During a hot Southwestern day, the best way to beat the Arizona heat is to find an oasis. We recommend making your way to these Arizona state parks with bodies of water where you can cool off while you play.
Not only can you don your swimsuit and slide down the famous Slide Rock swim area into Oak Creek, but you can also hike along the easy, .25 mile (.4 kilometers) Pendley Homestead trail. Along the way, you’ll marvel at an apple packing barn, old cabins, and the original orchards of a historic 20th century homestead.
If you love to fish, then you’ll feel at home in many of Arizona’s state parks, where you can catch largemouth bass, bluegill, trout, catfish, and panfish. Several trails are also yours to explore, including ones for beginners and advanced hikers. You’ll marvel at the state’s riparian, desert, and mountainous ecologies.
Given how diverse and plentiful Arizona’s state parks are, it can be difficult to come to a group consensus on which ones to visit. Even when traveling alone, you might find it challenging to decide on the parks that should be at the top of your bucket list. This guide to six parks in Arizona’s Verde Valley will help you zero in on which parks are best suited to your interests.
Beachside campsites offer easy access to the river, while hiking trails along the banks give hikers panoramic views of the river and beyond. Springtime wildflowers are best seen along the half-mile Lightning Bolt Trail, and the Copper Mines Trail and Lamb Springs Trail take you on an abandoned mine tour.
After a day of hiking or horseback riding, make a short drive for some of the best stargazing in the state.
Rugged mountain peaks, wildflower-studded hillsides, and desert oases define springtime in Southern Arizona, and there’s no better way to take it all in than a trip through Arizona’s state parks.
From wildlife to wildflowers and cactus blooms, late winter and spring is when the desert comes alive. Take a trip through the heart of the Sonoran Desert by way of Arizona State Parks.
Birdwatching is the perfect way to appreciate wildlife and embrace the great outdoors. Birdwatchers flock to these Arizona state parks year-round to catch a glimpse of the Southwest’s rarest feathered friends.
Southeastern Arizona’s state parks provide a bounty of incredible wildlife, unforgettable vistas and outdoor adventures that will make you feel one with nature. This itinerary can be done in less than a week, or you can take more time to soak in all of the history and mystery that awaits. Lace up your hiking boots, grab your binoculars and pack your cacti identification manual – there’s no time to waste when it comes to exploring these Arizona state parks.