Gila County - 55 Attractions You Must Visit

San Carlos is one of eight lakes with desert surroundings created by damming rivers in the hills around Phoenix, and like the others, it has quite a dramatic setting. The lake is located within the 3,000-square-mile San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation, and is thus subject to tribal regulations.Jet-skiing, water skiing, and boating are also allowed.

The Sevenmile Mountains are a mountain range in central Gila County in the U.S. state of Arizona. The range has a maximum elevation of 6,629 ft and a prominence of 989 ft. The high point and the northwestern tip of the range is in the Tonto National Forest and is open to free range hiking. The southern end of the range that is inside the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation should only be hiked with permission from the Reservation.

The Shoofly Indian Ruins were believed to have been occupied between A.D. 1000-1250. At an elevation of 5,240 feet, Shoofly Village once had a total of 79 structures of which the rock outlines, once the base of the walls, are still visible.At the center of this site is where a larger structure once existed, believed to have been a building with 26 rooms averaging 37.4 square meters each. In clusters around the core area were 39 smaller structures and 14 more were scattered about the general area

The Sierra Ancha Wilderness is located about 100 miles east of Phoenix, between Globe and Young. Though fairly small at 32 square miles, it contains some of the most rugged and inaccessible terrain in Arizona. Most of the Sierra Ancha Wilderness lies at an elevation of about 7000 feet. But along the eastern border, is a 20,850 acres U.S. wilderness area on the Tonto National Forest in the state of Arizona. The terrain varies from box canyons to high cliffs and pine-covered mountains.

The Strawberry Schoolhouse is a historic one-room school building located in northwestern Gila County, Arizona, in the small mountain community of Strawberry. Built of pine logs in 1885, the Strawberry Schoolhouse is reputed to be the "oldest standing schoolhouse in Arizona" and now functions as a fully restored local history museum, complete with a late-19th century classroom exhibit.

Theodore Roosevelt Lake was formed by the construction of a masonry dam on the Salt River in 1911, making it the oldest artificial reservoir in Arizona. The reservoir is a major center for fishing, boating, camping and general vacationing, and despite being quite close to Phoenix, the shortest route is via the partly unpaved Apache Trail.

The Three Bar Wildlife Enclosure is a fenced wildlife study area operated by Arizona Game and Fish. The proximity of two recreation sites provides ample parking should you want to cool off in Roosevelt Lake after your ride. Scenery includes the riparian habitat associated with Roosevelt Lake and watershed as well as chaparral vegetation.

The Lower Cliff Dwelling Trail is a paved path that leads from the visitor center at Tonto National Monument to the Lower Cliff Dwelling where you can give yourself a self-guided tour of the ruins. The trail leaves from the top level of the visitor center. For those who have trouble with stairs or pets, use the Cactus Patch Trail to access the Lower Cliff Dwelling Trail. As the trail leaves the visitor center, it begins climbing immediately.

Tonto National Forest is the largest national forest in Arizona, and the sixth largest national forest among 154 USDA National Forests.The Tonto features some of the most rugged and inherently beautiful land in the country. The forest has diverse scenery, with elevations ranging from 1,400 feet in the Sonoran Desert to 7,400 feet in the ponderosa pine forests of the Mogollon Rim.

Tonto National Monument is a National Monument in the Superstition Mountains, in Gila County of central Arizona. It features two Salado-style cliff dwellings dating back 700 years ago. This site tells the story of the Salado people who resided in this part of Arizona. Visitors can learn about the architecture, agriculture, pottery and other artifacts with beautiful views of Tonto Basin and Roosevelt Lake.

Tonto Natural Bridge is widely believed to be the largest natural travertine bridge in the world.Located between Payson and Pine, the bridge arches 183 feet above the sparkling Pine Creek and is surrounded by pine trees. Upstream, flowing springs and fern-draped grottos line the narrow canyon. It stands over a 400-foot-long tunnel that measures 150 feet at its widest point and reaches a height of 183 feet.

Two Sixty Trailhead is in Arizona and has an elevation of 2,033 metres. Two Sixty Trailhead is situated south of Woods Canyon Lake Recreation Area, and south of Aspen Recreation Area.

Waterfall Trail is the most popular area at Fossil Creek. The one-mile trail follows the creek to a natural waterfall, where crowds spend the day swimming. This rewarding hike showcases the beauty Fossil Creek has to offer. However, swimming and cliff diving near the waterfall is extremely dangerous, and has led to several drowning deaths and severe injuries. Fossil Creek offers miles of gorgeous water features and secluded, crystal clear swimming holes

Workman Creek is a watercourse in the Salome Wilderness in central Arizona, United States.The watershed holds a diverse flora and fauna. Within this part of the Sierra Ancha Range there are notable disjunctive populations of Coastal woodfern, Dryopteris arguta; this fern is otherwise common in areas nearer the Pacific coast.

Workman Creek Falls is a nice 200 foot waterfall that you can visit right from your car, located in Gila County, in the central part of the U.S. state of Arizona. Approaching this location you'll pass some warning signs letting you know the area is high in radioactivity.