Globe is a natural stopping point on the way to the Upper Salt River, but there’s plenty of reason to spend some extra time here. This historic Arizona town is surrounded by mountains, desert, national forest, and some of the most rugged canyon country in the state.
If you have a few hours, you can hit a trail right outside town or take a scenic drive into the surrounding mountains. Give yourself a full day or two and you can explore the Pinal Mountains, visit Tonto National Monument, spend time around Roosevelt Lake, or head into Salt River Canyon for a day of whitewater rafting.
Whether Globe is your home base or a stop on a longer Arizona road trip, these are some of the best outdoor things to do in Globe, Arizona and the surrounding area.
Outdoor Things to Do in Globe, Arizona
- Hike Round Mountain Park
- Explore the Pinal Mountains
- Go Whitewater Rafting on the Upper Salt River
- Drive Through Salt River Canyon
- Explore Tonto National Forest
- Visit Tonto National Monument
- Spend a Day Around Roosevelt Lake
- Planning an Outdoor Weekend in Globe
- When Is the Best Time for Outdoor Activities in Globe?
- What to Know Before Exploring Around Globe
1. Hike Round Mountain Park
For a hike that doesn’t require much driving, Round Mountain Park is one of the easiest places to start. Located right in Globe, the park has several interconnected trails, so you can choose a shorter walk or combine loops for more mileage.
Trails climb into the hills above town, with views across Globe and toward the surrounding mountains. Round Mountain is especially convenient if you’re staying in town before or after a Salt River trip and want to get outside without committing most of the day to another excursion.
A few reasons to consider it:
- Trail access right in Globe
- Several routes and distances to choose from
- Elevated views over town
- Easy to fit into a larger itinerary
- Picnic areas and restrooms available
The City of Globe’s Round Mountain Park information has additional trail information to help you choose a route.
2. Explore the Pinal Mountains
The Pinal Mountains rise immediately south of Globe and offer a very different experience from the lower-elevation desert around town. As you climb, the landscape transitions into oak and ponderosa pine, making the mountains a good addition to your trip if you want to see another side of Arizona without traveling particularly far.
Hiking and camping are two of the main reasons to head into the Pinals, but you don’t necessarily need a full itinerary once you get there. A scenic drive, picnic, or a few hours exploring the surrounding national forest can be enough to make the trip worthwhile. If an overnight is part of your plans, knowing what to expect when desert camping in Arizona can help you prepare for changing temperatures, wildlife, water needs, and other conditions.
Because of the elevation change, temperatures and weather conditions can be noticeably different from Globe. Roads and recreation areas can also be affected by seasonal closures, fires, storms, or other conditions. Take a look at current information from Tonto National Forest before heading up.
3. Go Whitewater Rafting on the Upper Salt River
If you’re visiting Globe in the spring, the Upper Salt River adds an entirely different kind of outdoor adventure to the itinerary.
The Upper Salt River flows through a remote desert canyon northeast of Globe. Rafting trips take you below the highway and into a landscape of steep canyon walls, desert vegetation, side canyons, and stretches of river that are difficult to experience any other way.
Depending on the trip, rafters can encounter Class III and IV whitewater while traveling deeper into the canyon.
Choosing a Salt River Rafting Trip
How much time you have is usually the easiest way to narrow down your options:
- Half-day trips work well if rafting is one part of a larger Globe itinerary.
- Full-day trips cover more river, giving you more time in the canyon and the chance to run Class III and IV whitewater.
- Multi-day trips continue farther into the wilderness, with nights spent camping along the river.
Previous whitewater experience isn’t necessary for many Salt River trips. Guides provide safety instructions before launching and explain what to do in the raft as you approach each rapid. If it’s your first time, our breakdown of what to expect on your first Salt River rafting trip covers what to wear, what to bring, and how the day typically works.
The biggest planning consideration is timing. The Upper Salt is a seasonal river, and rafting generally takes place from March into May, depending on snowpack, runoff, and water levels. Arizona’s winter snowpack plays a major role in Salt River flows, which is why conditions and the length of the rafting season can vary from year to year.
