Peralta Canyon

Superstition Mountain (Yavapai: Wi:kchsawa, O'odham: Gakoḍk) is a prominent mountain and regional landmark located in the Phoenix metropolitan area of Arizona, immediately east of Apache Junction and north of Gold Canyon. It anchors the west end of the Superstition Mountains (within the federally designated Superstition Wilderness Area) and is a popular outdoor recreation destination, home to numerous trails for hiking and horseback riding. The legend of the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine centers around the mountain.

Weavers Needle is a 1,000-foot-high (300 m) column of rock that forms a distinctive peak visible for many miles around. Located in the Superstition Mountains east of Phoenix, Arizona, Weavers Needle was created when a thick layer of tuff (fused volcanic ash)—a volcanic plug—was heavily eroded, creating the spire as an erosional remnant with a summit elevation of 4,555 feet (1,388 m). It is set in a desert landscape of cactus and mesquite bush, with large Saguaro cacti particularly prominent. The peak was named after mountain man Pauline Weaver. Weavers Needle has played a significant role in the stories of the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine. The Needle's shadow reportedly indicates the location of a rich vein of gold, and many treasure hunters have searched for it. The hunt for gold around Weavers Needle has been pursued by hundreds (possibly thousands) of people. Weavers Needle has a large split in the side that makes it look like it has two tops, not one. This can only be viewed from the side. Weavers Needle can be climbed as a four-pitch route. Each of the pitches is rated a 5.0 or less, with the second pitch being more of a class 4 scramble. The route is trad (traditional climbing), and opportunities for protection with traditional gear are ample. No permit is required to hike to Weavers Needle, or to climb, or to camp at the top. Highly experienced climbers will often free-solo, and rappel from the fixed anchors at the top. Despite the relatively low rating of the climb, this is not recommended for beginner or intermediate climbers.The area surrounding Weavers Needle was burned in the Sawtooth Fire in June 2020.

The Arizona Renaissance Festival is a Renaissance-themed amusement park and Renaissance fair located in Gold Canyon, Arizona, east of the Phoenix metro area in Pinal County. First run in 1989, the Arizona Renaissance Festival runs from mid-winter to early spring every year due to the mild winter and spring weather. The fictional village of Fairhaven is open Saturdays, Sundays, and President's Day Monday.In addition to the many stages of live entertainment, another popular feature is the Pleasure Feast.The COVID-19 pandemic caused the 32nd annual festival to end early in mid-March 2020, besides deferring the next festival to 2022 (when it resumed), as 2021 saw it cancelled.

Gold Canyon is a census-designated place (CDP) and unincorporated community in Pinal County, Arizona, United States. The community is sometimes incorrectly called Gold Camp.The town name is referred to as Gold Camp on weather statements issued by the National Weather Service (as seen in citation). The closest city to Gold Canyon is Apache Junction, Arizona.

Queen Valley is a census-designated place (CDP) in north central Pinal County, Arizona, United States. The population was 820 at the 2000 census.

Silly Mountain, also known as "Roadside Benchmark", is a mountain in Arizona, United States, located near the city of Apache Junction. It is part of the Superstition Mountain range. The elevation of the mountain is 2,139 feet (652 m), and the prominence is 358 feet (109 m).

The Peralta massacre was the alleged killing of a Mexican family by Apaches in about 1848. It is generally featured as an element of the legend of the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine. There are many variations of the story, but they generally include these details: During the 1840s, the Peralta family of northern Mexico supposedly developed rich gold mine(s) in the Superstition Mountains. In 1848, during a routine expedition to carry gold back to Mexico, the large party was ambushed by Apaches, and all were killed except for a few Peralta family members who escaped. According to the legend, the Apaches buried the gold and covered the mine. However, according to historian Robert Blair, the Peralta massacre never occurred.The author T.E. Glover in his book, The Lost Dutchman Mine of Jacob Waltz, wrote of a U.S. Cavalry trooper named William Edwards who was present for the discovery of the deceaseds' remains. The Cavalry leaders assumed that these were bodies from an Indian battle between fighting tribes. But trooper Edwards noticed that at least one of the skulls had a gold filing, common to Mexican (Spanish) aristocracy. He returned at a later date, and found even more human remains farther up the canyon. It is reported that he, and then later his son, spent much of their lives searching for the lost mine. The Peralta massacre is depicted in a flashback in the 1949 film Lust for Gold, starring Glenn Ford and Ida Lupino.

Lost Dutchman State Park is a 320-acre (129 ha) state park located in northwestern Pinal County, Arizona on the Apache Trail (State Route 88) north of Apache Junction, near the Superstition Mountains in central Arizona. It is named after the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine, a famously lost gold mine legendary in the tales of the Old West. It is accessible about 40 miles (64 km) east of Phoenix via U.S. Highway 60, the Superstition Freeway. The park provides hiking trails and mountain bike access to the area known as the Superstition Wilderness, as well as views of the mountains.

Youngberg is a populated place situated in Pinal County, Arizona, United States.

Apache Junction (Western Apache: Hagosgeed) is a city in Pinal and Maricopa counties in the state of Arizona. As of the 2020 census, the population was 38,499, most of whom lived in Pinal County. It is named for the junction of the Apache Trail and Old West Highway. The area where Apache Junction is located used to be known as Youngberg. Superstition Mountain, the westernmost peak of the Superstition Mountains, is to the east.

Geronimo Park was a shortlived baseball park in Apache Junction, Arizona, United States, that was in use from 1962 until 1963. It lay vacant from 1963 until it was dismantled in 1969 after being sold to Mesa Public Schools. Its location is currently occupied by a lodge of the Loyal Order of Moose. With a view of Superstition Mountains, it was the first spring training ball park of the Houston Colt .45s.

Apache Trail High School is a public charter high school in Apache Junction, Arizona. It is operated by The Leona Group, an operator of charter schools in Michigan, Ohio, Arizona, and Florida. Apache Trails leader Verma Chavez is the leader of the school for all the learning and schooling. For athletics, it is a member of the Canyon Athletic Association (CAA).