ARIZONA

(does not include Phoenix, Scottsdale & Tucson)

GENERAL
●Southeastern Arizona Birding Trail – Southeastern Arizona Birding Observatory, 2899 Hidden Meadow Lane (Bisbee); 520-432-1388; sabo.org/birding.htm; 4 distinct bioregions’ (Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts, Sierra Madre, and Rocky Mountains) convergence provides prime habitat mix for more than 400 bird species; summer is richest viewing season, with highlights including elegant trogons, painted redstarts, and more than dozen hummingbird species.



APACHE COUNTY
Chinle (includes Apache, Apache Junction & Tsaile)
Hotels
●Thunderbird Lodge – Highway 191 & Rural Route 7; 928-674-5841 or 800-679-2473; tbirdlodge.com; only hotel in Canyon de Chelly National Monument park; 73-room, motel-style facility reminiscent of older adobe structures; dining facility located in original trading post built in 1896 offers both continental and Navajo-style meals daily; gift shop and rug room offer some of region’s finest Native American crafts, jewelry, and rugs; except for hiking White House Ruin trail, travel in canyons permitted only with park ranger or other authorized guide, including Canyon Tours operated by Thunderbird Lodge.
Sights & Sites
●Canyon de Chelly National Monument – Indian Route 7 (Tsaile); 928-674-5500; nps.gov/cach; among longest continuously inhabited North American landscapes; preserves early indigenous tribal ruins, including Anasazi and Navajo; 84K acres and encompasses 3 manjor canyons' floors and rims: de Chelly; del Muerto; and Monument.
●Lost Dutchman State Park – 6109 North Apache Trail; 480-982-4485; pr.state.az.us/parks/lodu/index.html; named after fabled lost gold mine, Lost Dutchman State Park located in Sonoran Desert (40 miles east of Phoenix); several trails lead from park into Superstition Wilderness and surrounding Tonto National Forest; hike Native Plant Trail or challenging Siphon Draw Trail to Flatiron’s top; before you hike, be prepared with proper footwear and sufficient water as trails are difficult.

St. Johns
Sights & Sites
●Lyman Lake State Park – 38185 State Highway 81; 928-337-4441; pr.state.az.us/parks/LYLA/index.html; irrigation reservoir formed by damming Little Colorado River; 1.2K-acre park encompasses much of reservoir’s shoreline at 6K'; fed by Mount Baldy’s and Escudilla Mountain’s snowmelt; Rattlesnake Point Pueblo was medium-sized village home to about 15 families between 1325-1390; 1-story tall with 80-90 rooms; built and occupied by Hopi ancestors; artifacts, ruined buildings, and petroglyphs.



COCHISE COUNTY
Benson
Sights & Sites
●Kartchner Caverns State Park – 2890 Route South 90; 520-586-2283 (reservations) or 520-586-4100; pr.state.az.us/parks/KACA; stunning, limestone “live” cave boasting world-class features; unique formations and minerals, with water percolating from surface causing calcite formations to continue to grow; museum, large gift shop, regional displays, theater, and educational information; hiking trails, shaded picnic areas, deli, amphitheater, and hummingbird garden.

Hereford
Hotels
●Battiste’s BB&B – 4700 East Robert Smith Lane; 520-803-6908; battistebedandbirds.com; for hardcore birders.

Sierra Vista (includes Hereford & Miracle Valley)
Sights & Sites
●Brown Canyon Ranch (Barchas Ranch) – from Sierra Vista, take Highway 92 south until Ramsey Canyon Road, then right towards mountains and keep going on Ramsey Canyon Road until pass Calle Metate, then soon after is dirt parking area on right, where turn into parking area and follow road to ranch; browncanyonranch.org; built century ago by local pioneer family; includes ranch house, storeroom, corrals, water system, and pond (endangered frog species habitat).
●Coronado National Memorial – 4101 West Montezuma Canyon Road (Miracle Valley); 520-366-5515; nps.gov/coro; commemorates and interprets Francisco Vásquez de Coronado’s expedition’s (1540-1542) significance and resulting cultural influences on 16^th Century Spanish colonial exploration in Americas; panoramic US-Mexico border and San Pedro River Valley views; near Sky Island bioregion center (bioregion is juncture of 4 major biogeographic provinces: Madrean, Sonoran, Chihuahuan, and Southern Rockies/Mogollon); make sure to see scenic overlook at Montezuma Pass; nice hike includes Smuggler’s Ridge.
●Environmental Operations Park – between Mile Markers 324 & 325 (Sierra Vista, north side of State Route 90 East); 520-458-5775 (M-F), 520-459-2555 (secondary), or 800-288-3861; sierravistaaz.gov/water/eop/content.php?fDD=22-244; 640 acres, including 50 acres constructed wetlands that, along with native grasses, provide bird and wildlife habitat; 1.8K1 sq viewing platform.
●Ramsey Canyon Preserve – 27 East Ramsey Canyon Road (Hereford); 520-378-2728; visitsierravista.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=item_detail&uniqueID=15&cityid=20; famous among birders and other naturalists for over century; 380 acres in middle canyon elevations; excellent birding April-September; Hummingbirds (including Magnificent, Blue-throated and White-eared) abound; Sulphur-bellied & Dusky-capped Flycatchers and Painted Redstart common in summer; Arizona Woodpecker and Bridled Titmouse year-round, as well as Coues’s White-tailed Deer and White-nosed Coati.
●San Pedro House – State Route 90 (Sierra Vista, lies 8 miles east of Sierra Vista along State Route 90 in San Pedro River Valley (right before reach San Pedro River, will see sign for San Pedro House on your right, follow short dirt road about 100 yards and come to parking area and see house); 520-439-6400; sanpedroriver.org; very flat and enjoyable hike; perfect for bird-watchers; at trailhead, make sure to grab interpretive trail guide brochure; hike itself is only 1.5 miles; hike highlight is San Pedro River with majestic cottonwood trees lining both sides.
●San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area – 1763 Paseo San Luis (Sierra Vista, 6 miles east of Sierra Vista); 520-439-6400; blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/blm_special_areas/ncarea/sprnca.html; contains nearly 57K public land acres in Cochise County, between international border and St. David; riparian area, where some 40 miles upper San Pedro River meanders; desert riparian ecosystem, home to 84 mammal, 14 fish, 41 amphibian and reptile, and 100 breeding bird species; archaeological sites representing human occupation remains from 13K years ago.

