"Get off the road..." [Driver passes by]
Hi I'm Mike of Mike's Road Trip here in the desert Southwest. On this episode I
feature my 10 favorite Arizona National Parks and Monuments,
brought to you by Allianz Travel.
Now many of these national treasures here in
Arizona reflect the native cultures and unique cacti, so come along with me and
let me show you around.
First up is one of the most underrated places in Arizona, Canyon de Chelly - where wind water and time have etched a masterpiece.
This is a place that stole the heart of famed photographer, Ansel Adams. Located in northeastern Arizona this monument is situated on Navajo land,
with free admission to access the rim sites. However, if you want to go down inside
the canyon to get a close-up view of the cliff dwellings and other artifacts, you
need to have a Navajo guide.
Canyon de Chelly is an astonishing area with colorful cliffs rich soil flora and fauna, it's a place that should be on
everyone's bucket list when visiting Arizona.
The Glen Canyon National Recreation area is home to some of Arizona's most recognizable sights the
world over - from Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Lake Powell, the Vermillion cliffs, Lee's ferry, to the Glen Canyon Dam, this is an
incredibly scenic part of the state. With so many activities to choose from, such
as kayaking, camping, hiking to off-roading and more.
The Organ Pipe National Monument near Ajo in southern Arizona is a place
abundant with organ pipe cactus, the only place in the United States where it
grows naturally. unlike many other national monuments, you can continue your
drive through the park. The Ajo Mountain Drive is the most popular scenic driving
route and it's worth mentioning that the road is gravel and you may not want to
take your RV on this stretch.
Saguaro National Park is another place dedicated to a unique cacti that only grows in the Sonoran Desert.
The Saguaro also has another distinction, it's the largest cacti in the country and an iconic symbol of the southwest.
No southern Arizona road trip would be complete without a visit to the
Chiricahua mountains. This is a place where you'll find some fascinating rock
formations. These thin spires are called hoodoos, which support larger rocks that appear to be balancing on top. One of the best ways to navigate through this odd
landscape is to drive the paved Bonita Canyon scenic drive, which gradually
winds its way through a pine forest to Maasai point. At this overlook you have a 360-degree view.
Montezuma Castle is one of Arizona's most cherished historical
treasures, it's a cliff dwelling that will captivate you with its age-old
design that has stood the test of time.
Tumacacori National Historical Park is where three early Spanish colonial mission ruins have been preserved, the oldest and best preserved of the three is the San Jose de Tumacacori, which was built
on the site of this Pima Indian village back in the 1750s.
Located between Sedona and Jerome lies a small National Monument known as to
Tuzigoot , which is one of several sites south of Flagstaff where the 12th
century Sinagua Indian dwellings are preserved.
Unlike Montezuma Castle 20 miles to the southeast to Tuzigoot comprises a
cluster of buildings on top of a small sandstone ridge near the Verde River.
Visiting Sunset Crater is an unearthly experience, this is an extinct volcano
where a large expanse of lava and ash are peppered by vegetation showcased
against the deep black color of the landscape. Many visitors also stop by the
nearby Wupatki National Monument. The scenic loop leads from a high ponderosa
pine forest down nearly 2,000 feet in elevation to the red rocks and painted
desert vistas of Wupatki.
Of course the granddaddy of all the national parks and monuments in Arizona
is the Grand Canyon.
Well that's it from the Grand Canyon State and my top
favorite Arizona national parks and monuments. I'd like to thank
Allianz Travel for making this video possible. If you'd like information on any of the
places listed in this video, check out the links below. Hey I hope you enjoyed
this video, and if so, please hit the like button and don't forget to subscribe for
more Road Trip travel videos. So until next time, we'll see on the road...
MikesRoadTrip.com