Globe lies in the heart of Arizona’s Tonto National Forest and combines hiking opportunities with mining history and art. These themes offer different ways to choose a destination: Round Mountain Park has five hiking loops, while the Silver Nugget Trail in Old Dominion Mine Park includes an area with historic mining artifacts. In town, the Cobre Valley Center for the Arts in the former Gila County Courthouse and the history of the Globe Jail add to the options.
Hiking with a range of challenges
Round Mountain Park has five hiking loops, ranging from leisurely walks to challenging rocky terrain. The park therefore offers trails with different characteristics: one end of the range is suited to leisurely walks, while the other features challenging rocky terrain. If you choose Globe for hiking, you can plan around the level of challenge you want.
The Silver Nugget Trail in Old Dominion Mine Park offers a different focus: it includes an area with historic mining artifacts. By comparison, the description of Round Mountain Park emphasizes the range of its loops, from walks to challenging terrain. If you want to include mining history in your hiking plans, you can take this difference into account: here the focus is on history, while there it is on the character of the trails.
Mining history in a regional context
The copper mined at the Old Dominion Mine between 1882 and 1931 was a driving force behind the development of the Globe-Miami area. Mining is therefore not only one of the themes found on local trails, but also part of the area’s development history. For travelers who like to connect their activities with historical context, this offers another perspective on Globe-Miami: alongside the terrain and artifacts at a park, there is the role copper mining played in the area’s development.
Art and historic sites
The Cobre Valley Center for the Arts is located in the former Gila County Courthouse, built in 1906. The galleries on the second floor display works by local artists. The building thus brings together its former use as a courthouse and the presentation of local art. Culture is therefore a distinct focus alongside hiking and mining.
The Globe Jail began operating in 1910; its last prisoner was held there in 1981. Together with the former courthouse, it offers two different historical connections: the 1906 building houses the arts center, while the information about the Globe Jail describes its period of operation. Globe’s history thus encompasses both the former use of a courthouse and the story of the Globe Jail.
Tours on the Stairizona Trail
I Art Globe tours on the Stairizona Trail follow a seasonal schedule: they take place on the first Saturday of each month from November through May. Check before your trip to see whether the tours are currently being offered. So, in addition to your interest in the trail, the month you travel also matters.
Discover more destinations: Miami, Tonto Basin, Young, Payson.
For the broader travel overview: Gila County.