Tombstone
Sights & Sites
●Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park – 223 Toughnut Street; 520-457-3311; azstateparks.com/Parks/TOCO; built in 1882 in Roman cross-shape, 2-story Victorian structure once housed courtroom and jail, as well as recorder, sheriff, supervisor board, and treasurer offices for Cochise County; now museum; displays include brothel tax license and invitation to hanging.

Willcox
Sights & Sites
●Chiricahua National Monument – 12856 East Rhyolite Creek Road; 520-824-3560; nps.gov/chir; 8-mile paved, scenic drive & 17 miles of day-use hiking trails; consider hiking Silver Spur Meadow Trail.



COCONINO, MOJAVE & YAVAPAI COUNTIES
Bitter Springs
Sights & Sites
●Wave (Coyote Buttes North) – One North Central Avenue, Suite 800 (Phoenix, AZ) or 345 East Riverside Drive (St. George, UT); 602-417-9200 (AZ) or 435-688-3200 (UT); blm.gov/az/paria/obtainpermits.cfm?usearea=CB (for permit information & lottery); extends from northern Arizona (Bitter Springs) to Utah (Kanab); 2 entry points to Coyote Buttes North: Wirepass Trailhead (WP) and Notch; Notch no longer publicized by BLM and trail from Notch poorly defined; strongly recommended access is from Wirepass parking lot; to get to Wirepass trailhead, take Highway 89 to House Rock Road (House Rock Road turnoff is between mile posts 25 & 26 on Highway 89 in UT), normally passable by passenger cars (do not take if wet because clay-based and impassable even to 4WD vehicles when wet); take House Rock Road for 8.4 miles to WP parking area on right; begin hike to Wave by signing trailhead register and crossing House Rock Road; follow signs for 100 yards or so till enter wash; Wirepass Wash feeds into Buckskin Gulch, longest North American “slot canyon”; continue walking down wash about .5 miles from trailhead till see sign marked Coyote Buttes on right; turn right and follow good trail up hill and across sage field; at field’s end, will cross wash that dumps into Wirepass .25 mile downstream; ascend slickrock to cairned saddle (now in permit area); from here there may or may not be cairns and they may or may not be accurate; from saddle, proceed south, after .5 miles or so you will see downed barbed wire fence, either go over it (little exposed) or bypass it on west side; continue heading south, aiming for crack in cliffs (east side); after another .6 miles or so, cross another small wash; continue heading towards crack in wall and go up sand dune; will shortly arrive at Wave; it is about 2.5 miles in total from WP trailhead to Wave.

Camp Verde (includes Pine)
Shopping
●Wingfield Bread Co. – 564 South Main Street; 928-301-9300; try pecan sourdough bread.
Sights & Sites
●Fossil Springs Wilderness – Pine (in Coconino National Forest, about 30 miles southeast of Camp Verde, which is 86 miles south of Flagstaff), off graveled & paved roads (from Camp Verde via FH 9 (Highway 260) & FR 708 or from Strawberry on FR 708 to Fossil Springs Trailhead); 928-203-2900; fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recarea/?recid=72078; 11,550-acre wilderness area; at bottom of steep canyon at Colorado Plateau edge, just south of Mogollon Rim; perennial water supply supports among most diverse riparian ecosystems in state, with more than 30 species of trees set among native desert shrub; abundant wildlife, including elk, deer, javelina, coyote, skunk, racoon, ring-tailed cat, fox, mountain lion, black bear & more than 100 species of birds.
●Montezuma Castle National Monument – 1620 West Finnie Flats Road; 928-567-3322 or 520-567-3322; nps.gov/moca; well-preserved Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings in dramatic setting.

