Tucked into the rugged terrain of Arizona’s Superstition Mountains, the Wave Cave is a hidden gem recognized for its putting sandstone formation that resembles a frozen wave curling towards the desert sky. Reached by a reasonably difficult, straight ahead 3-mile round-trip hike, the cave sits excessive on a slope, providing panoramic views of the valley beneath and the huge sprawl of the Sonoran Desert. The ultimate ascent is steep and rocky, however the reward is nicely well worth the effort—a shaded alcove with the enduring “wave” rock that creates a pure bench and an ideal photograph backdrop.
Trailhead elevation 2,201′
Do not miss sundown on the Three Sisters
Climbing to the Wave Cave
It’s my final night within the Superstitions. After climbing to Broadway Cave and exploring the Hieroglyphic Path earlier within the day, I make one final trek—this time to the Wave Cave. With solely about an hour left earlier than sundown, I arrive on the trailhead and set off immediately. The path begins as a protracted, straight stretch heading north towards the Three Sisters, three peaks that dominate the horizon.
About three-quarters of a mile in, the flat terrain offers solution to a gentle incline. The rocky path winds upward, flanked by sagebrush, towering saguaros, and all of the hardy flora you’d anticipate within the desert.
Roughly half a mile later, the path steepens considerably. The Wave Cave lastly comes into view—tucked into the mountain’s facet, barely left of middle and about midway up.
I dip down right into a wash, then make the ultimate push, climbing a couple of hundred ft in lower than 1 / 4 mile. It’s the steepest stretch by far, however I quickly attain the cave on the 1.5-mile mark and pause to catch my breath. Solely two others are inside the large cave—Alina and Kira, vacationers from mom Russia spending three months exploring the States. We commerce photographs and path tales, they usually point out plans to backpack out to Lone Pine tomorrow, which occurs to be the place I camped the evening earlier than. I inform them that it was probably the most gorgeous backcountry camp views I’ve ever seen—perched excessive on a cliff with Weavers Needle staring again at me.
As the sunshine begins to fade, the three of us determine to hike out collectively. We chat the entire method again, sharing tales and laughs because the desert cools and the sky shifts to gold. Nearing the trailhead, all of us look again one final time. The Three Sisters are aglow with the solar’s remaining mild.
On the trailhead, we alternate numbers. Alina and Kira are heading to southern Utah in a couple of days for a few weeks and ask if they will attain out from time to time for climbing, backpacking, and tenting suggestions. We are saying our goodbyes and half methods. One other journey within the Superstitions involves a detailed—however I do know I’ll be again quickly. It is too lovely to not.
