Consisting of over 10,000 acres, the southeast Valley park is a fine example of the lower Sonoran Desert. The park ranges in elevation from about 1,400 feet to over 2,500 feet.
Questions received via Message and Visitor Posts will be answered Wed-Sat.
Goldmine Mountain is located in the northern area, with a spectacular San Tan Mountain escarpment in the southern portion of the park. The vegetation changes from creosote flats to dense saguaro forest. Various types of wildlife may be observed, including reptiles, birds, and mammals.
San Tan Mountain Regional Park also has a Visitor's Center. Don’t forget to stop by the Visitor's Center to pick up educational tidbits, purchase souvenir items, visit with park staff, and see the wildlife exhibits or tortoise habitat. Restroom facilities are available and additional amenities are slated for future development.
Our mission, through responsible stewardship, is to provide the quality parks, trails, programs, services and experiences that energize visitors and create life-long users and advocates.
Trails:
There are about 20 miles of shared use trails which extend to various scenic areas throughout the Park. The trails range in difficulty from beginner to advanced, and reaches an altitude of approximately 2,200 feet. The shortest loop can be made by connecting the Goldmine and Little Leaf trails and is 1.3 miles in length. Most of the existing trails were constructed on old testing and mining roads and are very wide, allowing for multiple user groups to share the trails with ease.
The Crested Saguaro:
San Tan Mountain Regional Park is home to one of the rare and elusive crested saguaros found in the Sonoran Desert. The crested saguaro, or cristate, can be found on the north side of the San Tan trial about a quarter mile northwest of where the San Tan, and Rock Peak Wash trails intersect.
The Petroglyph:
Alongside the southeast portion of the San Tan trail is a small petroglyph which dates back to Hohokam ancestry. The Hohokam were a group of indigenous peoples who lived throughout southern Arizona and inhabited the mountains found in the San Tan Mountain range. Pottery shards, rock piles, primitive tools, living sites, and irrigation sites have all been found within San Tan Mountain Regional Park boundaries. This petroglyph is a great way for visitors to safely experience the local history, due to its close proximity to the trail.
Man of the Mountain:
Many visitors come to the Park in search of the “Man of the Mountain,” a unique and iconic legend imbedded in the local history. Mansel Carter was his name, and he was a simple man whose passion warmed the hearts of both the people and wildlife that surrounded him. To find more information on Mansel Carter and the local history of Queen Creek, guests are encouraged to visit San Tan Mountain Regional Park.
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