20 Attractions to Explore Near Boyce Thompson Arboretum

This beautiful desert garden offers expansive views, creekside trails, and hundreds of plants brand-new to BTA. At 13 acres and with more than 5,000 new plantings, the addition of the Wallace collection moves Boyce Thompson Arboretum into the top tier of botanical gardens around the world. The main trail is wheelchair accessible.

Arnett Creek is a stream in Arizona, that runs through central Arizona in a part of the Gila watershed that sees year-round flows—a rare find in this arid state.

Picketpost Mountain is a stunning mountain that rises nearly 2,000 feet from the town of Superior. It resides in a very scenic part of the state between the Superstition Mountains and other beautiful ranges. It itself is not part of any specific range, but is nearly entirely surrounded by other ranges. The view across the valley from Superior of Apache Leap Ridge is incredible.

Queen Creek Canyon is found above the small town of Superior, AZ, about an hour's drive (depending where you start) east of the metro Phoenix area.Queen Creek and its many volcanic towers is the home of central Arizona sport climbing and bouldering. The rock is volcanic tuff and the routes go from deep-pocket pulling down to tiny-edge crimping, depending on the area.

The White Canyon Wilderness in Arizona, is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. A very large escarpment known as the "Rincon" is a prominent landmark in the southern end of the wilderness. Vegetation in the area includes chaparral variety as well as saguaro cactus typical of the Sonoran Desert that support a variety of wildlife such as black bears and mountain lions.

A beautiful mountain Summit in Pinal County Arizona. It is a very easy day trail for new off-roaders. There are just a few narrow shelf sections and occasional washouts but other than that there are not major obstacles.

Martinez Canyon Trail is a moderate 14.4 mile out-and-back trail located near Mecca that offers scenic views and is primarily used for hiking, horses, and backpacking. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas.

The Haunted Canyon Trail is in the eastern Superstion Wilderness near the BP Pinto Valley Mine east of Superior, Arizona. More than half the trail is outside the wilderness area but that's the most scenic half. This is a popular backpacking route with an overnight stay at Tony Ranch Cabin.

The Peralta Canyon Trail is one of the most popular hikes in the Superstition Wilderness outside of Phoenix, and for good reason. This hike is one of the gateways into the 160,000-acre wilderness just an hour's drive from Phoenix and offers spectacular scenery and a moderate difficulty for the day hiker.This hike is not to be missed for it's scenic value and the satisfaction of reaching "the saddle" for spectacular views of the Weaver's Needle formation and the Superstition Wilderness beyond.

This trail begins off of the Dutchman basically at the Peralta Trailhead and climbs through some scenic views until it reaches the Dutchman Trail 104 at Crystal Spring on the southeast side of Bluff Springs Mountain. Bluff Springs itself is northwest of Crystal Spring along the Dutchman another quarter mile.

Lost Goldmine is a mostly blue trail with some difficult ups/downs through arroyos. There are no man-made features, so enjoy the natural ones, including excellent up-close views of the Superstition Mountains. The trail features an abundant collection of cholla, ocotillo, barrel cactus, saguaro, palo verde and mesquite.

Superstition Mountain is a prominent mountain and regional landmark located in the Phoenix metropolitan area of Arizona, immediately east of Apache Junction and north of Gold Canyon. It anchors the west end of the federally designated Superstition Wilderness Area and is a popular outdoor recreation destination, home to numerous trails for hiking and horseback riding. The legend of the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine centers around the mountain.

Fremont Saddle is one of the more popular hiking destinations in the Superstition Mountains. This trail winds through the canyon and then takes you up switch backs until you reach the saddle. The breath-taking view of Weavers Needle may convince you to stop here for the day, but I suggest going a bit farther.

Weavers Needle is an iconic Arizona summit, as the most striking peak among a wonderland of rock pinnacles in the Superstition Wilderness east of Phoenix. The Needle is a classic climb of the region, even though technical climbing is a very small portion of it. It's a worthy summit because of the formation's prestige, the view from the top, and the fun of a day out on desert rock. is set in a desert landscape of cactus and mesquite bush, with large Saguaro cacti particularly prominent.

Superstition Mountain is a prominent mountain and regional landmark located in the Phoenix metropolitan area of Arizona, immediately east of Apache Junction and north of Gold Canyon. It anchors the west end of the federally designated Superstition Wilderness Area and is a popular outdoor recreation destination, home to numerous trails for hiking and horseback riding. The legend of the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine centers around the mountain.

This very popular trail on the edge of Tonto National Forest leads to a beautiful valley with native hieroglyphs. Near Apache Junction, ArizonaIt rises 1.45 miles through a bajada into the mouth of Hieroglyphics Canyon, where several panels of well-preserved petrogylphs are located above seasonal pools. The basalt rock etchings were mistaken by early European settlers for Egyptian hieroglyphs, hence the erroneous name.

Pinal Mountains are a mountain range located in Gila County, Arizona. They have a maximum elevation of 7,848 ft at Pinal Peak and a prominence of over 4,000 ft. The mountains are covered with Ponderosa Pine and white fir and experience cooler weather than the Globe/Miami area, so that they are a popular recreation area in the summer. The maintained facilities include a maintained dirt road that goes all the way to the summit of Pinal Peak, a campsite and recreational area, many hiking trails.

The Flatiron trail in Lost Dutchman State Park is a rugged, strenuous hiking trail that will take your breath away with views.

The Silly Mountain Trailhead is 37 miles east of Phoenix and 8 miles south of Lost Dutchman State Park in Apache Junction, Arizona. It is one of the iconic attractions in this area and also there are so many things to explore.