Photo: Allie_Caulfield / CC BY 2.0

Parks 2,007 ft Bortle 5 Solitude: 50/100 (secluded)

The Goldfield Recreation Area northeast of Apache Junction is closed to all entry for up to two years while the site is developed. View a map of the closure area. (PDF) Hackamore Road remains open to through travel only. Camping is prohibited. You may access the Bulldog Canyon Off-Highway Vehicle Permit Zone on the Tonto National Forest via Hackamore Road. With views of the Superstition Mountains, the Goldfield Recreation Area includes about 1,100 acres of BLM-managed lands northeast of Apache Junction near Nodak and Hackamore roads. The area is adjacent to the Tonto National Forest, Lost Dutchman State Park, and the Goldfield Ghost Town. The Lower Sonoran Field Office issued a final environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact for the recreation area in October 2023. Review planning information on the National NEPA Register. Following construction, the area will be available as a non-motorized recreation area for equestrian, hiking, and mountain biking. The area is temporarily closed to all entry for public and worker safety as the area is cleaned and developed. Read the Federal Register notice.

Near Tortilla Flat, AZ in Arizona

What to Pack for Goldfield Recreation Area, Pinal

Preparation starts with your pack. Here's what to bring.

The conditions at Goldfield Recreation Area call for specific gear — here's a tailored packing list.

Essential

Water (minimum 2L) — Even cool-weather hiking demands steady hydration, as exertion and altitude increase water loss faster than most expect.
Navigation (map/GPS/compass) — Even well-marked trails have confusing junctions, especially in fog or snow; a GPS unit or downloaded map keeps you on route.
Sun protection (sunglasses, sunscreen) — Quality sunglasses prevent snow blindness and reduce eye strain during long days on exposed trails or ridgelines.
First aid kit — Adhesive bandages, antiseptic, and athletic tape handle the most common trail injuries and weigh under a pound.
Extra food — Blood sugar drops fast during sustained effort outdoors, and having a reserve keeps your body and mind sharp.
Headlamp with extra batteries — Batteries drain faster in cold weather; carrying spares ensures you won't be left in the dark when you need light most.
Fire starter — Starting a fire boosts morale and provides light, warmth, and a way to purify water in an emergency.
Emergency shelter (space blanket) — If an injury forces you to stop moving, a reflective blanket prevents the rapid heat loss that leads to hypothermia.
Knife or multi-tool — In a survival situation, a blade lets you process tinder, build shelter, and prepare food.
Extra clothing layer — Wet clothing accelerates cooling; a dry backup layer can prevent hypothermia when conditions turn.

Wildlife Gear

Hiking buddy (avoid solo) — Solo hikers are more vulnerable to predatory behavior from mountain lions, which typically avoid groups.
Noise maker — A loud whistle doubles as a rescue signal, serving both wildlife safety and emergency communication.
Gaiters — Beyond snakes, gaiters also protect against thorns, brush, and ticks in overgrown trail sections.
First-aid snakebite kit — A lightweight pressure bandage and marker for tracking swelling take up minimal space but provide critical aid.

Climate Gear

Extra water (1L/hr) — Pre-hydrating the morning before a hot hike and carrying electrolytes along with water maximizes absorption.
Electrolytes — A few electrolyte packets weigh nothing and can prevent the nausea, confusion, and weakness that sideline hikers in hot conditions.
Cooling towel — In dry heat, soaking a towel uses minimal water but provides significant thermoregulation during exposed trail sections.

Terrain Gear

Wide-brim hat — Desert and alpine environments with little tree cover leave you fully exposed; a hat is your primary shade source.
Sunscreen SPF50+ — Apply 30 minutes before exposure and reapply every 2 hours; sweating and pack straps rub sunscreen off faster than expected.
Extra water (desert) — Even well-mapped springs can go dry after low-snowpack years; always carry surplus and check recent trip reports.

Seasonal Gear

Spring: Camera, Wildflower field guide
Fall: Camera, Binoculars (foliage viewing)

Activities & Best Time to Visit Goldfield Recreation Area, Pinal

The Desert terrain here lends itself to a range of outdoor activities throughout the year.