Clarkdale
Sights & Sites
●Verde Canyon Railroad – 300 North Broadway; 623-374-3185 or 800-582-7245; verdecanyonrr.com; heritage railroad running between Clarkdale & Perkinsville.

Cottonwood
Sights & Sites
●Dead Horse Ranch State Park – 675 Dead Horse Ranch Road; 928-634-5283; pr.state.az.us/parks/DEHO/index.html; birdwatching, camping, canoeing, fishing, hiking, and picnicking; developed portion is 423 acres; 3.3K' elevation accounts for mild temperatures (in Coconino National Forest); can hike along Verde River and wade in cool water; Verde River Greenway State Natural Area is 6-mile reach; unique ecosystem, including Cottonwood and Willow riparian gallery forest (among less than 20 such riparian zones in world); numerous species amphibians, fish, mammals, neotropical migrants, reptiles, and raptors.
●Verde River Greenway State Natural Area – 2011-B Kestel Road; 928-639-0312; azstateparks.com/parks/veri; 180-mile long Verde River is among desert’s last free-flowing rivers sustaining large regional wildlife population and lush riparian community; encompasses area between Tuzigoot and Bridgeport bridges, nearly 480 acres and 6 miles long; 3.3K' elevation means mild temperatures for hiking, canoeing, picnicking, fishing, or just wading; great blue heron, black hawks, coyotes, raccoons, mule deer, beavers, ducks, frogs, and toads; nearly 20 threatened or endangered species including river otter, southwestern bald eagles, southwestern willow flycatchers, and lowland leopard frogs; Fremont Cottonwood & Gooding Willow Riparian Gallery Forest is among 5 remaining stands in Arizona and among 20 such stands in world.

Flagstaff
Bars & Nightclubs
●Museum Club – 3404 East Route 66; 928-526-9434; 928-779-0079; themuseumclub.com; formerly owned by Don Scott, original member of Texas Playboys; live music.
Restaurants
●Beaver Street Brewery – 11 Beaver Street #1; 928-779-0079; excellent appetizers, salads, and sandwiches.
●Galaxy Diner – 931 East Highway 66; 928-774-2466; jbsfamily.com/galaxy-diner.
●Museum Club – 3404 East Route 66; 928-526-9434; 928-779-0079; themuseumclub.com; excellent appetizers, salads, and sandwiches.
Sights & Sites
●Coconino National Forest – 1824 South Thompson Street; 928-527-3600; fs.fed.us/r3/coconino; make sure to walk Kendrick Park Watchable Wildlife Trail (south of canyon, 20 miles north of Flagstaff – wildlifeviewingareas.com); make special point to see Fossil Springs; Fossil Springs Wilderness is 11.5K-acre wilderness area within Coconino National Forest; it is at bottom of steep canyon at edge of Colorado Plateau, just south of Mogollon Rim; here, water emerges at surface at rate of about 2.7K' cubic per minute; perennial water supply supports among most diverse riparian ecosystems in state, with more than 30 species of trees set among native desert shrub; creates haven for abundant wildlife, including elk, deer, javelina, coyote, skunk, ring-tailed cat, fox & more than 100 bird species.
●Lava River Cave – 1824 South Thompson Street (in Coconino National Forest); 928-527-3600; fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recarea/?recid=55122; mile-long lava tube cave formed roughly 700K years ago; dress appropriately (sturdy shoes & warm clothes) because cave is as cool as 42° even in summer.
●Riordan Mansion State Historic Park – 409 West Riordan Road; 928-779-4395; azstateparks.com/parks/RIMA; arrange tour of Riordan Mansion.
●Roden Crater – Coconino County (25 miles northeast of Flagstaff, and 17 miles northwest of Leupp; gated entry begins at Roden Spring, west of Crater); rodencrater.com; 600' tall black and red volcanic cinder cone turned into monumental artwork and naked eye observatory; visitation not encouraged.
●Walnut Canyon National Monument – Walnut Canyon Road; 928-526-3367; nps.gov/waca; densely-wooded plateau country; small seasonal stream Walnut Creek has carved 600' deep canyon as it flows east, eventually joining Little Colorado River (en route to Grand Canyon); 12^th-13^th Centuries inhabited by local Sinagua Indians who constructed cave-dwellings along well-protected, steep ledges, high above canyon floor.
●Wupatki Pueblo National Monument – NF 545; 928-679-2365; nps.gov/wupa; 800 year-old, former native peoples’ homestead.

Fredonia
Hotels
●Big Springs Cabin Site – 430 South Main Street; 928-643-7395; recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/121740.
Sights & Sites
●Kaibab National Forest.

