Arizona State Parks

There are 27 state parks in Arizona that are open to the public.

Alamo Lake State Park (Wenden): Fishing, campling, wildlife viewing, boating.

Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park (Superior): The arboretum is located at the bottom of the Picketpost Mountain. It is one of the world’s largest collections of arid-region plants, including cactus from all over the world.

Buckskin Mountain State Park (Parker): Fishing, camping, hiking, wildlife viewing, boating, skiing.

Catalina State Park (Tucson): Hiking, horseback riding, scenic views of the Catalinas, wildflowers in the spring.

Cattail Cove State Park (Lake Havasu): Fishing, camping, hiking, wildlife viewing, boating, skiing.

Dead Horse Ranch State Park (Cottonwood): Bird-watching, camping, canoeing, fishing, horseback riding.

Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area (Show Low): Fishing, camping, hiking, wildlife viewing, boating.

Fort Verde State Historic Park (Camp Verde): Dating back to the mid-1800’s, the fort played a role during Gen. George Crook’s campaign against the Apache Indians. Preserved original buildings furnished in their traditional style – it is the best preserved example of an Indian Wars period fort in Arizona.

Homolovi Ruins State Park (Winslow): Considered sacred to the Hopi Indians, this site holds four 14th-century pueblo ruins built by the Hisatsinom (known to archaeologists as the Anasazi).

Jerome State Historic Park (Jerome): The mining history of Jerome can be found in the Douglas Mansion, built in the 1920’s by “Rawhide Jimmy” Douglas, a mining magnate.

Kartchner Caverns State Park (Benson): One of the world’s top ten caves. It is an immense limestone cavern that was discovered in 1974 by two amateur cavers. Remarkable structures inside, and the cave is still growing.

Lake Havasu State Park (Lake Havasu City): Fishing, camping, hiking, wildlife viewing, boating, skiing.

Lost Dutchman State Park (Apache Junction): Named after the fabled lost gold mine, this park is located in the Sonoran Desert at the base of the Superstition Mountains. A variety of hiking trails and camping.

Lyman Lake State Park (St. Johns): Fishing, camping, hiking, wildlife viewing, boating, skiing.

McFarland State Historic Park (Florence): The historic home of former Arizona Superior Court Justice Ernest McFarland. The park consists of a preserved courthouse and other buildings dating back to Arizona's history as a territory.

Oracle State Park (Oracle): Environmental education park and wildlife refuge. Programs being developed to enhance public awareness of the importance of safeguarding natural resources.

Patagonia Lake State Park (Patagonia): Fishing, camping, hiking, wildlife viewing, boating, skiing.

Picacho Peak State Park (Pinal County): Picacho Peak was often used as a landmark by early explorers. A stiff hike. There are five trails with varying degrees of difficulty; and prime spring wildflower viewing.

Red Rock State Park (Sedona): Nature preserve and environmental education center. Arizona’s Oak Creek meanders through this scenic park, creating a diverse habitat abounding with plants and wildlife.

Riordan Mansion State Historic Park (Flagstaff): The mansion was built in 1904 for two lumber baron brothers and their families. The historic building, with its 40 rooms, is an Arizona treasure.

Roper Lake State Park (Safford): Fishing, camping, hiking, wildlife viewing.

Slide Rock State Park (Oak Creek Canyon): Known for its natural rock water slide – a short stretch of slippery, smooth rock in the shallow creek. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park (Tombstone): The 1882 courthouse and jail is now a museum. The two-story building also once housed offices of the sheriff and other Cochise County government officials.

Tonto Natural Bridge State Park (Payson): Believed to be the largest natural travertine bridge in North America, the Tonto Natural Bridge was created partly by the flow of Pine Creek eroding its way through the rock and limestone. The bridge stands 183 feet high over a 400-foot-long tunnel measuring 150 feet at its widest.

Tubac Presidio State Historic Park (Tubac): Founded in June 1752 after the Pima Indians surrendered to the Spaniards. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Yuma Crossing State Historic Park (Yuma): Site of the Yuma Quartermaster Depot, the site used by the U.S. army to store and distribute supplies for all Southwest military posts during the Indian Wars of the 1870’s. Also the spot where travelers crossed the river to get to California and its gold.

Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park (Yuma): The prison, one of Arizona’s top attractions, opened on July 1st in 1876 with seven inmates locked into the new cells they had just built themselves. In 1909, after housing 3069 prisoners during 33 years of operation, the prison was closed due to overcrowding.