4. Drive Through Salt River Canyon
Even if rafting isn’t part of your plans, the drive northeast from Globe on US-60 is worth making time for. The highway descends dramatically into Salt River Canyon, winding toward the river between steep canyon walls and opening up views across the surrounding landscape along the way. The drive is even more interesting when you know some of the history behind Salt River Canyon, from its geology and early inhabitants to the highway that eventually connected travelers through this rugged stretch of Arizona.
If you’re joining a rafting trip, you’ll already travel this route on your way to the river. Give yourself enough time to enjoy the drive and still arrive at your meeting point when you’re supposed to.
For everyone else, the canyon makes a scenic out-and-back drive from Globe. You can experience a good portion of the landscape without committing to a full day on the river.
Parts of Salt River Canyon are within or adjacent to tribal lands, so be mindful of where you stop and explore. Follow posted signs and check applicable recreation or permit requirements before leaving designated public areas.
5. Explore Tonto National Forest
Globe sits along the southeastern side of Tonto National Forest, giving you access to a huge range of landscapes and recreation areas.
The forest covers nearly 3 million acres and stretches from Sonoran Desert environments into higher-elevation mountain country. Depending on where you head, a day in Tonto National Forest could look completely different from the day before.
Outdoor activities throughout the forest include:
- Hiking
- Camping
- Fishing
- Mountain biking
- Wildlife watching
- Scenic driving
- Picnicking
With an area this large, it helps to choose a specific destination before leaving Globe rather than simply heading down a forest road. The Forest Service provides information on recreation areas along with current road, trail, fire, and closure alerts.
6. Visit Tonto National Monument
Northwest of Globe, Tonto National Monument combines a desert hike with an opportunity to learn more about the people who lived in the Tonto Basin centuries ago.
The National Park Service protects two cliff dwellings built and occupied between approximately 1300 and 1450 CE. The Lower Cliff Dwelling is reached by a roughly one-mile round-trip trail that climbs through the Sonoran Desert and overlooks the surrounding basin.
Don’t judge this hike by mileage alone. The trail is exposed, and desert temperatures can make a relatively short climb considerably more demanding.
The Upper Cliff Dwelling requires a longer ranger-led hike and advance reservations. Access and operating hours can vary with the season and weather, so review current National Park Service information before making the drive.
Tonto National Monument also pairs well with Roosevelt Lake. If you have a full day available, it makes sense to visit both rather than driving out from Globe for only one stop.
7. Spend a Day Around Roosevelt Lake
Roosevelt Lake adds another type of outdoor recreation to a trip that might otherwise be focused on trails, mountains, and canyons. Located northwest of Globe in the Tonto Basin, the lake is popular for boating, fishing, camping, and spending time along the water.
Its proximity to Tonto National Monument also makes the two destinations easy to combine into a longer day trip. You could hike to the Lower Cliff Dwelling in the morning, then spend the afternoon around the lake before returning to Globe.
If fishing is the priority, Roosevelt Lake is known for species including largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, and catfish. Fishing conditions at Roosevelt Lake change throughout the year, so timing, water conditions, and where you choose to fish can all shape your day. Be sure to review current Arizona Game & Fish Department fishing regulations and licensing requirements before heading out.
Planning an Outdoor Weekend in Globe
One of the advantages of staying in Globe is how many different landscapes are within reach. Rather than trying to pack everything into one day, you can use town as a base and explore a different direction each day.
If You Have One Day
Start with a morning hike at Round Mountain Park, spend some time in Globe, and use the afternoon to explore the Pinal Mountains or drive toward Salt River Canyon.
If You Have Two Days During Rafting Season
Make the Upper Salt River the main activity for one day. On the second, choose between hiking around Globe and the Pinal Mountains or heading northwest toward Tonto National Monument and Roosevelt Lake.
A half-day rafting trip gives you more flexibility to combine the river with another activity, while a full-day trip is better treated as the day’s primary adventure.
If You Have Three Days
A three-day trip gives you time to explore the region without spending the entire visit driving between stops:
- Day 1: Globe and Round Mountain Park
- Day 2: Upper Salt River rafting and Salt River Canyon
- Day 3: Tonto National Monument and Roosevelt Lake
That combination covers desert hiking, mountain scenery, whitewater, archaeological sites, and the Tonto Basin while keeping Globe as your home base.
When Is the Best Time for Outdoor Activities in Globe?
The best time to visit depends on both the activity and the elevation. Conditions around Globe can change considerably as you move between the desert, river canyon, and higher mountains.