Grand Canyon (includes Prescott)
Hotels
●Bright Angel Lodge & Cabins – Highway 64 (South Rim); 928-638-2631 or 888-297-2757; grandcanyonlodges.com; built in 1930s; bare bones but surprisingly comfortable.
●El Tovar Hotel – Center Road (South Rim, at Apache Street); 928-638-2631 or 888-297-2757; grandcanyonlodges.com; open since 1905; by far most upscale lodging in area.
●Phantom Ranch – North Kaibab Trail (Grand Canyon National Park, South Rim, bottom); 928-638-3283 or 888-297-2757; phantomphiles.com; magical collection stone cabins and lodges.
Restaurants
●El Tovar Restaurant – Center Road (South Rim, at Apache Street); 928-638-2631; best restaurant in area (especially good breakfasts) with gorgeous views.
Services
●Maverick Helicopters – Highway 64 (Grand Canyon National Airport); 928-638-2622; maverickhelicopter.com/canyon.php.
Sights & Sites
●Elks Theatre – 117 East Gurley Street (Prescott); 928-777-1366; prescottelkstheater.com; in 1904, Prescott Daily Journal Miner urged businessmen to discuss proposal from Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks Lodge #330 to include opera house, at estimated cost of $15K, as part of their building on East Gurley Street; because BPOE original plans did not call for theatre, residents raised necessary funds & it was incorporated into plans for 3-story building, housing lodge on top floor, offices on 2^nd floor & retail space on ground; granite cornerstone laid on April 3, 1904; architecturally, building reflected transition from 19^th Century Victorian commercial style to Sullivanesque & New-Classical designs of early 20^th Century; Birth of Nation shown in 1916; movies remained mainstay through 1970s, with live performances returning in 1980s; city acquired in February 2001; latest step in renovation currently underway.
●Grand Canyon National Park – 20 South Entrance Road (Grand Canyon Village, Headquarters); 928- 638-7888; nps.gov/grca/index.htm; in northwest corner of Arizona, close to Nevada & Utah borders; Colorado River, which flows through canyon, drains water from 7 states, but feature known as Grand Canyon entirely in Arizona; South Rim open all year & receives 90% park’s visitation; make sure to see Navajo Bridge (US 89A, Marble Canyon, 928-608-6200).
●Phippen Museum – 4701 Arizona Highway 89 (Prescott); 928-778-1385; phippenartmuseum.org; Western art.

Jerome
Hotels
●Jerome Grand Hotel – 200 Hill Street; 928-634-8200; jeromegrandhotel.net; on high ridge in Verde Valley; reportedly haunted 1926 Spanish Mission-style hotel set in former hospital; 7-minute walk from main street of Arizona’s biggest ghost town; quaint, simple rooms include satellite TV & some add additional space, balconies or sun porch access; on-site restaurant with extensive wine list; ghost-hunting tours take place on select weeknights (fee).
Restaurants
●Bobby D’s BBQ – 119 Jerome Avenue; 928-634-6235; bobbydsbbqjerome.com; charming eatery offering homestyle BBQ entrees & sandwiches, plus deck with picnic tables.
Sights & Sites
●Jerome State Historic Park – State Route 89A; 928-634-5381; pr.state.az.us/parks/jero/index.html; in 1876 prospectors staked claims on rich copper deposits; resultant mining camp named for Eugene Jerome, venture’s principal backer; by early 20^th Century, largest producing copper mine in Arizona Territory; mining days ended in 1953; town preserved with Douglas Mansion and museum; located rights next to park is Audrey Shaft Headframe Park, which allows park visitors to stand on glass above 1.9K' shaft (650' taller than Empire State Building), completed in 1918; picnic area offers beautiful panoramic Verde Valley view; worthwhile to hike Mingus Mountain.

Lake Havasu City
Hotels
●Heat Hotel – 1420 North McCulloch Boulevard; 928-854-2833 or 888-898-4328; heathotel.com; London Bridge views; little beaten up; very loud outdoor nightclub that literally throbs through walls until 2 am; clean sheets and clean-ish bathrooms.
Restaurants
●Shugrue’s – 1425 North McCulloch Boulevard; 928-453-1400; shugrues.com; generous portions of adequate food.
Sights & Sites
●Cattail Cove State Park – State Highway 95 (15 miles south of Lake Havasu); 928-855-1223; pr.state.az.us/parks/CACO/index.html; beach, boat ramp, and campsites; 2K-acre park; rock hound’s paradise (agate, geodes, jasper, and/or obsidian).
●Lake Havasu State Park – 699 London Bridge Road; 928-855-2784; pr.state.az.us/parks/LAHA/index.html; beaches, boat ramps, convenient campsites, and nature trails; near London Bridge; Mohave Sunset Trail (1.5 miles) winds through lowland desert and along shoreline; Arroyo-Camino Interpretive Garden showcases birds, desert cottontails, and lizards.
●London Bridge – McCulloch Boulevard; reconstruction of 1831 London Bridge that spanned Thames River in London, England until dismantled in 1967; Arizona bridge is reinforced concrete structure clad in 1820s bridge original masonry.

