momentum through your lines. I would have benefited from larger tires. A long switchback road provides breathtaking views of Picketpost Mountain, making the rocky road worth it at the top. Once you reach the saddle of the switchbacks, you turn the corner, looking deep into the Superstition Wilderness.

Although difficult, this has to be one of my favorite 4x4 roads in the state. The road navigation started at forty-five minutes and slowly turned into an hour-and-a-half drive on this technical 4x4 road. Although the pace was slow, we all arrived at the parking lot trailhead with no flat tires and only a few new beauty marks on the Jeep.

Rodgers Canyon via Reavis Ranch Trail #109

We unloaded our packs after arriving at the parking lot around 10:30 am. I brought a luggage scale to test how well we all packed our bags for the overnight trip. Some did better than others. Given the water and Ice I packed, I recorded 34 lbs, which was fair. The next group member, Phoenix, recorded a whopping 46 lbs. Tyara recorded 27 lbs, and the expert traveler Kayla recorded an impressive 24 lbs.

We headed down the trail, descending deep into a wash, and headed toward Reavis Ranch. The route would take us eight miles down into the wash with 3,000 feet in elevation gain, climbing over the rolling hills before descending into the ranch's meadows. I wouldn't say the trail is technical but don't expect it to be easy. Once we passed the Rodgers Canyon split-off, staying on Reavis Ranch Trail, we climbed ten switchbacks before reaching the Reavis Saddle. Exhausted, we were awarded a view unlike any other in Arizona. It is the perfect place to lay in pain as you feel the lactic acid burn through your lower body.

While we admired our accomplishment with a stunning view, we turned around to see a valley of pine trees, an odd sight in a desert climate. With newfound energy, we all jogged toward the valley. The atmosphere in the valley was completely different. The temperature dropped, birds chirped, and deer started popping out of every bush. As we started hiking through the valley, there was no sign of apple trees or a freshwater spring. We started eyeing campsites, assuming no water, apples, or ranch was left. After a quick lunch, we agreed that we should continue. There was no sense in hiking this far not to find the ranch. After a quarter mile of hiking, water appeared to our right, clear as day, shimmering in the sun's rays. Hope was sparked, and we chased the stream to the ranch. We had made it!

We found a nice camping spot about a quarter mile south of the ranch. The space was perched under an arching pine tree. Given that it was the lone tree in a grass meadow, it was aesthetically pleasing. With shelter and the open sky just a few feet away, we set up home for the night.

Reavis Ranch

Today, the ranch is a shadow of itself. The foundation of the home that once provided sanctuary for travelers is all that is left. Up the hill is the well that once provided plumbing to the home. Apple trees line the meadows—a moat formed by the natural spring guards the perimeter. The meadow hides what was once a tractor, plow, and cattle fence line. The four of us enjoyed the history, ran around, and explored what was once Elisah Reavis's everyday home.

We sat around the campfire that night, telling stories and listening to the FM radio. The sunset sheltered the meadow with a peach-colored glare. The light of the fire pulsed against the pine trees. The FM radio wasn't perfect, but it provided a nostalgic atmosphere around the campfire. We all provided something to the group, contributing to the memory we were making. Phoenix brought four high noon seltzers, Tyara brought dinner, Kayla brought games, and I brought s'mores. The extra weight of our bags was cherished. Laughs were shared, the discussion was enhanced, and fire, food, s'mores, and a little alcohol created warmth.

We knew it dropped below freezing that night because all our water was frozen. The two tents dropped Ice as we moved and shifted. All through the night, we could hear the noise of deer, skunks, birds, and whatever else was stumbling through the meadow. Being that far out in the wilderness at night is always scary, but the ranch had an unexplainable peace. The quiet was calming; you could only listen to nature and appreciate the beauty protected in this valley.

The Last Day

As the sunlight turned the morning sky blue, I braced for the freezing temperatures and headed up the mountain that protects the west side of Reavis Ranch. As I approached the edge of the mountainside, I heard a mountain lion. As the mountain lion would yap, deer would jump from the mountainside bushes and sprint toward the top. I never saw the mountain lion, but I am sure it saw me. After the deer reached the mountaintop, I stopped hearing the mountain lion. I continued to summit the mountain before sunrise. As I approached the top, scrambling on rocky silt, the skyline opened, revealing Four Peaks, Lost Dutchman Park, Apache Trail, and Reavis Saddle. It was incredible seeing the valley from this perspective. Words cannot describe the appreciation I had for this place.

After practically skiing down the mountainside silt, I found the group hovering over the fire. We made some oatmeal, I heated some instant coffee, and we headed back the way we came. Another long day was ahead of us. We were tired, sore, and hungry but grateful for what we got to experience together.

It was a mostly downhill hike back. We braved the steep incline we had quickly run down the previous day and returned to the parking lot. The dusty Jeep was still there, ready to take us home.

We found a burger place in Gold Canyon just off the golf course. The burgers took way too long to get to our table, and we spent more time waiting for our food than we had hoped. Hungry and tired, we tried to dismiss the wait and enjoyed the last meal together before returning to real life. There is so much I still want to see in the Reavis Ranch area. I will journey back in search of Circlestone, Cliff Dwellings, and other hidden gems in the Superstition Mountains.

Instagram Reel of Reavis Ranch: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DElI4cyymNW/