The Desert landscape around Goldfield Recreation Area makes it well suited for hiking, horseback riding, ice fishing.

The scenery here earns a 45/100 photography rating — Decent dark sky (Bortle 5) and 3 excellent meteor showers.

Activities

hiking — With sturdy footwear and preparation, trails open up expansive views and quiet solitude.
horseback_riding — Guided rides are available in many parks and recreation areas.
ice_fishing — Portable shelters help protect against cold winds.
ice_skating — Ensure ice thickness and safety before skating on natural surfaces.
photography — Outdoor photography invites you to slow down and frame the beauty around you.
picnicking — Whether lakeside or in a meadow, it's a relaxed way to savor both the setting and the company.
rv_camping — Hookups and designated sites make extended stays convenient.
walking — Perfect for all ages, a casual walk can turn any outdoor space into a relaxing nature experience.
wildlife_viewing — Bring binoculars and patience — nature often rewards careful, respectful observers.

Best months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Terrain: Desert — Rocky outcrops, sand, and dry washes are common features.

Wildlife Safety at Goldfield Recreation Area, Pinal

Knowing what to watch for helps you enjoy the outdoors here safely.

Wildlife safety at Goldfield Recreation Area comes down to awareness. The area's danger score of 20/10 reflects Mountain lions, Venomous snakes.

Danger rating: 20/100 (based on terrain difficulty, wildlife presence, weather exposure, and remoteness) low

Mountain lions
Venomous snakes

UV risk: extreme (Southern latitude (33N), Desert (exposed))

Photo score: 45/100

Decent dark sky (Bortle 5)
3 excellent meteor showers
Fall foliage
Spring wildflowers

Venomous Snakes

0 venomous snake species are found in this area: .

Watch where you step and place hands
Stay on trails
Wear boots and long pants in snake country
Do not reach under rocks or logs
If bitten: stay calm, immobilize limb, seek medical help immediately
Do NOT: cut wound, suck venom, apply tourniquet, ice, or alcohol

Nature & Wildlife at Goldfield Recreation Area, Pinal

The Desert terrain here supports a rich ecosystem worth noticing as you explore.

Nature at Goldfield Recreation Area includes 1 tree species, 3 wildflowers, and a range of mammals, birds, and reptiles.

Trees (1)

elephant tree — The bark peels to reveal lighter layers beneath.

Wildflowers (3)

California poppy — Four-petaled blooms that close at night or in cool weather.
Emory's rockdaisy — Daisy-like blooms arising from rocky crevices.
Coulter's lupine — The plant grows in open disturbed soils.

Shrubs (3)

Creosote Bush — An evergreen desert shrub with small resinous leaves divided into paired leaflets.
Brittlebush — A rounded desert shrub with silvery fuzzy leaves and bright yellow daisy-like flowers.
Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus — The plant rarely exceeds a foot tall but can spread outward in mounded colonies. Its vivid blooms contrast sharply against arid landscapes.

Other Plants (5)

saguaro
stinknet
California Barrel Cactus
Buckhorn Cholla
Graham's nipple cactus

Mammals (4)

Harris' Antelope Squirrel — Slender body built for heat tolerance.
Desert Cottontail — Long hind legs for rapid escape.
Round-tailed Ground Squirrel — Compact build.
Coyote — Lean, agile build.

Birds (30)

Rock Pigeon — Dark charcoal form with iridescent neck
European Starling — Sleek dark breeding plumage with yellow bill
Dark-eyed Junco — Pink-sided form with pale gray and buff flanks
Gambel's Quail — Forward-curving head plume
White-crowned Sparrow — Gray breast and pink bill

Reptiles (6)

Common Side-blotched Lizard — Typically 4–6 inches long including the tail.
Common Chuckwalla — Often 12–16 inches long.
Ornate Tree Lizard — Typically 4–6 inches long.
Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake — Typically 2–3 feet long.
Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake — Adults commonly 3–5 feet long.

Insects (10)

Western Honey Bee
Painted Lady
White-lined Sphinx
Pallid-winged Grasshopper
Queen

Other Wildlife (1)

Stripe-tailed Scorpion

Nature Bingo at Goldfield Recreation Area, Pinal

Can you spot them all? Check off each species as you find it on your visit.

