History | San Tan Mountain Regional Park

History of the park

San Tan Mountain Regional Park protects a landscape shaped by both natural forces and human history. Located in Pinal County and managed by Maricopa County Parks and Recreation, the park preserves more than 10,000 acres of Sonoran Desert terrain and a portion of the San Tan Mountains.

Early History and Cultural Use

• The area was inhabited by the Hohokam people between approximately A.D. 1100 and 1450
• Evidence of their presence includes rockpile fields, which were used for agriculture, such as growing agave and other desert plants
• For centuries, the land remained largely an undeveloped desert, supporting native plants, wildlife, and traditional uses

Settlement and Mining Era

• In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the area saw limited ranching, grazing, and prospecting activity
• In the 1940s, prospectors Mansel Carter and Marion Kennedy lived and worked in the mountains, mining for minerals such as gold, silver, and turquoise
• Their legacy remains part of the park today, with historic sites and graves located near Goldmine Mountain

Park Establishment

• San Tan Mountain Regional Park was established in 1986 through a cooperative agreement between:
  • Maricopa County
  • Pinal County
  • The Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
• The park initially included federal land and was later expanded with additional county land acquisitions

Growth and Conservation

• As nearby communities such as Queen Creek and the East Valley expanded, the park became an important space for:
  • Outdoor recreation
  • Habitat protection
  • Conservation of open desert landscapes
• Planning efforts have focused on balancing recreation with long-term resource protection, including preserving wildlife habitat and limiting impacts from development

Today

Today, San Tan Mountain Regional Park continues to:

• Provide recreation opportunities such as hiking, biking, and horseback riding
• Protect sensitive Sonoran Desert ecosystems
• Preserve cultural and historical resources
• Serve a growing regional population while maintaining its natural character