The Pinal County Open Space and Trails Department is hosting three public open houses this week to present a draft master plan for the proposed Anza Trail, an 81-mile multi-use, non-motorized National Recreational Trail. The department is working in partnership with McGann and Associates on the plan.
Open House Dates and Locations
- Wednesday, March 4 — Pinal Airpark
- Thursday, March 5 — Casa Grande Public Library
- Saturday, March 7 — City of Maricopa Public Library
For additional open house details, visit the Pinal County event calendar.
Historic Background
The Pinal County segment is part of the 1,200-mile Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, which commemorates, protects, marks, and interprets the 1775–1776 expedition from Sonora, Mexico to settle Alta California. In Pinal County, the route enters south of Redrock, heads northwest through Picacho and Eloy to the Gila River, then follows the Gila west to the Maricopa County border. The trail traverses land historically belonging to indigenous peoples of California and Arizona, which remains culturally significant to those communities. Indigenous perspectives are presented alongside the colonial history the trail commemorates.
Proposed Trail and Draft Plan
When fully implemented, the Anza Trail would connect the county’s southern and western boundary lines, providing recreation opportunities while linking communities across the county and state. The trail was first identified as a major spine trail in the Pinal County Trails Plan in 2005 and added to the Open Space and Trails Master Plan and Pinal County Comprehensive Plan in 2007.
The draft master plan defines a proposed trail alignment, identifies access points, establishes construction standards, and identifies partners for future development. Safety considerations include highway crossings, separation of uses, buffers along roadways, and avoiding the railroad. The plan also addresses the trail’s National Historic Trail Designation with the National Park Service and accommodating diverse user experiences across suburban, rural, and remote sections. The current document is a high-level planning document and is not yet in design. For up to date information, visit the Pinal County Anza Trail page.
