We arrived in Phoenix late Friday night and spent the night in a motel in east Mesa. Saturday morning we made the short drive to Lost Dutchman State Park just outside Apache Junction and got a campsite for the next two nights.

Despite the overcast skies and occasional sprinkles we were eager to finally start hiking. We set out from the First Water Trailhead for a 12.4 mile loop on the Second Water, Boulder Canyon, and Black Mesa trails.