Lake Powell (includes Page)
Hotels & Resorts
●Forever Resorts – Antelope Point Marina; 480-998-1981 or 800-255-5561; foreverhouseboats.com; houseboat rentals starting at $1,142 per night.
●Lake Powell Resort – 100 Lakeshore Drive; 928-645-2433 or 888-896-3829; lakepowell.com; average.
Restaurants
●Blue Buddha Sushi Lounge – 644 North Navajo Drive (Page); 928-645-0007.
●Dam Bar & Grill – 644 North Navajo Drive (Page); 928-645-2161.
Services
●Kayak Powell – 816 Coppermine Road (Page); 928-660-0778; kayakpowell.com; 4X4, hiking, and kayaking guide service.
Sights & Sites
●Antelope Canyon – 5975 Highway 98 (Page); 928-698-2808; navajonationparks.org/htm/antelopecanyon.htm; most-photographed & most-visited American southwest slot canyon; on LeChee Chapter Navajo land; includes 2 separate, photogenic slot canyon sections, referred to individually as Upper Antelope Canyon (“Crack” or Tsé bighánílíní (Navajo), which means “place where water runs through rocks”) & Lower Antelope Canyon (“Corkscrew”) or Hazdistazí (Navajo, also advertised as Hasdestwazi), meaning “spiral rock arches”; re Upper Antelope Canyon is most frequently visited by tourists for 2 reasons, (1) entrance & entire length at ground level, requiring no climbing & (2) light beams much more common in summer months because require sun to be high in sky (beams start to peek into canyon March 15^th & disappear October 7^th); winter colors are little more muted; re Lower Antelope Canyon, involves stairways, so more difficult hike than Upper Antelope; longer, narrower in spots & even footing is not available in all areas; at end, climb out requires several flights of stairs; lower canyon is in V-shape & shallower than Upper Antelope; lighting is better in early hours & late afternoon; colors in both canyons spectacular magentas & vermilions.
●Carl Hayden Visitor Center – Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (Page, Highway 89, west side Glen Canyon Dam); 435-684-7420; nps.gov/glca.
●Navajo Bridge Interpretive Center – Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (Page, Highway 89, west side Glen Canyon Dam); 928-355-2319; nps.gov/glca; good place to view California condors.
●John Wesley Powell Museum – 6 North Lake Powell Boulevard; 928-645-9496; powellmuseum.org.

Sedona (includes Camp Verde & Clarkdale)
Hotels
●Amara Resort & Spa – 310 North Highway 89A; 928-282-4828 or 800-815-6152; amararesort.com; 100 rooms on Oak Creek banks.
●L’Auberge de Sedona – 301 L’Auberge Lane; 928-282-1661 or 800-905-5745; lauberge.com; small, French-style country inn located Oak Creek Canyon’s rim.
●Briar Patch Inn – 3190 North State Route 89A; 928-282-2342 or 888-809-3030; briarpatchinn.com; rustic elegance in Oak Creek Canyon; 8.5 acres on Oak Creek’s banks; private cottages.
●Enchantment Resort – 525 Boynton Canyon Road; 928-203-8500 or 800-826-4180; enchantmentresort.com; former private ranch; rooms have views of Boynton Canyon and have beehive fireplaces; Mii Amo Spa.
●Junipine Resort – 8351 North Highway 89A; 928-282-3375 or 800-742-7463; junipine.com; cabins.
●Mii Amo – 525 Boynton Canyon Road; 928-203-8500 or 888-749-2137; miiamo.com; luxury retreat.
●Oak Creek Terrace – 4848 North State Route 89A; 928-282-3562 or 800-224-2229; oakcreekterrace.com; cabins with fireplaces and Jacuzzis.
●Sedona Rouge – 2250 West Highway 89A; 928-203-4111 or 866-312-4111; sedonarouge.com; boutique hotel and spa.
Sights & Sites
●Fort Verde State Historic Park – 125 East Hollamon Street (Camp Verde); 928-567-3275; pr.state.az.us/parks/FOVE/index.html; General Crook’s US Army fort base for scouts and soldiers in 1870s-1880s; from 1865-1891, Camp Lincoln, Camp Verde, and Fort Verde were home to doctors, enlisted men, families, officers, and scouts; Arizona’s best-preserved Indian Wars period fort example; several original buildings still stand; 3 historic house museums, all furnished in 1880s period; former Administration building houses Visitor Center with interpretive exhibits, period artifacts from military life, and history on Indian Scouts and Indian Wars era.
●Red Rock State Park – 4050 Red Rock Loop Road (Sedona); 928-282-6907; pr.state.az.us/parks/RERO/index.html; self-guided or ranger-led interpretive walks; hiking.
●Slide Rock State Park – 6871 North Highway 89A; 928-282-3034; pr.state.az.us/parks/SLRO/index.html; original Pendley Homestead; 43-acre historic apple farm located in Oak Creek Canyon; Frank L. Pendley, having acquired land under Homestead Act in 1910, established unique irrigation system still in use by park today; during summer months, extremely high visitation; named after slippery creek bottom stretch; visitors may slide down slick natural water chute or wade and sun along creek; swim area is located on National Forest land jointly managed by Arizona State Parks and US Forest Service; together these areas in many Hollywood movies such as Broken Arrow (1950, James Stewart), Drum Beat (1954, Alan Ladd and Charles Bronson), Gun Fury (1953, Rock Hudson and Donna Reed), and 1 scene in Angel and Badman (1946, John Wayne).
●Tuzigoot National Monument – 25 West Tuzigoot Road (Clarkdale); 928-634-5564; nps.gov/tuzi; preserves 2- to 3-story pueblo ruin on lime- & sandstone ridge summit; after you visit Monument, follow Tuzigoot Monument road until you cross bridge over Verde River; immediately after cross bridge, turn left on Sycamore Canyon Road (FR 131); follow this road 11 miles to trailhead (this road is passable in sedan, but last 2 miles are somewhat rough); Parson’s Trail is prettiest easy trail one can hike in area; only challenge is 1^st 200"; from trailhead, trail drops quickly to canyon bottom; once you reach hill bottom, hike becomes quite leisurely; Parson’s Trail follows perennial Sycamore Creek to Parson Spring (3.7 mile 1-way); 5 creek crossings en route to Parson Spring.
●Verde Canyon Railroad – 300 North Broadway (Clarksdale); 928-639-0010 or 800-582-7245; verdecanyonrr.com; 25 miles from Sedona; runs from Clarkdale to Perkinsville, through canyon.

