Peralta Regional Park

[herdbull]

Better go now before the chaos starts...
although it appears it's already too late. Did a little trail run off the Peralta TH on Wednesday and the road in and surrounding desert is completely covered with rv'ers and tenters. I have never seen some many people in this area. Dozens upon dozens if not more campers scattered out all over the place. And it was a Wednesday.

What will happen when this new park is completed?
https://parks-trails.pinal.gov/apps/18d ... 77/explore

[chumley]

The park is only 3 of the 4 quadrants of a square mile. The park isn't going to make a difference except eliminate a couple of the spots where people currently scatter to camp.

The greater AJ area has a big problem with this, and it's because there are so many different agencies involved. BLM, USFS, STL, Pinal Co, Maricopa Co, and town of AJ.

The residents out there are not fans of the increased overlanding and if those six agencies ever get together there might be restrictions placed on camping along Peralta, 1st Water, Goldfields and the 88 all the way to Canyon Lake. Until then, unregulated overnight use will continue to increase because it's close and free.

The park is a good thing, because it allows one agency to actually manage that overuse. But only within those tiny boundaries.

A recent [ triplog ] discussed it as well.

[herdbull]

at the current rate of use and planned "parks" or rec areas Peralta road will be black topped within 2-3 years. Once it starts you can't stop it.

[joebartels]

Created a Map based on the satellite overview in the Master Plan.

[CannondaleKid]

Wow, what a difference a year makes! They are really going all out to git 'er done!

January 2021 I hiked near the old Burns ranch and was back out there driving through the area on Monday... well, not quite "driving through" as there is a LOT of construction going on and parts are blocked off.
Once I realized I couldn't get back out the same way as last year, I decided to just take the most direct line back toward Peralta Road as I had after my hike last year, only to get stopped by a fresh new barbed wire fence across the previously very well traveled road. I backed up a few hundred feet and headed for the next road only to find same thing. After a quick glance at the 2015 Proposal map it appears the new fence will run along the perimeter of the park.

In the end I had to backtrack almost all the way to Peak 2546 before there was a road which wasn't yet blocked by a new fence, heavy equipment or a "no through travel" sign.

It will be quite interesting to see how it turns out. Looks like one of the "Advanced" trails will run right through one of my favorite areas for bighorn sheep sightings... of which those days are probably over due to the close proximity of the Car/Tent and Primitive Camping areas.