1.Choose a complete route and the correct seasonal hours
The County operator page is the current reference for San Tan Mountain Regional Park. It lists park gates from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. May through October, then 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. November through April. The nature center has a separate seasonal schedule. Use the operator record when a tourism page or older screenshot shows different hours.
| Outing | Start and finish | Trails, in the county’s order | Total distance | How the county describes it | County ratings of the trails used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Littleleaf-Goldmine Loop | San Tan Trailhead | Littleleaf, Goldmine | 1.3 miles, loop (county total) | One-to-two-hour visit idea: “Easy, mostly flat” | Littleleaf Easy; Goldmine Difficult (rating for the whole 2.5-mile trail) |
| Moonlight-Stargazer-San Tan Loop | San Tan Trailhead | Moonlight, Stargazer, San Tan | 2.3 miles, loop (county total) | One-to-two-hour visit idea: “gentle elevation gain” | Moonlight Moderate; Stargazer Easy; San Tan Moderate-Difficult |
| Moonlight-San Tan-Hedgehog Loop | San Tan Trailhead | Moonlight, San Tan, Hedgehog | 4.4 miles, loop (county total) | Two-to-three-hour visit idea: “rolling terrain” | Moonlight Moderate; San Tan Moderate-Difficult; Hedgehog Moderate |
| Goldmine-Dynamite-San Tan-Moonlight Loop | San Tan Trailhead | Goldmine, Dynamite, San Tan, Moonlight | 7 miles, loop (county total) | Three-hour visit idea: “strenuous” with “significant elevation gain” | Goldmine Difficult; Dynamite Moderate; San Tan Moderate-Difficult; Moonlight Moderate |
| Rock Peak Wash out-and-back | Rock Peak Wash Trailhead, near Brenner Pass Road | Rock Peak Wash to its San Tan Trail junction, then back the same way | 1.8 miles, out-and-back (our doubling of the 0.9-mile one-way length) | Not a county itinerary; the map says the trail follows a wash at the base of Rock Peak, and washes can flash-flood | Rock Peak Wash Moderate |
Open the current official trail map, linked from the county map directory, and trace every segment from parking back to your starting point. The map lists trail lengths one-way unless it says otherwise, so a named trail’s length is not a round trip. The same itinerary page lists longer loops too, up to a 14-mile Outer Loop it recommends for experienced users only. Save the route before leaving reliable reception. The map warns that wash sections can flood and marks hazardous, extremely steep sections on Goldmine.
For a first visit, a short route you can explain clearly is a better choice than an ambitious trail name with an uncertain return path. Record your turn-around point and an alternative if conditions are unsuitable. Discuss water, weather and individual fitness with your group, and check the County’s current advisories before travel. An easy map label describes the trail classification, not a guarantee for every hiker or season.
The park address is 6533 W. Phillips Road, using a Queen Creek mailing address. It is a regional County park, not one of the Town’s neighborhood parks. Budget admission according to the County’s current entry-fee page, and do not assume a Town recreation membership covers it. Camping is prohibited on the official trail map, so plan a day outing and a return time.
The October-to-November change affects both gates and nature-center hours. If you are planning a late-fall visit, reopen the operator page rather than reusing an October screenshot.
2.The Basics, and the Hours Three Sources Disagree On
Maricopa County Parks and Recreation runs the park and calls it more than 10,000 acres of Sonoran Desert, from about 1,400 feet to over 2,500 feet. The Town of Queen Creek’s About page puts it at 10,200 acres; both are official, so we quote the operator and flag the other. The line the operator publishes is (602) 506-2930 ext. 7; the (480) 655-5554 on the Town’s parks page is the Town’s own number, not the park’s.
| Season | Park gate hours | Nature Center hours |
|---|---|---|
| May 1 - Oct 31 | 5:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. daily | 7:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Mon-Sat, closed Sunday |
| Nov 1 - Apr 30 | 6:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. daily | 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. daily |
Two official pages disagree. The Town of Queen Creek’s parks page lists 6 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and a map listing checked in an earlier research pass, and not re-checked for this page, showed a flat 5 a.m.-9 p.m. year-round. Maricopa County operates the gate, so the table above is the schedule to plan around.
3.Why a Maricopa County Park Sits in Pinal County
A 1986 agreement among Maricopa County, Pinal County and the federal Bureau of Land Management created the park; the core was federal land, and Maricopa County has added acreage since. The ground is entirely inside Pinal County, the operation entirely Maricopa County’s - the same puzzle as which county Queen Creek is in, in a harder form.
- You pay Maricopa County’s fee schedule while standing in Pinal County.
- Maricopa County park rules apply - the leash length, trail-use rules and fire ban below are all theirs.
- A Maricopa County annual pass works here, because San Tan is one of that system’s parks.