Supai
Hotels
●Havasupai Lodge – Havasu Falls Trail (Havasupai Indian Reservation); 928-448-2201; kaibab.org/kaibab.org/supai/gc_supai.htm; no-frills hotel offering basic, air-conditioned rooms in secluded spot within Grand Canyon.
Sights & Sites
●Havasupai Indian Reservation – Route Indian 18 (exit from Historic Route 66 [6 miles east of Peach Springs]: travel 63 miles north to Hualapai Hilltop); 928-448-2121 (call repeatedly because telephone answering is intermittent/must have reservation); theofficialhavasupaitribe.com; campground bookings mostly taken by April (for cancellations, call Tourist Office at 928-448-2121; Havasupai means blue-green waters people; spectacular waterfalls & isolated community within Havasupai Indian Reservation attract Ks visitors yearly; notable for waterfalls, especially at Havasu Creek; Havasu Falls only 1 of 5 at Havasupai; highest, Mooney Falls, is 200'; New Navajo Falls is 1^st waterfall as you hike down canyon from Supai (broad water curtain that plunges down to serene turquoise water pools, roughly 60' high); 50 Foot Falls is most accessible waterfall at Havasupai (right off trail & makes for excellent swimming); Havasu Falls is area’s namesake & most aesthetic; Mooney Falls is below Havasupai campground & requires dangerous & exciting cliff descent on chains, ladders & bolts to reach bottom; lastly is Beaver Falls, most remote waterfall at 3.5 miles below campground (hike is adventurous & stunningly beautiful).

Williams
Bars & Nightclubs
●Sultana Bar – 301 West Route 66; 928-635-2021; holds state’s longest continuous liquor license.
Hotels
●Grand Canyon Railway Hotel – 233 North Grand Canyon Boulevard; 928-635-4625 or 800-843-8724; thetrain.com; modern, functional hotel (not atmospheric).
●Lodge on Route 66 – 200 East Route 66; 928-635-4534; thelodgeonroute66.com.
Sights & Sites
●Grand Canyon Railway – 233 North Grand Canyon Boulevard; 928-635-4625 or 800-843-8724; thetrain.com.



GILA COUNTY
Payson
Sights & Sites
●Coconino National Forest & Fossil Springs Wilderness – 30 miles southeast from Camp Verde (travel from Camp Verde via FH 9 (Highway 260) & FR 708 or from Strawberry on FR 708 to Fossil Springs Trailhead); 928-203-2900 (Red Rock District) or 928-226-4611 (hotline); fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recarea/?recid=72078; in particular, Fossil Springs Wilderness is nearly 12K-acre wilderness area within Coconino National Forest; at steep canyon bottom at Colorado Plateau edge, just south of Mogollon Rim; water emerges at surface at about 2.7K'³ per minute; perennial water supply supports among state’s most diverse riparian ecosystems, with more than 30 tree species set among native desert shrub; abundant wildlife, including coyote, deer, elk, fox, javelina, ring-tailed cat, skunk, and more than 100 bird species.
●Tonto Natural Bridge State Park – off Highway 87 (10 miles north of Payson); 928-476-4202; azstateparks.com/Parks/TONA/index.html; in tiny valley surrounded by pine tree forest; world’s largest natural travertine bridge (183' h over 400' l tunnel that measures 150' w; visitors can stand on top or hike down below.



GRAHAM COUNTY
Safford
Sights & Sites
●Mount Graham International Observatory – 1480 West Swift Trail; 928-428-2739; mgpc3.as.arizona.edu; call or check website for public events.
●Roper Lake State Park – 101 East Roper Lake Road; 928-4286760; pr.state.az.us/parks/ROLA/index.html; bird-watching, fishing, hiking, and mineral springs.