Wildlife Challenge

Costa's Hummingbird (bird)
Harris' Antelope Squirrel (mammal)
Common Side-blotched Lizard (reptile)
saguaro (plant)

Botany Challenge

Achnatherum Pinetorum
Aquilegia Coerulea Var. Pinetorum
Arabis Holboellii Var. Pinetorum
Asclepias Engelmanniana
Echinocereus Engelmannii
Almutaster

Goldfield Recreation Area, Pinal Climate & Sun

Here's the weather and sun data to help you pick the best time to visit.

Expect Mediterranean weather at Goldfield Recreation Area, with the most comfortable conditions from May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.

Climate type: Mediterranean

Best months to visit: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec. Consider avoiding: Jul, Aug.

Winter 55°

1.4"

Spring 70°

0.3"

Summer 91°

2.0"

Fall 74°

0.7"

Month	Avg Temp	Precip
Jan	55°F	1.4 in
Feb	57°F	1.2 in
Mar	63°F	0.8 in
Apr	70°F	0.3 in
May	77°F	0.3 in
Jun	87°F	0.1 in
Jul	91°F	2.0 in
Aug	90°F	1.3 in
Sep	85°F	1.4 in
Oct	74°F	0.7 in
Nov	64°F	0.8 in
Dec	54°F	1.3 in

Daylight & Sun Times

Daylight ranges from 10 hours in winter to 14.4 hours in summer — a difference of 4.4 hours.

Summer: 5:15 AM – 7:36 PM

Winter: 7:22 AM – 5:19 PM

Winter Solstice: Sunrise 7:22 AM, Sunset 5:19 PM Golden hour from 4:41 PM

Summer Solstice: Sunrise 5:15 AM, Sunset 7:36 PM Golden hour from 7:00 PM

Spring Equinox: Sunrise 6:38 AM, Sunset 6:33 PM Golden hour from 6:00 PM

Fall Equinox: Sunrise 6:08 AM, Sunset 6:34 PM Golden hour from 6:01 PM

Goldfield Recreation Area, Pinal Trip Planning & Access

Now for the logistics — distances, costs, and accessibility details for Goldfield Recreation Area.

Plan for a drive from Phoenix to reach Goldfield Recreation Area.

Nearest city: Phoenix (33 mi)

Estimated fuel cost: $8.21 (28 mpg, $3.5/gallon)

Carbon footprint: 26.5 kg CO2 (round trip by car)

Visitor Friendliness

Accessibility: dog-friendly (likely_allowed), family-friendly (excellent), elderly-friendly (highly_suitable).

Dogs: likely_allowed — No restrictions found
Families: excellent
Elderly: highly_suitable
Strollers: excellent (100/100)
Beginners: Perfect for beginners (Moderate difficulty (+5), Good information available (+5))
Accessibility: Generally accessible to most visitors (90/100)

Places Near Goldfield Recreation Area, Pinal

Extend your trip with these nearby outdoor spots.

Extend your visit with these nearby options — 15 destinations sit within range of Goldfield Recreation Area.

Nearby Trails

Nearby Campgrounds

Larry Forbis Campground, Maricopa 7.34 mi
Larry Forbis Day Use Group Site (N, 0mi), Maricopa 7.46 mi
Tortilla Campground (N, 0mi), Maricopa 7.81 mi
Bagley Flat Campground, Maricopa 7.83 mi
The Point Campground, Maricopa 8.62 mi

Stargazing & Night Sky at Goldfield Recreation Area, Pinal

The night sky adds another dimension to an overnight visit here.

Stargazing at Goldfield Recreation Area benefits from Suburban sky darkness — Bortle class 5 on the light pollution scale.

Bortle 5 Suburban sky

Constellations

Key constellations visible from this latitude include Ursa Minor, Cepheus.

Ursa Minor — Visible throughout the year in much of the United States, Ursa Minor rotates steadily around the North Celestial Pole.
Cepheus — Though its stars are modest in brightness, Cepheus is visible year-round from most of the U.S.

Meteor Showers

The Geminids peaks around December 13-14 and is the best meteor shower visible from here.

