A drive from Phoenix to Tucson along Interstate 17 may initially look like miles of open desert, but just off the highway, the sights of Pinal County are waiting for you to explore. The county's 5,374 square miles of terrain wrap around expansive desert and rugged hills where you can set out on the trails, see the sights, pitch a tent and even take a swim.
Whether you like to get a hook wet or dip your paddle in the water, you'll find several waterways to explore in Pinal County. Roosevelt Lake -- 27 miles northwest of Globe -- is the largest body of water fully within the Arizona border, with six boat launches and six campgrounds along 112 miles of shoreline. San Carlos Lake -- 25 miles east of Globe -- occasionally grabs attention with 158 miles of shoreline. Canyon Lake lies 15 miles northeast of Apache Junction. It has only 28 miles of shoreline, but lies in the shadow of picturesque cliffs. Fish for trout, bass, panfish and catfish in the lakes, or just enjoy a scenic paddle.
A mild winter climate makes the county an ideal place to flee colder climes and play a round of golf. Two dozen golf courses give you a variety of scenery and challenge. The Francisco Grande Resort 's par-72 course was designed by famed golf course architect Ralph Plummer, and is the longest in Arizona at 7,545 yards. The resort hotel rises eight stories out of the desert, presiding over the golf course and a pool and hot tub shaped like a baseball and bat. Another notable course is Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club near Phoenix. Dramatic views of nearby Red Mountain punctuate the two Nicklaus-designed courses that rank in the country's top 100 according to Golfweek, Golfworld and Links Magazines.
Parks in Pinal County are more than nice places to have picnics. Relive the history of the late 1800s at Mcfarland State Historic Park -- the original hand-built county courthouse in Florence -- or Picacho Peak, where you can hike, camp and watch re-enactments of Arizona's only Civil War battle. Two of the state's prime wildflower-viewing areas are at Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park in Superior and Lost Dutchman State Park in Apache Junction, both of which provide hiking trails and year-round enjoyment of the desert flora. View wildlife at Oracle State Park, where you may see desert bighorn sheep, deer, foxes and mountain lions, and hook up with the 800-mile Arizona Trail as it passes through the park's boundaries.
Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek offers you-pick fruits and veggies throughout Arizona's extended growing season, as well as farming classes, a fresh bakery and seasonal festivals. Stay for days at the park's campground, which provides full hookups, showers and laundry facilities. Goldfield Ghost Town in the Superstition Mountains features Old West excitement with a narrow gauge railroad, historic buildings and gold mining. Visit the Goldfield Museum to explore the town's mining history and tour Mammoth Gold Mine -- which caused the town town's 1890s boom.
