Civil War Encampment at Picacho Peak State Park – Sunday 11/23/2025

Civil War Encampment at Picacho Peak State Park – Sunday 11/23/2025

Trip Cost: Free, but admission fee required for entrance to the State Park

NOTE -- IMPORTANT CHANGES:

Be sure to have your GVR card with you for each and every field trip. Without it, you won't be allowed to go on the trip. No refunds will be granted for failure to comply with this requirement.  To protect GVR and club member benefits, GVR has implemented a new process that requires each field trip participant to come into the club and scan his/her GVR card to confirm eligibility. We no longer have the option of typing in your name or GVR number – only the physical GVR card will do.

We will no longer meet in the parking lot. We will meet in the GVR Photography Club where you will scan your GVR card confirming your eligibility to go on the trip. We’ll also review important/late-breaking information, pair up drivers and riders, provide driving directions, and give participants a chance to visit the restrooms prior to departure. Again, be sure to have your GVR card with you.

Come visit the furthest western battlefield of the American Civil War!

The Arizona Civil War Council presents an American Civil War Encampment at Picacho Peak State Park. Come see the living history displays, walk through the Union & Confederate camps, and chat with reenactors to learn about the life of a soldier in the American Civil War out here in the Southwest. Living history demonstrations and interpretive talks will take place through the Union and Confederate camps throughout the day. You can learn more about the encampment here.  

We’ll meet at the Photography Club at 8:15 AM for carpooling, departing at 8:45 AM. Please wear your GVR Photography Club or Camera Club badge, if available. For those carpooling, $15.00 is an appropriate contribution to the driver.

Upon arrival at Picacho Peak State Park and after paying the entrance fee ($20 per vehicle), we’ll proceed to the reenactment site. We’ll have about 2 hours to explore the encampment, wrapping up this portion of the field trip at noon.

Participants are invited to a no-host lunch at La Paloma Family Restaurant, located at 116 West Frontier Street in Eloy. You can check out their menu here. 

Tom Parker will be the trip leader. For questions call Tom at 618-304-1456 or email at tparker324@aol.com. He will be disseminating more information to registered participants via e-mail as we get closer to the event.

GVR requires that every person participating in club's field trips must sign a waiver absolving GVR of any liability.  You will be required to sign the waiver at the Photography club before the trip departs. 

If you need to cancel, please contact the Field Trip Co-Chair Lynn Rozema at 719-351-5193 or email lrozema51@gmail.com.  We may have people on the wait list to take your place.  On the morning of the trip, please call Tom and Lynn as soon as you know you cannot make the trip.

NOTICE:

All participants need to be responsible for an assessment of their mobility and health issues relating to field trips. Some trips may not be appropriate, but you must make that determination. However, the trip leader may deny participation in a specific field trip to anyone deemed not suitably prepared or able to walk with the group.

The club strives to provide several field trips specifically designed for members with physical limitations. 

In order to participate in this event, you must be a member of the GVR Photography Club and GVR.