Gila County - 55 Attractions You Must Visit

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About Gila County

Gila County is in the central part of the U.S. state of Arizona. Gila County is full of opportunities to come to play. Whether you want to go camping, boating, horseback riding, fishing, hiking, hunting, or just exploring, our wide-open spaces and area attractions make Gila County the perfect get-away spot.

Types of Attractions in Gila County

Activities Around

List of Attractions in Gila County

Apache Lake

Apache Lake

Lake/ River/ Ponds

Apache Lake is one of four reservoirs built along the Salt River in central Arizona as part of the Salt River Project.Apache Lake is a popular recreation destination within the Tonto National Forest, which is the authority that manages the facilities located at the lake. The lake is located along the Apache Trail and a number of other hiking trails can be found in the area. Situated along Apache Lake is Apache Lake Marina and Resort, which offers visitors various amenities.

Aztec Peak

Aztec Peak

1 Day Treks

Mountain Peaks

Aztec Mountain is a small pyramidal mountain over 2,000 metres high, just southwest of Maya Mountain and west of Beacon Valley in Victoria Land. It was so named by the New Zealand Geological Survey Antarctic Expedition because its shape resembles the pyramidal ceremonial platforms used by the Aztec and Maya civilizations.

Barnhardt Trail

Barnhardt Trail

Outdoors- Other

1 Day Treks

Barnhardt Trail is considered to be one of the "expressways" to the Mazatzals. It starts at Barnhardt trailhead and proceeds westward to the ridge of the Mazatzal range or "Divide" where you intersect the N-S Mazatzal Divide Trail, which is part of the Arizona Trail. This is a very popular area for hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime.

Besh-Ba-Gowah Museum

Besh-Ba-Gowah is a 200-room prehistoric Salado masonry pueblo located atop a broad ridge overlooking Pinal Creek. This beautiful Museum offers a chance to explore the ruins and artifacts of the Salado Indians who inhabited the area from A.D. 1225 to A.D.1400. Its architecture consists of multi-storied, masonry room block clusters connected by long, narrow corridors or elongated plazas.

Besh-Ba-Gowah Park

Besh-Ba-Gowah Park

Outdoors- Other

Besh-Ba-Gowah is a 200-room prehistoric Salado masonry pueblo located atop a broad ridge overlooking Pinal Creek. The site is situated one mile southwest from Globe, Arizona and surrounded by a small city park and adjacent museum with excavated items including prehistoric pottery, stone and woven artifacts. The site is operated by the city as Besh Ba Gowah Archaeological Park and Museum.

Christopher Creek

Christopher Creek

Outdoors- Other

Christopher Creek is a census-designated place in northern Gila County in the U.S. state of Arizona. Situated at the base of the Mogollon Rim, the community lies at an elevation of 5,961 feet, and is located approximately 23.5 miles northeast of Payson, just off SR 260. The population as of the 2010 U.S. Census was 156.

Cocoraque Butte Archaeological District

The Cocoraque Butte Archaeological District is located in Ironwood Forest National Monument, in Pima County, Arizona. Added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 10, 1975, it features ancient Hohokam ruins, hundreds of well-preserved petroglyphs, and the historic Cocoraque Ranch.

Coolidge Dam

Coolidge Dam

Dams

Off-road Spots

Boating Spots

Coolidge Dam is a concrete multiple dome and buttress dam located on the Gila River in Arizona, United States. It was opened in the 1930s to provide irrigation water for the surrounding region. The dam is 249 feet tall and 580 feet long and impounds the waters of the Gila River to form San Carlos Reservoir.

Cypress Trail

Cypress Trail

Outdoors- Other

1 Day Treks

The Cypress Trail has a moderate climb of 1000 feet before dropping down to beautiful Lake Eiler and the lower lakes. This large trailhead offers the best equestrian access for the Thousand Lakes Wilderness. Plenty of parking and turn around room for vehicles and trailers. This trail is great for hiking, walking, and other nature trips, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring.