LA PAZ COUNTY
Parker
Sights & Sites
●Buckskin Mountain State Park – 5476 North Highway 95; 928-667-3231; azstateparks.com/parks/bumo; among Parker strip’s finest views; 18-mile stretch between Headgate and Parker Dams; mountains line river on both Arizona and California sides; Parker Dam is world’s deepest dam, located approximately 5 miles north on Highway 95.
●River Island State Park – 5476 North Highway 95; 928-667-3231; pr.state.az.us/parks/RIIS/index.html; cove and sandy beach.
●Scenic Route 83 – northern terminus at junction with Interstate Highway 10, near Vail, to southern terminus at Parker Canyon Lake; arizonaroads.com/arizona/az83.html; scenic state highway in southern Arizona; passes through sparsely populated areas of Cochise, Pima and Santa Cruz Counties; also passes through Elgin and Sonoita (vineyard country).

Wenden
Sights & Sites
●Alamo Lake State Park – US 60; 928-669-2088; pr.state.az.us/parks/ALLA/index.html; among Arizona’s best kept secrets; mountainous landscape surrounds lake; nestled in Bill Williams River Valley; spring rains bring abundant wild flowers; lake environment attracts wildlife year round, including coyotes, bald and golden eagles, foxes, muledeer, waterfowl, and wild burros; nearest city lights some 40 miles away so excellent stargazing.



NAVAJO COUNTY
Show Low
Sights & Sites
●Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area – 1500 North Fool Hollow Lake; 928-537-3680; pr.state.az.us/parks/FOHO/index.html; camping among 100' pine trees; quiet lake home to great blue herons; 6.3K' elevation; 800-acres with 150-acre lake, which covers former, tiny town: Adair (Thomas Jefferson Adair moved into area intending to farm; locals joked that only fool would try: name stuck; located in Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest.

Winslow (includes Holbrook)
Hotels
●Wig-Wam Motel – 811 West Hopi Drive (Holbrook); 928-524-3048; wigwam-motel-arizona.com.
Sights & Sites
●Homolovi Ruins State Park – State Highway 87 (Winslow, 5 miles northeast of Winslow); 928-289-4106; azstateparks.com/Parks/HORU/index.html; name is Hopi for “Little Hills Place”; in 14th Century Arizona’s high grassland, Hisat’sinom (Anasazi) made home along Little Colorado River, during pause in their migrations to farm before continuing north to join people already living on mesas, Hopi; Hopi consider Homolovi part of their homeland; park now is research center for Hopi late migration period (1200s-late 1300s); visitor center and museum, various trails and campground; pullouts provide opportunity to observe park wildlife in this 4K acre park at 4.9K'.
●Meteor Crater – US I-40 (Exit 233); 928-289-2362; meteorcrater.com; meteorite impact crater; site formerly known as Canyon Diablo Crater; scientists refer to it as Barringer Crater for Daniel Barringer, 1^st to suggest produced by meteorite impact; not protected as national monument, but designated National Natural Landmark; 4' in diameter and 570' deep.



PIMA COUNTY
Ajo
Sights & Sites
●Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument – Arizona Highway 85; 520-387-6849; nps.gov/orpi; US National Monument & UNESCO biosphere reserve located in extreme southern Arizona, sharing border with Mexican state of Sonora; not just for Organ Pipe cacti, many other varieties.

Sasabe
Hotels
●Rancho de la Osa – 1 De La Osa Ranch Road; 520-823-4257 or 800-872-6240; ranchodelaosa.com; hiking, nature walks, mountain biking.
Sights & Sites
●Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge – off I-19, Exit 48 (near Arivaca); 520-823-4251; fws.gov/refuge/buenos_aires; 118K acres grassland; re-population program underway for rare masked bobwhite, making this the only place in the country where 4 quail species occur.

Sells
Sights & Sites
●Ventana Cave – off Indian Route 34 (on Tohono O’odham Indian Nation Reservation); 520-362-3702 (Hickiwan Division, must call ahead for permit); facebook.com/pages/Ventana-Cave/103088619732155; difficult to arrange but worth effort; can arrange tours through Old Pueblo Archaeology Center (oldpueblo.org/programs/tours, 520-798-1201).



PINAL COUNTY
Coolidge
Sights & Sites
●Casa Grande Ruins National Monument – 1100 West Ruins Drive (just north of Casa Grande city); 520-723-3172; nps.gov/cagr; preserves group of Ancient Pueblo Peoples Hohokam structures of Pueblo III & Pueblo IV Eras.

Florence
Sights & Sites
●McFarland State Historical Park – Main Street; 520-868-5216; azstateparks.com/parks/mcfa; preserved courthouse and other buildings; pre-arrange guided tour.

Oracle
Sights & Sites
●Oracle State Park – 3820 Wildlife Drive; 520-896-2425; azstateparks.com/parks/orac; tour Kannally Ranch House; hike “Copper Corridor” to Oracle.