County sources disagree on the mailing ZIP: the operator webpage lists 85144, while the current trail map lists 85142 for the same 6533 W. Phillips Road entrance. Earlier postal research found San Tan Valley as the recommended city for 85144 with Queen Creek an accepted alternate; it was not repeated in this check. Use the street address and confirm the selected entrance on the county map rather than treating a mailing label as a municipal boundary. Read how the local ZIP codes work for the distinction.
The human history runs far deeper than the 1986 paperwork. The Hohokam farmed this ground from roughly A.D. 1100 to 1450, and the evidence is still on the surface in the form of rockpile agricultural fields - roughly 350 years of cultivation on land that had no Queen Creek, no county line and no gate fee.
4.Every Named Trail, by Length and by Elevation Change
The county website and the front table of its current map list nine named trails. The table below uses those matching figures, sorted shortest to longest. The map defines elevation difference as the gap between a trail’s lowest and highest points; it is not accumulated ascent and may not match the difference between endpoints. All nine designated trails allow hiking, cycling and horseback riding.
| Trail (code) | Length | Low-to-high elevation difference | County rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Littleleaf (LL; website spells Littleaf) | 0.7 mi | 85 ft | Easy |
| Stargazer (SG) | 0.8 mi | 88 ft | Easy |
| Rock Peak Wash (RP-W) | 0.9 mi | 93 ft | Moderate |
| Hedgehog (HG) | 1.0 mi | 126 ft | Moderate |
| Moonlight (ML) | 1.3 mi | 131 ft | Moderate |
| Dynamite (DN) | 2.4 mi | 288 ft | Moderate |
| Goldmine (GM) | 2.5 mi | 541 ft | Difficult |
| Malpais (MP) | 4.1 mi | 202 ft | Moderate-Difficult |
| San Tan (SA) | 6.4 mi | 234 ft | Moderate-Difficult |
Goldmine is the only trail rated Difficult and has the largest listed low-to-high difference, 541 feet. That figure is not total climbing, and the county map specifically warns of extremely steep sections on Goldmine. Malpais and San Tan are rated Moderate-Difficult, and Rock Peak Wash is Moderate despite being only 0.9 mile. To turn these segments into a complete outing, start from the county loops in the outing table at the top of this guide.
Two lengths differ within the current map itself: its front table lists Hedgehog at 1.0 mile and Malpais at 4.1 miles, matching the website table; the reverse descriptions say 0.9 and 4.2 miles. This guide uses the front-table lengths. The nine figures total 20.1 miles by our arithmetic, not a single loop. Moonlight is formally Moderate in both tables, although the county’s hiking and riding introductions call it an easy option. Build your route from junctions and current signs, allowing for connecting segments and the return.
Goldmine is named literally. Prospectors Mansel Carter and Marion Kennedy mined gold, silver and turquoise here in the 1940s, and historic sites and graves remain near Goldmine Mountain; the same name sits north of the line at Mansel Carter Oasis Park. For desert walking closer in, the in-town option is the Queen Creek Wash trail system.
5.Entry Fees, the Pass Math and the 2027-2028 Increases
The Board of Supervisors approved this schedule on December 10, 2025, effective January 1, 2026, with rises already written in for 2027 and 2028. The $10 vehicle fee is the county’s standard rate for all its parks except the conservation areas and the Desert Outdoor Center.
| Fee | Rate now | Increase already approved |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle entry, day use | $10.00 | $12.00 on Jan. 1, 2028 |
| Hike, bike or equestrian entry | $5.00 | None published |
| Annual day-use pass, all county parks | $120.00 | $140 in 2027, $160 in 2028 |
| School bus | $15.00 | None published |
At current rates the $120 annual pass breaks even on the twelfth vehicle entry - $120 divided by $10, our arithmetic - and those entries can be spread across any park in the Maricopa County system. The break-even only moves out from there: on the 2027 schedule ($140 pass, $10 entry) it takes fourteen visits, and on the 2028 schedule ($160 pass, $12 entry) fourteen again. Once-a-season visitors should keep paying at the gate.
San Tan is day-use only. The countywide fee page also lists camping, RV and rental charges for facilities elsewhere in the system; those rows do not establish that San Tan offers them. Its current map explicitly prohibits camping. The fee page lists $5 hike/bike/equestrian entry without an explicit person-or-party unit in that row; ask the park how it applies to your group before budgeting.