Devils Canyon

Devils Canyon

Outdoors- Other

Devil's Canyon also known as 'Devcharacho kond' in Konkani, is a picturesque river gorge near Molem situated in a beautiful patch of the jungle where the river flows with great turbulence and cuts the deep gorge into solid rock. It is suicidal for swimmers due to the slippery rocks, strong undercurrents and unfathomed depth. In its jungles one can see some rare sightings of Black Panther and while here one can also visit the Tambdi Surla Temple that is situated nearby.

East Verde Picnic Area

East Verde Picnic Area

Outdoors- Other

East Verde Picnic Area is a picnic area in East Verde Estates, AZ on East Verde River and Sycamore Creek in Mogollon Rim, Tonto National Forest. It is a perfect for any day trip that you have planned. You can see a variety of wildlife along with the beautiful scenery that Payson has to offer.

Fossil Creek

Fossil Creek

Outdoors- Other

Fossil Creek is a perennial stream accessed by forest roads near the community of Camp Verde in the U.S. state of Arizona. It is one of only two streams in Arizona included in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The creek and its riparian corridor provide habitat for a wide variety of flora and fauna, some listed as endangered or otherwise imperiled.

Fossil Creek

Fossil Creek

Lake/ River/ Ponds

Outdoors- Other

Fossil Creek is a Wild and Scenic River that can be accessed via Fossil Creek Road near Gila County's community of Strawberry, Arizona. It is one of only two streams in Arizona included in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The creek and its riparian corridor provide habitat for a wide variety of flora and fauna, some listed as endangered or otherwise imperiled. Its former power-plant complex is listed as a National Historic District.

Fossil Springs Wilderness

Fossil Springs Wilderness is an 11,550-acre wilderness area within the Coconino National Forest in the U.S. state of Arizona. It is at the bottom of a steep canyon at the edge of the Colorado Plateau, just south of the Mogollon Rim. Here, water emerges at the surface at the rate of about 2,700 cubic feet per minute. It also creates a haven for abundant wildlife, including elk, deer, javelina, coyote, skunk, racoon, ring-tailed cat, fox, mountain lion, black bear and more than 100 bird species.

Fossil Springs wilderness

Fossil Springs Wilderness is an 11,550-acre wilderness area within the Coconino National Forest in the U.S. state of Arizona. It is at the bottom of a steep canyon at the edge of the Colorado Plateau, just south of the Mogollon Rim. Here, water emerges at the surface at the rate of about 2,700 cubic feet per minute. The perennial water supply supports one of the most diverse riparian ecosystems in the state, with more than 30 species of trees set among native desert shrub.

Four Peaks

Four Peaks

Outdoors- Other

Four Peaks is a prominent landmark on the eastern skyline of Phoenix. Part of the Mazatzal Mountains, it is located in the Four Peaks Wilderness in the Tonto National Forest, 40 miles east-northeast of Phoenix. In winter, Four Peaks offers much of the Phoenix metro area a view of snow-covered peaks. Four Peaks is the site of an amethyst mine that produces top-grade amethyst.

Gila County Historical Museum

The Gila County Historical Society is located in Globe, AZ, the county seat of Gila County, Arizona. The Society archives and displays many items related to the history of the area, which includes some of the Old West's most dynamic episodes. Our museum is free and open to the public.

Green Valley Lake

Green Valley Lake

Lake/ River/ Ponds

Green Valley Lake is a reservoir connected to two smaller lakes in Green Valley Park. These lakes were constructed from 1993 to 1996 for ground water recharge.Green Valley Lake attracts visitors seeking clean air, blue skies, crystal-clear water, and the serenity and calm beauty of a quiet forested community.

Green Valley Park

Green Valley Park is a beautiful 45-acre recreation area that is used year-round for all kinds of activities and events, including walking, fishing, boating, picnicking, skating, and general recreation and relaxation. The park has a large grassy area & an amphitheater that is utilized for events such as summer concerts and holiday events. It also has picnic ramadas, outdoor cooking facilities, and a playground. The park features a memorial to Arizona Veterans.

Haunted Canyon

Haunted Canyon

Outdoors- Other

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.

Map of attractions in Gila County

Comments

For more information about Gila County, visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gila_County,_Arizona