Arizona Reporter - Arizona Guide - 03/02
LESS VISITED PARKS AND MONUMENTS IN ARIZONA


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Thinking of a quick getaway? Maybe something to do this weekend? Or Somewhere else to visit while your in Arizona? Or maybe your interested in exploring your own back yard?

@AZR presents the ever popular Less Visited Parks and Monuments in Arizona.


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Canyon de Chelly National Monument
Box 588, Chinle, AZ 86503

Ruins of Indian villages built between A.D. 350 and 1300 at the base of sheer red cliffs and in caves in canyon walls. Modern Navajo Indian homes and farms. Picnicking, campgrounds, scenic drive, ruins, pictographs, hiking on White House ruin, guided tours, museum.
Location: From Gallup, N. Mex., northwest on U.S. 666 to N. Mex. 264 to U.S. 191 to Chinle.
Accommodations: Meals, lodging, and jeep tours at Thunderbird Lodge at monument. Write to lodge at Box 548, Chinle, AZ 86503 for reservations.

Casa Grande National Monument
Box 518, Coolidge, AZ 85228

Ruins of massive four-story building constructed of high-lime desert soil by Indians who farmed the Gila Valley 600 years ago. Day use area only. High summer temperatures. Visitor center. museum, guided tours, self-guiding trail, picnicking, private campground nearby.
Location: Within the town of Coolidge, on Highway 87, halfway between Phoenix and Tucson.
Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Coolidge and city of Casa Grande.


Chiricahua National Monument

Varied rock formations created millions of years ago by volcanic activity. Chiricahua Mountains rise steeply from the desert like a forested island. Trails provide views of all park features. Visitor center, campgrounds, scenic drive. hiking, self-guiding trails, picnicking.
Location: 36 miles southeast of Willcox, Ariz., off Rt. 186.
Accommodations: Meals and lodging and commercial campground in Willcox. Small camping area in monument's Bonita Canyon.

Coronado National Memorial
4101 East Montezuma Canyon Road, Hereford, AZ 85615

Commemorates first European exploration of Southwest, by Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, 154042. View of part of route Coronado expedition used to enter present United States from Mexico. High summer temperatures. Hiking, exhibits, trails, picnicking, visitor center.
Location: 22 miles south of Sierra Vista, Ariz., and 30 miles southwest of Bisbee, Ariz., off Route 92.
Accommodations: Meals and lodging at Sierra Vista and Bisbee. Camping 18 miles west at Forest Service campgrounds at Parker Lake.

Fort Bowie National Historic Site
P.O. Box 158, Bowie, AZ 85605

Ruins of fort established 1862. Focal point of military operations against Geronimo and his band of Apaches. A walk-in and day use area only. Rugged 1.5-mile sand and gravel trail leads from parking lot to the site. Picnic tables at the site. Ruins of fort, small museum, hiking.
Location: From Wilcox on Interstate 10, drive 12 miles south on State Route 186 to graded road leading east to Apache Pass. Or from Bowie on Interstate 10, drive 12 miles south on a graded dirt road and bear west into Apache Pass.
Accommodations: Meals and lodging at Bowie or Willcox. National Park Service campground 25 miles southwest at Chiricahua National Monument.

Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site
Box 150, Ganado, AZ 86505

Still-active trading post illustrates the influence of reservation traders on the Indian way of life. Indian crafts for sale, self-guiding trail, interpretive programs, weaving demonstrations.
Location: On Navajo' Indian Reservation, one mile west of Ganado, and 55 miles from Gallup. N. Mex.
Accommodations: Meals and lodging at Window Rock, Ariz., 30 miles from Hubbell, off Ariz. 264. College of Ganado (limited motel units).

Navajo National Monument
H.C. 71, Box 3, Tonalea, AZ 86044

Two of the most elaborate and best-preserved cliff dwellings in the Southwest: Betatakin, 135 rooms, and Keet Seel, 157 rooms. Both occupied during late 13th century by Pueblo peoples. Daily guided tours into the canyon/ prehistoric sites late spring through early fall. Limited to 20 people per tour. Self-guiding overlook trail, picnicking, camping, visitor center, exhibits, museum, campfire programs in summer, Navajo art and crafts shops.
Location: Twenty miles northwest from Kayenta on Highway 160, turn north on Highway 564 for ten miles. Highway 564 ends at park boundary: not a through highway to Page.
Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Kayenta.