Geminids — peaks December 13-14 (excellent)
Find a dark location away from city lights and give your eyes 20–30 minutes to adjust for peak rates.
Quadrantids — peaks January 3-4 (excellent)
Look toward the northern sky after midnight for the highest activity.
Perseids — peaks August 11-13 (excellent)
Expect fast, bright meteors and occasional fireballs under dark skies.
Eta Aquariids — peaks May 5-6 (good)
Plan for early morning viewing; activity increases in the hours just before sunrise.
Delta Aquariids — peaks July 28-29 (fair)
Southern states often see stronger activity due to radiant placement.

Planets

Planets visible to the naked eye from this location:

Venus — The brightest planet, often called the Morning or Evening Star
Jupiter — The largest planet, bright and steady in the night sky
Saturn — Famous for its rings, visible as a golden steady light
Mars — The Red Planet, recognizable by its reddish-orange hue

Equipment Guide

Naked eye: Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Mercury (with care)
Binoculars: Jupiter moons, Uranus, Saturn rings (barely)
Small telescope: Saturn rings, Jupiter bands, Mars surface features, Neptune

Viewing Tips

Check planets rise/set times for your specific date
Planets appear along the ecliptic (zodiac path)
Planets don't twinkle like stars - steady light
Venus and Jupiter are unmistakable - brightest objects after Moon
Use a stargazing app to confirm planet positions
Best viewing: when planet is highest in sky (transit)

Best Viewing Months

Evening: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb
Morning: Jul, Aug, Sep

Seasonal Highlights at Goldfield Recreation Area, Pinal

Beyond the night sky, the changing seasons shape what you'll experience here.

Each season reveals a different side of Goldfield Recreation Area, from wildflower blooms to fall foliage.

Spring Wildflowers

Peak bloom: March - April

Check local park websites for bloom reports

Fall Foliage

Peak color: October 15 – November 5

Best trees for color: Maple, Oak, Aspen

Higher elevations peak 1-2 weeks earlier

Bird Migration

Spring peak: March - April

Fall peak: October - November

Best spots: Wetlands, coastlines, mountain ridges

Indigenous Land at Goldfield Recreation Area, Pinal

The natural world here has been shaped by thousands of years of Indigenous stewardship.

The land around Goldfield Recreation Area has been home to Hohokam for thousands of years.

Territories

Hohokam

Languages

The languages traditionally spoken in this area include Pima.

Pima

Data from Native Land Digital

Goldfield Recreation Area, Pinal Geology & Natural History

Beyond the trails and wildlife, Goldfield Recreation Area sits within a landscape shaped by millions of years of geological processes. Here's what researchers and surveys have documented about this area.

Bedrock Geology

Rock Type: Pliocene to middle Miocene deposits
Lithology: Major:{conglomerate,sandstone}, Minor:{mudstone,siltstone,limestone,gypsum}
Age: Cenozoic

Mineral Deposits

Deposit Sites: 55
Richness: Exceptional
Minerals Found: Gold, Sand and Gravel, Construction, Silver, Copper, Fluorine-Fluorite, Barium-Barite, Tungsten

Endangered Species

Species at Risk: 1478
ESA Endangered: 29
ESA Threatened: 16
Conservation Score: 100/100

Temperature Records

Record High: 125°F (1995-07-29)
Record Low: 13°F (1913-01-06)

Wildfire History

This area has a relatively low wildfire risk, but always follow posted fire regulations.

Recorded Fires: 98
Largest Fire: Sand Stone (27,389.6 acres)
Most Recent: 2024
Fire Risk: Extreme

Watershed

Watershed: Bulldog Canyon-Salt River
Water Quality (Good): 4.43%
Impaired: 0%

Meteorite Landings

Meteorites Found: 2
Largest: Apache Junction (25 kg)

Reported Phenomena

UFO Sightings: 29 (NUFORC)
Haunted Places: 5 (Shadowlands)
Eeriness Score: 55/100

Goldfield Recreation Area, Pinal Safety & Conditions

Check current conditions from these authoritative sources before you go.

Conditions change quickly outdoors. These links provide current data for the area around Goldfield Recreation Area.

Flood zone: Not in a flood zone

Nearest weather station: APACHE JUNCTION 5 NE, AZ US (1.34 mi)