Pinal Peak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pinal Peak |
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Locations and elevations of Pinal and Signal Peaks, the two highest peaks of the Pinal Mountains
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 7,848 ft (2,392 m) |
| Prominence | 4,086 ft (1,245 m) |
| Geography | |
 Pinal Peak
Location in Arizona
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| Parent range | Pinal Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS Pinal Peak |
Pinal Peak is a tall mountain located in southern Gila County, Arizona. It is the highest point in the Pinal Mountains, standing at about 7,848 feet (2,392 meters) high.
This mountain is special because it's the highest point of land between the Salt River and the Gila River in Arizona, before these two rivers join together. This means you can often see Pinal Peak from many miles away on a clear day!
Pinal Peak is also one of the most noticeable mountains in Arizona. It ranks as the 11th most prominent peak in the state. This means it stands out a lot from the land around it. Even though it's very prominent in Gila County, it's not the absolute highest point there. That title belongs to Myrtle Point, which is slightly taller.
The closest towns to Pinal Peak are Globe and Miami, Arizona. These towns are just a few miles north of the mountain range.
Mountain History
People have lived around the Pinal Mountains for a very long time, since the 12th century. These mountains were an important place for Native American groups. You can still find the Besh-Ba-Gowah ruins in the foothills of the Pinal Mountains, showing how people lived there in the past.
In the late 1600s, Spanish explorers came to the mountains. They gave the mountains their current name, "Pinal," which means "Pine" in Spanish. This name came from the native Apache and Yavapai words for the mountains, which also referred to pine trees.
Later, in the mid-1800s, the United States Army explored the mountains. They used a nearby peak, now called Signal Peak, as a heliograph station. A heliograph was a device that used mirrors to flash sunlight and send messages over long distances. That's how Signal Peak got its name! Today, you can find radio towers on both Pinal Peak and Signal Peak.
Fun and Recreation
If you like exploring, Pinal Peak is a great place for outdoor activities. There are several dirt roads that lead up to the peak, making it accessible.
You can also hike to the top! At least two of the eight hiking trails in the Pinal Mountains connect directly to the summit.
Near the top, between Pinal Peak and Signal Peak, there's a place called Upper Pinal Campground. This campground is open for visitors from May to November, so you can camp out and enjoy the mountain air. The United States Forest Service takes care of all the fun places in these mountains, which are part of the large Tonto National Forest.