Spring is one of the most versatile times to visit. Lower-elevation hiking is generally more comfortable than it is during the summer, and spring runoff creates the seasonal flows that make Upper Salt River rafting possible. It’s also a great time to combine Globe with other spring outdoor adventures in Arizona if you’re building a longer trip.
Summer calls for more planning at lower elevations. Hiking early in the day is important, and the higher elevations of the Pinal Mountains can offer an alternative to exposed desert trails.
Fall brings cooler temperatures back to the lower elevations, making hiking, camping, and road trips around the region more comfortable.
Winter can be a good time for lower-elevation desert recreation, but conditions change considerably as you gain elevation. Cold temperatures and winter weather are possible in the mountains even when conditions in Globe are relatively mild.
Before heading out, check the forecast and current conditions for your actual destination rather than relying only on the weather in Globe.
What to Know Before Exploring Around Globe
A little preparation goes a long way in this part of Arizona. Distances on a map can also be misleading when mountain roads, canyon terrain, or changing conditions are involved.
Before heading out:
- Carry plenty of water. Even shorter desert hikes can be demanding in warm, exposed conditions.
- Check road and trail conditions. Forest roads and recreation areas may be affected by weather, fire restrictions, or seasonal closures.
- Pay attention to elevation. Conditions in the Pinal Mountains may be very different from what you left behind in Globe.
- Know whose land you’re on. Public, federal, and tribal lands all meet in this region, and recreation rules and permit requirements can vary.
- Leave some room in your schedule. Scenic drives and mountain roads often take longer than expected.
- Plan around the river if you’re rafting. Upper Salt River trips depend on seasonal flows, so confirm current trip availability before building the rest of your itinerary around rafting.
Make Globe Part of Your Salt River Trip
Globe may first land on your itinerary because you’re headed to the Upper Salt River, but spending some extra time here opens up a much larger part of the region.
Within easy reach of town, you can hike above Globe, climb into the Pinal Mountains, explore the Tonto Basin, visit centuries-old cliff dwellings, drive through Salt River Canyon, or spend a day on the water. That variety makes Globe a useful base for seeing more of this part of Arizona rather than simply passing through on US-60.
If your visit lines up with spring flows on the Upper Salt River, rafting gives you the chance to experience the canyon from an entirely different perspective.
FAQs About Outdoor Things to Do Near Globe, Arizona
How far is Globe, Arizona from the Upper Salt River rafting put-in?
Arizona Rafting’s meeting point is at the bottom of Salt River Canyon, about 45 minutes north of Globe on US-60. There isn’t a physical street address for the rafting office, so use the directions and map provided with your pre-trip information rather than relying on an address in your GPS.
Do you need a permit to explore Salt River Canyon?
It depends on where you plan to go. Salt River Canyon includes tribal lands, and recreation requirements vary by location and activity. The San Carlos Apache Tribe requires permits for activities including hiking, camping, fishing, and general recreation on reservation lands, while the White Mountain Apache Tribe also manages recreation and permits on its lands around the canyon. If you plan to leave US-60 or a designated public area, confirm the requirements for that specific location before you go.
Can you camp near Globe, Arizona?
Yes. Globe is surrounded by Tonto National Forest, with camping opportunities throughout the region, and additional camping is available on San Carlos Apache lands with the appropriate tribal permit. Campground availability, fire restrictions, road conditions, and other rules can change, so check current conditions for the specific area where you plan to stay.
Are dogs allowed on hiking trails near Globe?
Dogs are allowed in many outdoor recreation areas around Globe, but rules vary by trail and land manager. If you’re heading into Tonto National Forest, Round Mountain Park, tribal lands, or another recreation area, check that destination’s current pet rules before bringing your dog. Also consider heat and trail conditions, particularly on exposed desert hikes.
How far is Globe from Phoenix?
Globe is roughly 90 miles east of Phoenix via US-60, with drive time depending on where you start in the Valley and current traffic. If you’re continuing from Globe to the Upper Salt River, plan on another 45 minutes to Arizona Rafting’s meeting point in Salt River Canyon. If you’re looking at other options, there are several outdoor day trips from Phoenix that can be built around hiking, paddling, and exploring Arizona’s public lands.
