(or short) day in the saddle, you might opt to soak in a hot tub, go for a swim, or play tennis before chowing down. See chapters 5, 9, and 10.
Staying at a Golf or Tennis Resort: The Phoenix/Scottsdale area has one of the nation’s greatest concentrations of resorts, and Sedona and Tucson add many more options to the mix. There’s something very satisfying about swinging a racket or club with the state’s spectacular scenery in the background, and the climate means you can play practically year-round. See chapters 4, 5, and 9.
Mountain Biking in Sedona: Forget fighting for trail space in Moab—among the red rocks of Sedona you can escape the crowds and pedal through awesome scenery on some of the most memorable single-track trails in the Southwest. There’s even plenty of slickrock for that Canyonlands experience. See p. 202.
The best Day Hikes & Nature Walks
Camelback Mountain: For many Phoenicians, the trail to the top of Camelback Mountain, the city’s highest peak, is a ritual, a Phoenix institution. Even halfway up offers striking views. See p. 90.
Peralta Trail: This moderately difficult trail through the rugged Superstition Mountains, east of Phoenix, will lead you to one of the most astonishing views in the state. Hike the trail on a weekday to avoid the crowds. See p. 92.
Picacho Peak State Park: A short but strenuous hike to the top of this central Arizona landmark leads to superb views out over the desert. The best time is in spring, when the peak is painted with wildflowers. It’s 60 miles southeast of Phoenix, just off I-10. See p. 162.
Bell Rock/Courthouse Butte Loop Trail: There’s no better introduction to Sedona’s myriad red-rock hiking opportunities than this easy 4-mile loop hike. Views, views, views! Unfortunately, there are plenty of other hikers, too. See p. 200.
The South Kaibab Trail: Forget the popular Bright Angel Trail, which, near its start, is a human highway. Grand Canyon’s South Kaibab Trail offers better views to day hikers and is the preferred downhill route from the South Rim to Phantom Ranch. It’s a strenuous hike, even if you go only a mile down the trail. Remember, the trip back is all uphill. See p. 235.
The White House Ruins Trail: There’s only one Canyon de Chelly hike that the general public can take without a Navajo guide, and that’s the 2.5-mile trail to the White House Ruins, once inhabited by Ancestral Puebloans. The trail leads from the canyon rim across bare sandstone, through a tunnel, and down to the floor of the canyon. See p. 313.
The Wildcat Trail: Similarly, there’s only one trail at Monument Valley you can hike without a guide. This easy 3.2-mile trail looping around West Mitten Butte gives you a close-up of one of the most photographed rock formations in the West. Don’t miss this hike. See p. 320.
Betatakin: In the Navajo National Monument, most people just marvel at this impressive cliff dwelling from a distance. A ranger-led 5-mile hike through remote Tsegi Canyon to the ruins will give you an infinitely better understanding of the Ancestral Puebloan people who once lived here. See p. 317.
Antelope Canyon: More a slow walk of reverence than a hike, this short trail near Lake Powell leads through a picture-perfect sandstone slot canyon, only a few feet wide in some places. See p. 327.
The Seven Falls Trail: There is something irresistible about waterfalls in the desert, and on this trail in Tucson’s Sabino Canyon you get more than enough falls to cool you off on a hot desert day. See p. 375.
The Heart of Rocks Trail: Chiricahua National Monument, down in the southeast corner of the state, quietly lays claim to some of the most spectacular scenery in Arizona. On this trail, you’ll hike through a wonderland of rocks. See p. 469.
The best Scenic Drives
The Apache Trail: Much of this winding road, which passes just north of the Superstition Mountains, is unpaved (sometimes precariously so) and follows a rugged route once traveled by Apaches. This is some of the most remote country in the Phoenix area, with far-reaching desert vistas and lots to see and do along the way. See p. 159.
Desert View Drive: While everyone else is crowding through the Grand Canyon’s southern entrance, take the lesser-used east entrance to the South Rim and cruise along forested 25-mile-long Desert View Drive to Grand Canyon Village. There are just a few overlooks, but they deliver some of the park’s most awesome views. See p. 233.
Oak Creek Canyon: Slicing down from the pine country outside Flagstaff to the red rocks of Sedona, Oak Creek Canyon is a cool oasis—with a scenic highway leading right through it, from the overlook at the top of the canyon to swimming holes and hiking trails at the bottom. See p. 190.
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park: Countless movies, TV shows, and commercials have made this valley of sandstone buttes and mesas familiar to people all over the world. A 17-mile dirt road winds through the park, giving visitors close-up views of such landmarks as Elephant Butte, the Mittens, and Totem Pole. See p. 318.
Mount Lemmon: Rising some 7,000 feet above Tucson, this massive peak has some impressive rock formations, an incongruous mountain town at the top, and in winter, lots of snow. Drive up the Catalina Highway from the east side of town to see it all. See p. 382.
The best Places to Commune with Cactus
Desert Botanical Garden: There’s no better place in the state to learn about the plants of Arizona’s Sonoran Desert. Displays at this Phoenix botanical garden explain plant adaptations and how indigenous tribes once used many of this region’s wild plants. See p. 59.
Boyce Thompson Arboretum: East of Phoenix, just outside the town of Superior, this was the nation’s first desert botanical garden. Set in a small canyon framed by cliffs, it has desert plantings from all over the world—a fascinating educational stroll in the desert. See p. 162.
(or short) day in the saddle, you might opt to soak in a hot tub, go for a swim, or play tennis before chowing down. See chapters 5, 9, and 10.
