Miami ArizonaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Miami, Arizona.
1. Bullion Plaza Cultural Center & Museum
LOCAL HISTORY AND CULTURE
Bullion Plaza Cultural Center & Museum showcases the rich mining history and cultural heritage of Miami and the surrounding Globe-Miami area. Visitors can explore exhibits featuring mining artifacts, historical photographs, and displays about the diverse communities that shaped the region. The museum is housed in a beautifully restored historic schoolhouse that serves as an important community landmark preserving the area's past.
2. Besh-Ba-Gowah Archaeological Park
ANCIENT PUEBLO RUINS
Besh-Ba-Gowah Archaeological Park features the partially restored ruins of a 700-year-old Salado pueblo where visitors can walk through ancient dwellings. The on-site museum displays pottery, tools, and artifacts that provide insight into the daily lives of the Salado people who once inhabited this settlement. This fascinating historical site offers a glimpse into pre-Columbian Native American culture with its well-preserved structures and informative exhibits.
3. Old Dominion Historic Mine Park
MINING HISTORY TRAILS
Old Dominion Historic Mine Park offers visitors a chance to explore the mining heritage of the region through interpretive trails built on reclaimed mine land. The park features mining equipment displays, educational signage, and hiking paths that wind through a landscape once dominated by one of Arizona's most productive copper mines. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy the scenic trails while learning about the technological and cultural aspects of Arizona's mining industry.
4. Gila County Historical Museum
REGIONAL HERITAGE COLLECTION
Gila County Historical Museum houses a comprehensive collection of artifacts documenting the development of Globe-Miami and surrounding areas. The museum occupies the former Gila County Courthouse, offering visitors exhibits on mining, ranching, and the diverse cultural groups that shaped the region's history. Its collections include historical photographs, mining equipment, period clothing, and everyday items that paint a vivid picture of pioneer life in central Arizona.
5. Cobre Valley Center for the Arts
CULTURAL ARTS HUB
Cobre Valley Center for the Arts serves as the cultural heart of the Globe-Miami area, housed in a beautiful historic courthouse building. The center features rotating art exhibitions, performance spaces, and workshops that showcase local and regional artistic talent. Visitors can admire the restored architecture while experiencing the vibrant contemporary arts scene that flourishes in this historic mining region.
6. Round Mountain Park
SCENIC DESERT HIKING
Round Mountain Park offers outdoor enthusiasts nearly four miles of trails with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and Globe-Miami area. The park's well-maintained paths vary in difficulty, making it accessible for hikers of different skill levels who want to experience the beauty of the Sonoran Desert landscape. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound as visitors traverse the scenic terrain featuring native desert plants and panoramic vistas.
7. Pinal Mountain Recreation Area
HIGH ELEVATION FOREST ESCAPE
Pinal Mountain Recreation Area provides a cool forest retreat rising above the desert communities of Globe and Miami. Visitors can enjoy camping, hiking, and mountain biking through pine forests that offer a striking contrast to the lower elevation desert environments. The dramatic change in ecosystems and temperature makes this a popular destination for locals and tourists seeking relief from summer heat while enjoying outdoor recreation.
8. Tonto National Monument
ANCIENT CLIFF DWELLINGS
Tonto National Monument preserves well-preserved cliff dwellings built by the Salado people in the 13th to 15th centuries overlooking Roosevelt Lake. Visitors can hike to the Lower Cliff Dwelling on a self-guided tour or arrange special guided tours to the Upper Cliff Dwelling during certain seasons. The monument offers a fascinating glimpse into ancient engineering and survival skills with structures built into natural caves in the steep canyon walls.
9. Roosevelt Lake
BOATING AND RECREATION PARADISE
Roosevelt Lake is Arizona's largest lake, offering 112 miles of shoreline for boating, fishing, and water recreation in the stunning Tonto Basin. The lake was created by the historic Theodore Roosevelt Dam, the first major reclamation project under the National Reclamation Act of 1902. Visitors can enjoy camping at developed sites, wildlife viewing, and water sports while surrounded by the scenic Sonoran Desert landscape.
10. Salt River Canyon
DRAMATIC DESERT WATERWAY
Salt River Canyon offers breathtaking views of steep canyon walls, winding river, and dramatic geological formations often compared to a smaller version of the Grand Canyon. Adventure seekers can experience thrilling whitewater rafting trips when water levels permit, navigating through challenging rapids surrounded by striking desert scenery. The canyon's accessible viewpoints along Highway 60 provide spectacular photo opportunities for travelers between Globe and Show Low.
11. Apache Trail Scenic Drive
HISTORIC DESERT ROUTE
The Apache Trail Scenic Drive is a partially unpaved historic route that winds through rugged desert mountains and canyon lakes east of Phoenix. Originally built to transport materials for the construction of Roosevelt Dam, the road now offers travelers stunning vistas of saguaro forests, cliff faces, and the chain of lakes formed by dams on the Salt River. Visitors can stop at numerous viewpoints, historic sites, and recreation areas along this dramatic journey through classic Arizona landscape.
12. Boyce Thompson Arboretum
DESERT BOTANICAL WONDERLAND
Boyce Thompson Arboretum is Arizona's oldest and largest botanical garden showcasing desert plants from around the world in a spectacular natural setting. Visitors can wander along over two miles of paths through diverse gardens featuring Sonoran Desert natives, Australian outback species, and plants from other arid regions globally. The arboretum combines beautiful landscape design with conservation education, offering a refreshing oasis where visitors can learn about desert ecology and sustainable gardening.
13. Superior Mining Museum
COPPER TOWN HERITAGE
Superior Mining Museum preserves the rich copper mining history that shaped this small town and much of eastern Arizona's development. Exhibits feature mining equipment, historical photographs, and personal stories that illustrate the technological challenges and cultural impacts of extracting valuable minerals from the earth. The museum provides context for understanding the historic headframes and mining structures that still dot the landscape around Superior.
14. Picketpost Mountain
ICONIC DESERT PEAK
Picketpost Mountain stands as a distinctive landmark near Superior with its flat-topped silhouette visible for miles across the desert landscape. Hikers can challenge themselves on the steep trail to the summit, which rewards their efforts with spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding Sonoran Desert and Superstition Mountains. The mountain serves as both a scenic backdrop for the town and a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts seeking a moderately difficult desert hiking experience.
15. Superstition Mountain Museum
LOST GOLD LEGENDS
Superstition Mountain Museum celebrates the legends, history, and natural wonders of the mysterious Superstition Mountains east of Phoenix. Visitors can explore exhibits on the famous Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine, Apache culture, and pioneer life in this rugged frontier region. The museum grounds feature historic buildings, mining equipment, a stamp mill, and the Elvis Memorial Chapel relocated from the former Apacheland Movie Ranch where numerous Western films were shot.