Top 10 state and national parks around Arizona that aren't Grand Canyon
Saguaro National Park
Cactus, ponderosa pines, aspens and fir trees are all to be found at Saguaro National Park in Tucson. The 92,000-acre park ranges between 2,300 feet on the west side of the part to 8,482 feet at the summit of Rincon Peak on the east side. Thanks to such an extreme elevation, Saguaro National Park is home to more than 1,700 species of plants and animals, making it one of the most biologically diverse parks in the country.
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Hikers appreciate the miles of trails, most of which are open to equestrians. Each district has its own visitor center, where guests can learn about the park’s plants and animals, geology and archaeology, ranger-led events and interpretive activities. The busy season at Saguaro runs from about November through mid-April. During that time, rangers and volunteers present a number of interpretive programs each day.
Details: www.nps.gov/sagu.
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Wupatki and neighboring Sunset Crater Volcano national monuments just north of Flagstaff encompass a great deal scenery and history. The features of both parks can be seen during a scenic drive along a paved loop road. That’s the Painted Desert in the distance.
About nine centuries ago, a volcano exploded, burying the landscape under lava and cinders. Even after 900 years, the lava looks as if it could flow again at almost any time. The Lava Flow Trail (1 mile round-trip) loops amid flows and cinders. At the far end of the loop, enjoy a view at the foot of the cinder cone, which almost looks like black sand from a tropical beach.
Details: www.nps.gov/wupa, www.nps.gov/sucr.
Chiricahua National Monument
The Chiricahua Mountains south of Willcox are best known for spectacular hoodoos and rock formations. A hike called the Big Loop covers 9.5 miles and is a veritable greatest hits of rock formations and scenic views. Shorter, equally pleasing hikes are plentiful. The Chiricahua Mountains extend for miles beyond the monument, with elevations greater than 9,000 feet.
The mountains were battered by the Horseshoe II Fire in 2011, but most areas have reopened. Just know that dead and downed trees can pose a hazard. The monument also includes the Faraway Ranch historical site, a campground and a visitor center.
Details: www.nps.gov/chir.
Slide Rock State Park
The park north of Sedona is named for a natural water chute that kids of all ages love to glide down in summer. It’s crazy popular in summer, but consider a visit in autumn, when the leaves are turning, the crowds are thin and you can walk among the apple trees and historical buildings.
Originally the area was known as the Pendley Homestead, for Frank L. Pendley, who planted apple trees beginning in 1912. He was the first to successfully irrigate land near Oak Creek, and his system is still used in the park. Hike the flat, easy Pendley Homestead Trail to see apple orchards, the original Pendley home and barn and beautiful canyon views.
Details: azstateparks.com/slide-rock.
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Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
Tonto Natural Bridge north of Payson is an impressive span. The man who first documented the bridge came across it while being chased by Apaches. David Gowan, a prospector, hid in a cave inside the bridge for three days. Despite that unfriendly welcome, Gowan claimed the land by squatters rights and persuaded his family to emigrate from Scotland to settle there.
It is believed to be the largest natural travertine bridge in the world, standing 183 feet high over a 400-foot-long tunnel that measures 150 feet wide. The half-mile Gowan Loop Trail leads down the bank of the creek — and several steep flights of steps — to an observation deck near the tunnel under the natural bridge. Two other short trails provide good views of the park’s features.
Details:azstateparks.com/tonto.
Petrified Forest National Park
A few hundred million years ago, the desolate, high-desert plains in northeastern Arizona straddled the equator. Rivers and streams flowed through a lowland basin where thickets of coniferous trees, some 9 feet in diameter and 200 feet tall, towered over the landscape. Over time, some of those trees fell, were washed downstream and buried. Time passed, lots of time, and woody tissue was replaced by dissolved silica. Meanwhile, Earth’s land mass shifted.
Today, those trees are the main attraction of Petrified Forest National Park east of Holbrook. But there's a lot more to the park than the trees. In addition to jaw-dropping vistas of the Painted Desert, the park holds an assortment of fossils, Native American ruins and petroglyphs, along with 50,000 acres of wilderness that hikers can explore.
Details: www.nps.gov/pefo.
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Dead Horse Ranch State Park
Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Cottonwood packs a lot into 423 acres. Visitors may enjoy camping, fishing, biking and hiking. There are places to picnic, trails to hike, bike or horseback ride on, and many nearby attractions. Cabins and campgrounds are available; reservations are taken over the phone or online. There is canoe access for those who want to run the Verde River.
The park revolves around life on the Verde, one of the last free-flowing rivers in the Sonoran Desert. The wildlife activity changes with the seasons. You might see otters, hawks, bald eagles, coyotes, raccoons, mule deer, beaver, ducks, frogs and toads. Well-maintained trails ramble along the river, climb red rock hillsides and duck through stands of cottonwoods and mesquite.
Details:azstateparks.com/dead-horse.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Land and water. Desert and mountains. Hardscrabble wilderness and luxurious houseboats. Lake Mead National Recreation Area in the northwest corner of Arizona is a land of contrasts. The sprawling, nearly 1.5 million-acre park, which encompasses Lake Mohave as well as Lake Mead, stretches from Laughlin, Nev., in the south to Overton in the north. It abuts Grand Canyon National Park in the east and reaches nearly all the way to Las Vegas in the west.
Part of what makes the recreation area different is its location. It sits at the intersection of three of North America's four deserts — the Great Basin, Mojave and Sonoran. Boating (bring your own or rent one) is one of the most popular activities there, but visitors also can hike, camp, swim and take scenic drives. Keep an eye out for wildlife, including bighorn sheep.
Details:www.nps.gov/lake.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is a sprawling, remote gorge in northern Arizona and southern Utah. Dozens of side canyons spill into it, sloping creeks and red-walled slots flanked by high cliffs, hoodoos and natural arches. It is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Glen Canyon’s 1.25 million acres encompass Lake Powell, Glen Canyon Dam and Lees Ferry, known for its trout fishing and as the put-in spot for Colorado River raft trips. Easy-access hikes at Lees Ferry include Paria Canyon, Spencer Trail and the River Trail. Visitors also can explore Lonely Dell Ranch, home of John D. and Emma Lee, Mormon pioneers who operated the ferry in the 1800s.
The Glen Canyon Natural History Association offers 45-minute guided tours of the dam. Walk-up admission is first-come, first served; reservations can be made in person up to 24 hours in advance at the Carl Hayden Visitor Center on U.S. 89 west of the dam.
Lake Powell Resort and Wahweap Marina offer lodging on the lake, boat tours (including one to Rainbow Bridge, a large natural arch) and watercraft rentals of all kinds, from houseboats to kayaks. 888-896-3829, www.lakepowell.com.
Details:www.nps.gov/glca.
Kartchner Caverns State Park
The rest of the country has caught on to what fans of Arizona’s Kartchner Caverns have known for a long time: The state park is a pretty special place. Kartchner Caverns was voted the best cave in the United States in the 2016 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
Interested in seeing what the big deal is? You can choose among three guided tours. Cave tours often sell out, so online reservations are recommended.
The Rotunda Tour features the Kubla Khan formation, a 58-foot column. The Big Room Tour showcases other formations in addition to Kartchner’s bat population. The Helmet & Headlamp Tour lets visitors experience the caves with only the light of a headlamp. Each tour covers a half-mile. Children younger than 7 are not permitted on the Rotunda Tour and children younger than 10 are not permitted on the headlamp tour.
The park also has a museum, hiking trails, campground, picnic ramadas and cafe.
Details:azstateparks.com/kartchner.