National Parks of Arizona August 28, 2006
Posted by Annette H in : Great Places to Visit , add a commentMost of us think of Arizona as a hot and dry desert, however the natural beauties of Arizona can leave you in awe. The southern part of the state is swealtering most of the year, but the northern regions can dip below freezing due to its’ higher elevations. Also, much of the state is susceptible to monsoons (floods caused by rains) so it is advisable to check weather forcasts and information about the state when you plan your trip. I was priveledged to visit some National Parks in Arizona with my family a few years ago. The unusual landscapes and variety of wildlife were spectacular. You can check the National Park Service website for more information.
The Grand Canyon is probably one of the most recognizable parks. The Canyon was formed by the powerful current of the Colorado River. Visiters can hike around the perimeter and catch views of the river or take one of the park’s buses. Adventurers can brave the long trek down to the bottem of the canyon or ride a mule. Be sure to plan ahead because you need reservations for mule rides and hiking to the bottem requires at least one night stay. You can get details at http://www.nps.gov/grca/
The Painted Desert is in the northeastern part of the state. It also features the Petrified Forest. I really enjoyed this park. It was expansive, but less crowded and had more facilities than the Grand Canyon. You can drive around and stop at scenic overlooks as well as hike on some trails. It was amazing to see how many colors and hues the rock formations took throughout the day as the sun moved in the horizon. Visit http://www.nps.gov/pefo/ for more information.
Sunset Crater Volcano is estimated to have erupted about 900 years ago. Today, you can hike around the crater and walk through ancient lava flows. The colors are magnificent and you can visualize how the eruption changed the land. In the immediate area you can see tree covered mountain peaks, which must have covered the area before the eruption. Both Sunset Crater and Wupatki National Monument can be visited in one day. Sunset Crater is just a 14 miles from from Flagstaff and you can continue driving about 21 miles to Wupatki National Monument. http://www.nps.gov/sucr/
At the Wupatki National Manument you drive around and see desert scenery and visit the ruins of an ancient pueblo. Get more information at http://www.nps.gov/wupa/.