6.Dogs, Bikes and Horses: the Rules the County Publishes
| Activity | What the rule says |
|---|---|
| Dogs | Leash six feet or shorter, a current dog license, clean up; no dogs in park buildings except service animals |
| Horses and livestock | Designated trails and areas only, or under a special permit |
| Bicycles | Designated trails only, no reckless riding; ramps prohibited outside designated areas |
| Leaving the trail | Prohibited between trailheads; stay on trails designated for your use |
| Camping | Prohibited: the San Tan map identifies this as a day-use-only park |
| Fires | Designated places only; wood and charcoal banned in a posted fire ban, gas and propane in an extreme ban |
| Groups and commercial use | A Special Use Permit for commercial or organized group activity outside the park’s normal design |
Two of those trip people up. The dog rule is not only a leash rule - it requires a current dog license, which nobody thinks about on the way to a trailhead. And the stay-on-trail rule names the ground between trailheads, so stepping off the tread for a photograph is what it covers.
The county horseback-riding page confirms a designated horse staging area. The current map places it beside the entrance-area parking on Phillips Road. These sources do not provide trailer-space dimensions or a booking arrangement, so call (602) 506-2930 ext. 7 for your vehicle and group before hauling. For event facilities, see Horseshoe Park & Equestrian Centre; for an in-town equestrian staging option, see Desert Mountain Park.
7.Summer Conditions and Fire Restrictions
Gate hours describe access, not weather safety or a promise that every trail is open. Check the county’s current park alerts and the forecast before travel, and adjust or postpone an outing when conditions are unsuitable. The park overview, hiking page and rules reviewed for this update did not specify a numeric San Tan heat-closure threshold; that limited check does not establish that no other policy or temporary closure exists.
| Month | Phoenix-area average high | Gate hours | Wood or charcoal fires |
|---|---|---|---|
| May | 94.5°F | 5 a.m. - 9 p.m. | Banned from May 1 |
| June | 104.2°F | 5 a.m. - 9 p.m. | Banned |
| July | 106.5°F | 5 a.m. - 9 p.m. | Banned |
| August | 105.1°F | 5 a.m. - 9 p.m. | Banned |
| September | 100.4°F | 5 a.m. - 9 p.m. | Traditional ban window; restrictions may extend |
| October | 89.2°F | 5 a.m. - 9 p.m. to Oct. 31 | Check current restrictions; designated areas only when permitted |
| November - April | 66.2°F (Dec.) to 85.5°F (Apr.) | 6 a.m. - 8 p.m. | Check current restrictions; designated areas only when permitted |
These climate normals are for Phoenix Sky Harbor, not this trail or today’s conditions. Earlier NOAA research found an average of 111.3 days a year at or above 100°F there. Opening at dawn or choosing a trail under a mile does not establish safe conditions. Plan for your route, water, weather and group, and check current advisories. Our weather guide and summer planning guide provide regional context.
The National Weather Service uses June 15-September 30 as the monsoon calendar, a communication convention rather than a forecast. The county’s 2026 annual fire-ban notice began May 1 and says September 30 is the traditional end, with extensions possible. Do not infer that an October fire is allowed from the calendar alone. Check current restrictions; wash sections can flash-flood whenever conditions produce that hazard.
8.Nature Center, Day-Use Limits and Entrances
The Nature Center has separate seasonal hours: 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Saturday, closed Sunday, May-October; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. daily November-April. The current county map describes wildlife displays, local artifacts, souvenirs and restrooms, with a wildlife pond, picnic tables and outdoor animal enclosures nearby. The county itinerary suggests critter viewing and ranger programs. Use the San Tan program calendar for dated events and confirm availability before a special visit; a brochure description is not proof every exhibit is accessible that day.
Camping is prohibited. The current official map identifies San Tan as a day-use-only park. Countywide reservation links and campsite rates do not change that site-specific restriction. Plan your return before the gates close and choose a separately confirmed campground if you need an overnight stay.
The county’s driving directions to the main Phillips Road entrance use I-10 east, US 60 east, Ellsworth Road south to Hunt Highway, then Thompson Road south and Phillips Road west. From Queen Creek, check the appropriate connection to that final approach. The current map also marks Goldmine Trailhead near Skyline Drive and Rock Peak Wash Trailhead near Brenner Pass Road. Pick the trailhead your complete route uses and confirm current access, fees and parking rather than assuming all entrances have identical facilities.
- Check current alerts, forecast and seasonal gate and Nature Center hours before leaving.
- Trace the full route from your selected trailhead back to the same parking area, using the county loop distances, difficulty ratings and map warnings. A trail’s low-to-high elevation difference is not total climbing.
- Budget $10 vehicle admission; compare the $120 single annual day-use pass against twelve such visits at current rates, subject to current pass terms.
- Plan a day visit, confirm any trailer arrangements, and check the current fire restrictions. A traditional September 30 end date does not rule out an extension.
If this park is part of why you are eyeing the south side of town, the trade-offs - the drive, the county line, what is close and what is not - are the substance of our guide to living in Queen Creek. For other day outings, browse the Queen Creek things-to-do guide.