Picacho
Sights & Sites
●Picacho Peak State Park – I-10 (Exit 219); 520-466-3183; azstatesparks.com/parks/pipe; hiking and rock-climbing.

San Manuel
Sights & Sites
●Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness – 711 14^th Avenue (Safford, Field Office); 928-348-4400 (Safford Field Office); 928-828-3380 (East Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness, Klondyke Ranger Station) or 520-357-6185 (West Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness, Brandenburg Ranger Station); blm.gov/az/st/en/arolrsmain/aravaipa.html; 19K acres wilderness; forms Galiuro Mountain range northwest border; pedestrian access allowed only with prior authorization from Preserve staff.

Superior
Sights & Sites
●Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park – 37615 US Highway 60; 520-689-2811; pr.state.az.us/parks/both/index.html; 323 acres; Arizona’s largest and oldest botanical garden; 1^st purely botanical institution in inter-mountain states; features cacti, cliffs, forest, lake, trees, vistas, and hidden canyon.



SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
Amado
Restaurants
●Longhorn Bar & Grill – 28851 South Nogales Highway; 520-398-3955; restaurant in big skull; featured in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

Patagonia
Sights & Sites
●Patagonia Lake State Park – 400 Lake Patagonia Road; 520-287-6965; azstateparks.com/parks/pala; hiking.
●San Rafael State Natural Area – 2036 Duquesne Road; 520-394-2447; pr.state.az.us/parks/SARA/index.html; unique area with cottonwood and oak trees, native grasses, and rolling hills; beautiful valley that is Santa Cruz River headwaters (flows into Mexico, then turns north back into US, and eventually joins Gila River); antelope, bobcats, cougar, coyote, javelina, mule deer, and many birds unique to prairie; former Mexican Land Grant.
●Sonoita Creek State Natural Area – 400 Lake Patagonia Road; 520-287-2791; pr.state.az.us/parks/SOCR/index.html; established to preserve fragile riparian area and its surrounding environment; encompasses major Sonoita Creek and Coal Mine Spring watersheds portions; Arizona’s 1^st significant natural area; protects not only endangered Gila Topminnow and serveral special-status birds, but also historical and cultural relics; low impact recreations such as hiking, and bird watching co-exist with education and scientific research; 7 distinct vegetative communities are present ranging from Semi-Desert Grasslands to Riparian Deciduous Forests.

Tubac (includes Green Valley)
Hotels
●Poston House Inn Bed & Breakfast – 20 Calle Iglesia; 520-398-3193; facebook.com/Tubac-Poston-House-Inn-560071000691469/info/?entry_point=page_nav_about_item&tab=overview; beautifully furnished; swimming pools, spectacular for a B&B.
Sights & Sites
●Titan Missile Museum – 1580 West Duval Mine Road (Green Valley); 520-625-7736; titanmissilemuseum.org; also known as Air Force Facility Missile Site 8 or as Titan II ICBM Site 571-7; former ICBM missile site.
●Tubac Presidio State Historic Park – 1 Burruel Street; 520-398-2252; azstateparks.com/Parks/TUPR; preserves ruins of Presidio San Ignacio de Tubac & various other buildings.

Tumacácori
Sights & Sites
●Tumacácori National Historical Park – 1891 I-19 Frontage Road; 520-377-5060; nps.gov/tuma; park protects ruins of 3 Spanish mission communities, 2 of which are National Historic Landmark sites; also contains landmark 1937 Tumacácori Museum building.



YUMA COUNTY
Yuma
Sights & Sites
●Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park – 201 North 4^th Avenue; 928-329-0471; pr.state.az.us/parks/YUQU/index.html; Yuma Quartermaster Depot used by US Army to store and distribute supplies for all Southwest military posts; 5 original depot buildings remain, of which 4 contain exhibits.
●Yuma Territorial Prison State Historical Park – 1 Prison Hill Road; 928-783-4771; pr.state.az.us/parks/yute/index.html; Arizona’s 1^st prison; in 1876, 1^st 7 inmates entered Territorial Prison they had built themselves; now, visitors walk through actual strap iron cells and solitary chamber; museum re those who once “involuntarily” stayed there and prison life they had to endure; 3K prisoners, including 30 women during prison’s 33 operational years; despite infamous reputation, written evidence indicates humanely administered and model institution; crimes ranged from murder to polygamy, with grand larceny being most common; majority served only sentence portion due to easy pardons and paroles; 111 persons died while serving, most from tuberculosis; 26 successful escapes, but only 2 from within prison; no executions because capital punishment administered by county; during free time, prisoners hand-crafted many items, sold at public bazaars held at prison on Sundays after church services; regular medical attention and access to good hospital; many convicts learned to read and write in prison; prison housed among 1^st “public” libraries in territory; early electrical generating plant furnished power for lights and ran cellblock ventilation; Yuma Union High School occupied buildings from 1910-1914; empty cells provided free lodging for hobos riding freights in 1920s and sheltered many homeless families during Depression.