Reavis Ranch (Superstition Wilderness)

Superstition Wilderness, Tonto National Forest (east of Phoenix)

Reavis Ranch is an unlikely oasis in the Superstition Wilderness: a high valley of pine trees and alligator junipers, with a creek that runs most of the year and a surviving apple orchard from an 1870s homestead. WildPathsAZ says it’s hard to believe the place exists in the middle of the desert range, and calls it a fantastic backpacking destination with plenty of campsites.

It’s a long walk in, and the Superstitions are hot and dry for much of the year.

The hike

There are two main approaches. From the north, the Reavis Ranch Trail (#109) follows an old ranch road from the Reavis Trailhead off the Apache Trail. Arizona Hiking gives the round trip to the ranch and back as 18 miles, and Trailforks lists the trail at 9.3 miles. From the south, a Komoot route from the Rogers Trough Trailhead reaches the ranch in about 7 miles. The Arizona Trail’s Passage 19 runs through the valley.

The Arizona Hiking writer, starting from the north, describes views of Apache Lake and the Superstitions along the old road, then the whole Reavis Creek drainage opening up to the left. At about 7.5 miles comes a signed junction with the Frog Tanks Trail. Past it, the trail turns south along Reavis Creek. Trailforks describes the trail climbing at a moderate grade through grassy rolling hills toward Castle Dome. WildPathsAZ describes the route passing typical desert terrain, following a creek bed that only runs after rain, then climbing switchbacks to Reavis Saddle.

Beyond the saddle, WildPathsAZ says, the trail enters an area burned in the 2019 Woodbury Fire, with fallen trees to climb over. A HikeArizona triplog describes fire damage near Windy Saddle and again in the last mile. A TripAdvisor listing describes an unmaintained side trail that leaves Trail 109 about 3.5 miles in and climbs to a saddle with views of Castle Dome and Mound Mountain. It leads on to Reavis Falls, which the listing describes as 196 feet tall but highly dependent on recent rain or snow.

Near the ranch, the valley changes. WildPathsAZ describes Reavis Creek lined with tall, thick plants and a giant alligator juniper. Trailforks says the trail follows a fence past an apple orchard before reaching Reavis Ranch, where the ranch house burned down in 1991 and only the foundation remains. The Arizona Hiking writer saw the ruins at about 9 miles.

The ranch has a story. The Arizona Trail Association says homesteader Elisha Reavis settled here in 1874 and built a ranch along the creek, and that a few apple trees from his orchard remain. 9 to 5 Hiker calls Reavis “the Hermit of Superstition Mountains.” WildPathsAZ says the surviving trees blossom in spring and bear large apples in fall, and a TripAdvisor reviewer calls them some of the best apples outside Washington state.

Beyond the ranch, the Fire Line Trail (#118) and Rogers Canyon connect to other parts of the eastern Superstitions. Arizona Hiking says Whiskey Spring, up the Fire Line Trail, is a backup water source if Reavis Creek is dry.

AllTrails lists October through April as the best months.

Tips

Hike in the cooler months. AllTrails lists October through April. Summer heat in the Superstitions is dangerous.
Carry plenty of water. Reavis Creek is seasonal. One AllTrails reviewer brought 6 liters in December and still filtered 3 more for the way back.
Check the Apache Trail. The north trailhead is reached from AZ 88, which has had long closures in recent years.
Wear sturdy boots. A reviewer mentions lots of loose rock and recommends trekking poles.
Expect deadfall. The 2019 Woodbury Fire left fallen trees past Reavis Saddle.

Camping

Camping is dispersed in the Superstition Wilderness. The Arizona Trail Association says there are good campsites both upstream and downstream from the ranch site, and asks backpackers to camp at least 300 feet from water and trails. It says mountain bikes are prohibited in the wilderness. Check with the Tonto National Forest for current fire restrictions.

Inside Intel: WildPathsAZ says there are plenty of campsites spread across the whole ranch area, so there should be room for everyone. The Arizona Hiking writer found an abundance of excellent, remote campsites along Reavis Creek and camped by the creek at about 8.2 miles, roughly 0.7 mile short of the ranch ruins. Arizona Trail thru-hikers, according to one HikeArizona triplog, describe “epic campsites” in the valley.

Trail facts

Distance: About 18 to 20 miles round trip from the north (Reavis Trailhead); about 14 from the south (Rogers Trough)
Route type: Out and back
Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous. Loose rock and long miles.
Elevation: AllTrails lists about 2,759 feet of gain on the 20.2-mile round trip from the north.
Campsites: Dispersed along Reavis Creek and around the ranch site
Water: Reavis Creek (seasonal); Whiskey Spring as a backup. Treat all water.
Permits: None found
Bikes: Prohibited in the wilderness
Trailheads: Reavis Trailhead (off AZ 88, the Apache Trail) or Rogers Trough Trailhead (south)
Season: October through April (AllTrails)
Last verified: September 28, 2026

The Lowdown

A camp under the apple trees:

Reavis Valley has room for plenty of tents among the pines. See which tents testers rate highest.

Read the full guide →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.