Fremont Saddle
Peralta Trail to Fremont Saddle · Peralta Trailhead
Photo: David Taylor · CC BY 2.0- Distance
- 4.6 mimi
- Climb
- 1,341 ftft
- Est. time
- about 2 hours 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Moderate
A steady climb up Peralta Canyon into the Superstition Wilderness to Fremont Saddle, where Weaver's Needle suddenly fills the view.
The Peralta Trailhead is at the end of Peralta Road, 8 miles of dirt road north of US 60 past Apache Junction. The trail starts easy through a few dry washes, then climbs steadily up Peralta Canyon, mostly in the sun. At about 2.3 miles you reach Fremont Saddle, and Weaver's Needle, the best-known rock formation in the Superstitions, is right in front of you. The lot is large but fills fast on weekends, and there's no drinking water at the trailhead.
- Parking
A large lot at the end of the dirt road that fills fast on weekends, with an overflow lot just before it.
Trailhead: Peralta Trailhead.
- Fee
Free
- Dogs
- Dogs on leash
- Shade
- Not confirmed yet
- Hazards
- No drinking water at the trailhead.
- Best months
October to April, when the average high in Phoenix is under 90°F.
- Sources
6 sources · last verified Sep 24, 2026. Report a change
Photo: David Taylor · CC BY 2.0
Where each fact comes from
- Peralta Canyon Trail #102 — OpenStreetMap checked 2026-09-27
- Peralta Trailhead — Tonto National Forest checked 2026-09-24
- Peralta Trailhead — OpenStreetMap checked 2026-09-24
- Peralta Trail to Fremont Saddle — Karabou Adventures (undated) checked 2026-09-24
- Tonto National Forest — FAQs ("Pets are welcome, but must be kept on a leash") checked 2026-09-24
- Best months: normal high under 90°F, Phoenix Sky Harbor 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI) checked 2026-09-24
Low heat risk · now
73°F now · high 82°
Sunset 5:47p · ~2h 10m hike
As of Today 9:12a · NWS forecast · NWS alerts · NWS HeatRisk · Tonto National Forest
Next 6 days · high / low · NWS HeatRisk today 1 of 4
- Tomorrow86° / 64°
- Wed82° / 67°Rain 82% 6:09a–5:44p
- Thu72° / 63°Rain 93% 6:10a–5:43p
- Fri70° / 57°
- Sat73° / 53°
- Sun77° / 56°
From the trail
Field notes
Owen · Peralta Trail to Fremont Saddle · Oct 2026
I did a loop so I could see two of the main attractions of the southern Superstitions: Wave Cave and Weaver's Needle. We went up to Wave Cave first, which was bigger than I expected and totally worth the spur from the loop. Then we climbed up past Carney Springs and followed an unmaintained trail to Robber's Roost, then on to Fremont Saddle. The views of Weaver's Needle from above the saddle were magnificent. If you want to get away from the crowds and do some more exploring, this route is for you. The last bit of the loop was on the road from the Peralta Trailhead back to the Lost Goldmine lot. 9 miles and 2,700+ ft of elevation gain in total.
Nearby
East Valley & Superstitions
