Pinal Peak

Pinal Peak
File:Pinal Mountains peaks.jpg Locations and elevations of Pinal and Signal peaks, the two highest peaks of the Pinal Mountains.
Highest point
Elevation	7,848 ft ( 2,392 m ) [1]
Prominence	4,086 ft ( 1,245 m ) [2]
Coordinates	33.282°N / 110.821°W [3]
Geography
Location	Southern Gila County, Arizona
Parent range	Pinal Mountains

Pinal Peak is the highest point of the Pinal Mountains in southern Gila County, Arizona. Pinal Peak tops off at 7,848 ft ( 2,392 m ) elevation, and has a clean major prominence of 4,086 ft ( 1,245 m ). It is also the highest point of land located in between both the Salt and Gila Rivers in Arizona before they merge, making it visible from miles away on a clear day. The peak ranks 11th most prominent in Arizona. The peak has an Topographic isolation of 35.4 miles ( 57 km ), with the nearest point of equal or greater elevation being in the Santa Teresa Mountains to the south-east. Pinal Peak is slightly east of the approximate center of the Pinal Mountain range and shares a very shallow saddle with Signal Peak at 7,812 ft ( 2,381 m ), not to be confused with Signal Peak, Yuma County AZ. Despite being the most prominent peak in Gila County, Arizona it is not the highest point in Gila County. That title goes to Promontory Butte at 7,940 ft ( 2,420 m ), which lies on the edge of the Mogollon Rim and also partly lies in Coconino County, Arizona. The nearest town/city is the Globe, Arizona/Miami, Arizona area, just a few miles north of the range and peak.

History

The areas around the Pinal Mountains have been populated by Native Americans since the 12th century, the mountains were an important source of resources for them. The Besh-Ba-Gowah ruins still stand to this day, they are located on the foothills of the Pinal Mountains. The mountains were later scouted by Spanish expeditions in the late 17th century. Which from whom it received its modern name from when they translated the native Apache and Yavapai terms for the mountains, into " Pinal " or Pine Mountains. Later still in the mid 19th century the U.S Army scouted the mountains, and used Signal peak as a Heliograph station, which is how that peak received its name. Today, however, there are Radio masts and towers instead on both Pinal and Signal peaks.

Recreation

There are several maintained dirt roads that lead to the peak, as well as at least two of 8 hiking trails in the mountains that connect to the summit. There is also the Upper Pinal Campground which is located on the shallow saddle between Pinal and Signal peaks and has an open season between May–November. The United States Forest Service maintains the recreational facilities in the mountains, which are inside the Tonto National Forest.