Photos of a hike on the Reavis Gap and Fireline trails in the Superstition Mountain Wilderness

reavis-ridge-fireline reavis-gap-fireline-_712af img_5380 img_5373 img_5248 img_5189 img_5194
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
img_5196 img_5199 img_5200 img_5205 img_5206 img_5211 img_5210
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
img_5213 img_5215 img_5216 img_5217 img_5219 img_5220 img_5223
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
img_5224 img_5227 img_5225 img_5226 img_5229 img_5230 img_5231
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
img_5234 img_5235 img_5236 img_5237 img_5241 img_5242 img_5243
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
img_5244 img_5245 img_5247 img_5249 img_5251 img_5253 img_5254
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
img_5255 img_5256 img_5260 img_5266 img_5267 img_4994 img_1814
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
stb_5269 stc_5270 img_4954 img_4956 img_4978 img_4971 img_5274
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
img_5282 img_5283 img_5304 img_5294 img_5295 img_4942 img_4999
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
img_5001 img_5004 img_5011 img_5030 img_5315 img_5316 img_5317
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
img_5319 img_5320 img_5325 img_5327 img_5329 img_5330 img_5331
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
img_5332 img_5333 img_5334 img_5335 img_5337 img_5338 img_5341
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
img_5343 img_5344 img_5346 img_5347 img_5348 img_5350 img_5351
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
img_5352 img_5353 img_5357 img_5360 img_5363 img_5364 img_5365
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
img_5366 img_5368 img_5372
99
100
101
Reavis Ranch is one of the most popular fall and spring backpacking destinations in the Superstition Wilderness. The fall sees the most visitors due to the abandonded but still producing apple orchard at the ranch. The area gets freezing temperatures overnight as early as late October so be prepared. There are several routes to Reavis Ranch, the two most popular are using the Reavis Ranch (Valley trail)--either the southern portion from the Roger's Trough Trailhead or the northern portion from the Reavis Ranch Trailhead (near Apache Lake). Next most popular, is a loop using the Fireline and Reavis Gap trails from the east. There are many other route combinations limited only by your imagination while looking at a trail map of the Superstion Wilderness. There are friendly arguments on every hike as to whether it's easier to hike in from the north or the south. The consensus seems to be: the other route from where the discussion is taking place.

This Reavis Gap Trail and Fireline Trail loop hike started from the Campaign trailhead (Upper Horrel Place) using the: Campaign trail, Reavis Gap trail, Reavis Ranch Trail, Fireline trail, and Campaign trail.

It's an 18.1 mile round trip. The starting and ending elevations are 3200 feet, the high is at 5300 feet. This is a more difficult route than reaching Reavis Ranch from the North or the South on the Reavis Ranch (Valley) Trail #109. (The Reavis Gap segment climbs 1600 feet in four miles--and then climbs another 600 in the next two miles.)

If you haven't seen Circlestone, plan on making the side trip on the Fireline portion of the trip. You may want to drop your backpack at the start of the route to Circlestone since it's a fairly steep and loose climb of 500 feet over 0.8 mile (one-way). The route to Circlestone is unofficial but it gets enough traffic that the path is fairly easy to follow. (There are multiple paths in some sections.)

Allow at least an hour to explore the Reavis Ranch area. You can scout locations of good campsites--some are obvious in open areas and some are hidden. There are a number of cast iron farm implements spread over the valley plus foundations of old buildings. If you're visting during apple season, there are apples to pick.
Click a thumbnail to see the full size image. Then use the Previous and Next thumbnails to
directly move among the full size images without having to return to this page each time.