The area around Pyramid Peak was State Trust Land, meaning that it was transferred long ago from management by the federal government to ownership by the state of Arizona. Most parcels of State Trust Land are not known for their recreational value, so they are not managed well. In fact, they are hardly managed at all besides a rule that says public is not allowed entry. But because the area around Pyramid Peak is very beautiful, plenty of people went there, myself included. Many visitors to this land are not informed of Leave No Trace principles, and as a consequence there is an abundance of unofficial motorized trails and piles of trash. But as sad as it is to see, even these are evidence of people enjoying the land. If a better management plan was in place place, like if this place was a state park, for example, it could be enjoyed by people sustainably.

Unfortunately, that is not the fate of most State Trust Land, and this place will be no different. I intentionally use the past tense to describe Pyramid Peak. As of last year, the private real estate developer Pulte Homes announced a plan to aquire ownership of the Pyramid Peak region for construction. Road construction is already beginning. In the coming years the desert flora will be bulldozed and paved over, the bike trails will become sidewalks, and access to the rocky hills will be blocked by private housing parcels.