The Superstition Mountains lie directly east of the Phoenix Metro Area and have been a source of legend for a long time. The area contains several ancient cliff dwellings and caves. In the 1840's, the Peralta family of Mexico supposedly developed a rich gold mine in the Superstitions. In the 1870's, Jacob Waltz, the Dutchman, was said to have located the mine. Waltz allegedly hid caches of gold in the Superstition Mountains. To this day, several people have attempted to seek out the Lost Dutchman's Mine, all without luck.

The Mazatzal Mountains lies to the northwest of the Superstition Mountains and is far more remote. Mazatzal is a Yavapai Indian word for "land of the deer." The wilderness area is heavily populated with wildlife and has the densest population of Black Bear in Arizona. The most recognized mountain in the Mazatzal is Four Peaks. The mountain has a unique, serrated ridge that can be seen from Phoenix.