Join the Heart of the Desert: Become a Member of AZ SALT
November 10, 2025
- (480) 983-3454
- info@azsalt.org
- Mon - Fri: 9:00AM - 5PM
Stand at the edge of the Sonoran Desert as the sun drops behind the Superstition Mountains, and it’s easy to understand why people have been drawn here for centuries. The Superstitions aren’t just mountains — they’re a storybook written in stone, saguaro, and silence.
For generations, this rugged landscape has inspired tales of lost gold, drawn artists and wanderers, and offered solace to anyone looking to reconnect with the wild. But today, the same accessibility that makes this region so loved is also what puts it at risk.
The Superstition Area Land Trust (SALT) was founded on a simple truth: these lands belong to everyone — and to no one. They are a bridge between urban life and untouched wilderness, a rare place where a morning drive from town can lead to a day among towering saguaros, hawks in flight, and quiet trails steeped in history.
The Superstition Foothills — 28,800 acres of state land — form a crucial buffer between growing cities and the officially designated Superstition Wilderness Area. Together, the Foothills and the Mountains make up the breathtaking panorama so many of us recognize and cherish. Without that buffer, the character of the entire region could change forever.
These mountains are more than just a scenic backdrop. They are layered with volcanic history, ancient ruins, and the stories of those who came before — prospectors, ranchers, explorers, and Indigenous peoples who knew this desert long before it had a name on a map.
SALT exists to honor that legacy. Our mission is to protect the open spaces south of the Superstition Wilderness so that future generations can experience the same wonder — not from old photographs or distant memories, but from the trails themselves.
SALT’s work is grounded in collaboration, advocacy, and education. We partner with community members, conservation groups, and local leaders to create long-term plans for responsible recreation and land management.
That includes everything from land-use studies and strategic partnerships to pursuing funding for conservation and acquisitions. Whether through mining-related land exchanges, conservation districts, or private-public initiatives, every step moves us closer to keeping these lands in public hands — and out of the path of unchecked development.
We’re also exploring how the region can become a model for both conservation and economic vitality — where preserving open space also strengthens local tourism and community identity.
The Superstitions are one of Arizona’s most accessible wild spaces. You don’t have to be an expert hiker or wilderness guide to experience them. That’s the beauty of it — and the challenge.
Preserving these lands isn’t about locking them away. It’s about protecting their spirit while keeping the door open for hikers, birders, stargazers, and anyone seeking peace under a vast desert sky.
Our vision is simple: that generations from now, people will still be able to stand where we stand today — gazing at the same ridgelines, hearing the same wind, feeling the same quiet awe.
SALT exists because this place deserves guardianship — not just admiration. Whether you hike its trails, photograph its wildlife, or simply love knowing wild places still exist, your voice matters.
Together, we can make sure the Superstitions remain what they’ve always been: a living, breathing reminder of why open spaces matter.
The Superstition Area Land Trust (SALT) works with public agencies to protect vulnerable Sonoran Desert foothills—part of Arizona’s 9 million acres of state trust land—threatened by urban sprawl and managed primarily for revenue.
Donating to the Superstition Area Land Trust (SALT) helps preserve the Sonoran Desert’s fragile foothills, wildlife, and open spaces for future generations.