Picacho Peak State Park, State park in Pinal County, United States.
Picacho Peak State Park is a protected area in Pinal County, Arizona, centered around a volcanic spire rising 3,374 feet (1,028 meters) above the Sonoran Desert. The rock formation stands sharply against the flat desert landscape along Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson.
In March 1862, Confederate soldiers clashed with Union troops at the base of the peak in the westernmost engagement of the American Civil War. The area became a protected state park later in the 20th century to preserve its natural and historical value.
The sharp silhouette of the volcanic rock served as a waypoint for travelers and traders crossing the desert for thousands of years. The name comes from Spanish and simply means
The Hunter Trail leads to the summit and requires a head for heights, with steel cables helping hikers through steep scrambling sections. The best time to visit runs from fall through spring, when desert temperatures remain tolerable.
Between late February and March, Mexican gold poppies turn the desert floor around the peak into fields of yellow blossoms, drawing large crowds. The bloom depends heavily on winter rainfall and varies in intensity each year.
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