Campground Overview:
Upper Pinal Campground and Pinal Campground are tucked away in tall stands of ponderosa pines and white fir that offer shade in the hot summer months. Hiking trails are extensive in this area. At least eight trails can be found within one mile of Pinal and Upper Pinal offering spectacular views. Both sites are located on a site formerly occupied by the US Army that used it as a heliographic signaling (using mirrors to reflect sunlight) station during the late 1800s.
Campsites:
Upper Pinal Campground has 16 designated campsites that include a grill, fire pit, and picnic table. A vault toilet is available but there is no water or trash bins. Come prepared to pack in, pack out all trash. Well worth the trip!
This site is 14.5 miles southwest of Globe. From Globe, follow paved Jess Hayes Road southeast of Globe to the junction of Icehouse Canyon Road/Forest Road (FR) 112 and Sixshooter Canyon Road/Forest Road (FR) 222. Continue on paved FR 112 for 2½ miles, to the junction of FR 55 and FR 112. Take the right fork and continue on the partially paved FR 55 for 2½ miles. At the junction of FR 55 and FR 651, turn left. Proceed 10 miles on unpaved FR 651 to the site
Campground at a Glance
Level: |
Semi-Developed |
Season: |
Year-Round |
Nearby City: |
Globe |
Fishing: |
None |
Campground Website: |
Upper Pinal Campground |
Campground Map: |
Click Here |
Reservations: |
First-come, first-served basis |
Location: |
Nearby Attractions and Activities:
The Pinal Mountains are a mountain range located in Gila County, Arizona. They have a maximum elevation of 7,848 ft (2,392 m) at Pinal Peak and a prominence of over 4,000 ft (1,200 m). The closest city is the Globe, Arizona/Miami, Arizona area, which is just a few miles north of the mountain range. The mountains are located within the Tonto National Forest. 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, campsites and recreational areas, and many hiking trails. Two popular trails include the Sixshooter Trail 197 and the Icehouse Trail 198.
The area around the Pinal Mountains was inhabited by Pueblo-culture Native Americans around the 11th and 12th centuries. This early culture has been called the Salado culture, and it thrived for centuries in the area. The Besh Ba Gowah Archaeological Park and Museum near the city of Globe are known to have been occupied by people of the Salado Culture from the 13th to 15th centuries. However, around the middle 15th century the Salado inhabitants abandoned the area and moved south, possibly merging with the Pima people in the process. Around this same time the Western Apache and Kwevkepaya-Yavapai people started to settle around the area. The Apache called the Pinal Mountains Dzi£ Nnilchí’ Diyiléé, meaning “pine-burdened mountain”, while the Yavapai called the mountains Walkame, or “pine mountains”. Later on, in the 17th century, the Spanish began to explore the region and met with the native peoples; they translated the natives’ term for the mountain into Pinal, or “stand of pine trees” in Spanish. On at least one occasion the Pinal Mountains were a battle location between Spanish forces and the native Apache warriors; this brief conflict was called the Battle of the Pinal Mountains.
Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park is the place to discover the intricate beauty and many faces of Arizona. Encompassing 323 acres, the Arboretum is Arizona’s oldest and largest botanical garden. Featured are plants from the world’s deserts, towering trees, captivating cacti, sheer mountain cliffs, a streamside forest, panoramic vistas, many natural habitats with varied wildlife, a desert lake, a hidden canyon, specialty gardens and more. The Arboretum was founded in the 1920s by mining magnate Col. William Boyce Thompson. In 1917, Col. Thompson served as co-leader of a Red Cross mercy mission to Russia, where he came to understand the importance of plants as the ultimate source of a large portion of mankind’s food, clothing, and shelter. It was then that he determined to use his great wealth to improve the use of plant resources. The Arboretum is one of his legacies.
Nearby Campgrounds:
Campground full or want to see what’s around? Try one of these campgrounds located nearby
