Institution
Discovery Park
EAC's science and education campus
A 120-acre Eastern Arizona College campus with the Gov Aker Observatory (20″ research telescope, a Vatican-donated radio telescope, camera obscura), a full-motion Polaris Spacecraft Simulator, the History of Astronomy Gallery, hiking trails on the Nature’s Hideaway Trail System, disc golf, and a Native Heritage Museum. Free admission year-round; the official departure point for Mount Graham International Observatory tours. Hours vary — verify directly before publishing.
Good to know
What can I do at Eastern Arizona College’s Discovery Park?
Discovery Park is a 120-acre educational hub offering free admission year-round. You can explore the Sonoran Desert on the Nature’s Hideaway Trail System, play a round of disc golf, experience the full-motion Polaris Spacecraft Simulator, and view the History of Astronomy Gallery. It is also the exclusive departure point for tours of the Mount Graham International Observatory.
Where can I buy native desert plants in Safford?
The Gila Native Plant Nursery, operated by the Gila Watershed Partnership at Discovery Park, cultivates native flora to restore habitats along the Gila River. They host an annual spring plant sale that serves as a fantastic public resource for sourcing local pollinators and low-water-use desert species for your own garden.