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Route 1, Box 100, Ajo, AZ 85321

Named for cactus species rare in the United States. Protects desert plants, animals, and natural features in segment of the Sonoran Desert, which stretches from northwestern Mexico to southeastern California. Contains traces of the historic trail, Camino del Diablo. Visitor center, interpretive programs, scenic drives and hikes. This area visited mostly during winter months when climate is more temperate.
Location: At junction of Interstates 8 and 80, take State Route 85 south. Headquarters is 40 miles south of town of Ajo. From Tucson, take State Route 86 west to Route 85. Headquarters is 12 miles south of this junction.
Accommodations: Campground 1.5 miles south of visitor center. Some accommodations in Lukeville and in Sonoita, Mexico. Accommodations in Ajo, 40 miles north.

Pipe Spring National Monument
Moccasin, AZ 86022

Historic fort and other structures built by Mormon pioneers. Homes, bunkhouses, work sheds, and corrals typical of 19th-century ranches. Tour of fort and grounds, picnicking. Location Fifteen miles southwest of Fredonia, Ariz. Reached from Alt. U.S. 89 via Ariz. 389. From 1-15, Utah 9 and 17 connect with Utah 59 at Hurricane, Utah. Paved road leads to the monument from there.
Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Fredonia and Hurricane.

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Route 3, Box 149, Flagstaff, AZ 86004

1,000-foot volcanic cinder cone. Formed A.D. 1064-1065. with lava flows and related igneous features. Cinders of Summit Crater give illusion of perpetual sunset. Volcanic crater, visitor center, self-guiding nature trail. Connected to Wupatki National Monument by paved road through Coconino National Forest. Forest Service campground across from visitor center.
Location: From Flagstaff, take U.S. 89 north about 16 miles to monument entrance.
Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Flagstaff.

Tonto National Monument
Box 707, Roosevelt, AZ 85545

Well-preserved cliff dwelling occupied in 13th and 14th centuries by salado Indians farming Salt River Valley. Most visitors come in winter. when climate is more temperate. The monument lies above 4,000 feet, however, and receives some summer breezes. Visitor center. Indian ruins, exhibits, self-guiding trails, picnic areas, camping in nearby Tonto National Forest. Day use area only.
Location: From Phoenix, take U.S. 60-70 to Apache Junction, take State Route 88 northeast to Roosevelt. Monument turnoff is 2 miles southeast, in Roosevelt.
Accommodations: Meals in Roosevelt. Meals and lodging 25 miles southeast at Globe.

Tumacacori National Historical Park
Box 67, Tumacacori, AZ 85640

Ruins of 19th-century Spanish colonial mission community. Day use area only. Visitor center. self-guiding trails. ruins, museum. weekend craft demonstrations, picnicking. Favorable weather throughout the winter.
Location: Exit 29 on Interstate 19, 19 miles north of Nogales and 45 miles south of Tucson.
Accommodations: Meals available in nearby restaurants. Meals and lodging at Nogales, Rio Rico (8 miles), and Tucson. Forest Service campground at Pena Blanca Lake, 21 miles south and west of the monument.

Tuzigoot National Monument
Box 68, Clarkdale, AZ 86324

Excavated ruins of large Indian pueblo that flourished in the Verde Valley between 1000 and 1400 A.D. Day use area only. Visitor center, ruins, Indian exhibits.
Location: 48 miles southwest of Flagstaff, off U.S. 89A.
Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Clarkdale and Cottonwood, 2 miles from the monument.

Walnut Canyon National Monument
Walnut Canyon Road, Flagstaff, AZ 86004

Cliff dwellings in shallow caves under limestone ledges. Built by Pueblo Indians about 800 years ago. Access to cliff dwellings is a steep set of rugged steps. It is a hardy walk. Day use area only. Visitor center, cliff dwellings, self-guiding trail, picnic area.
Location: Off U.S. 66, Interstate 40, 12 miles east of Flagstaff.
Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Flagstaff.

Wupatki National Monument
HC33, Box 444A, Flagstaff, AZ 86001

Ruins of masonry pueblos built by Sinagua and Anasazi Indian farmers between A.D. 100 and 1225. Part of complex prehistoric story of struggle for survival in a harsh climate. Visitor center, ruins, self-guiding trails, picnic area. Connected to Sunset Crater National Monument by paved road leading from Coconino National Forest. Forest Service campground 18 miles south. across from Sunset Crater visitor center.
Location: Off U.S. 89, 30 miles north of Flagstaff.
Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Flagstaff.

Link: Bill Leverton's travelsw dot com



Originally published via Arizona Reporter: Wednesday November 24, 1999, 0:05 a.m. MST



© 2010 Arizona Reporter (reproduction prohibited)
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