State Parks Road Trip to Visit Some of Arizona’s Best Lakes and Rivers

1 hour, 50 minutes (106 mi/171 km)

Wake up early on your second morning to drive to Buckskin Mountain State Park; you’ll want the full day to take advantage of the hiking, swimming, fishing, and boating opportunities in this 1,677-acre park situated on the eastern side of the Colorado River, just across the border from California. You’ll only be driving through a few small towns — namely Salome and Parker — to reach the park, so make sure to stop for gas, coffee, or food when you see something appealing. Crossroads Cafe and Early Bird Coffee Shop are both good options.

We recommend planning to stay at the campground in the park, which is very family friendly. The riverfront campsites are particularly picturesque, but they are given out on a first-come, first-served basis starting at noon, so plan your day accordingly. Note that during summer months, there is a two-night minimum stay on weekends (and some holidays have a three-night minimum). Alternative accommodations can be found at other campgrounds along the river.

If you are visiting during the summer and wish to hike, do so either first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the worst of the day’s heat. Several trails are yours to explore, including ones for beginners and advanced hikers. When taken together, the trails form a highlight reel of the park’s riparian, desert, and mountainous ecologies that are a result of volcanic activity millions of years ago. You’ll even get to see abandoned copper mines on routes like the Market Trail and the aptly named Copper Mines Trail.

Of course, you’d be missing out if you didn’t have a bit of fun on the river. Spend a few hours leisurely fishing for bass, catfish, and panfish, or don your suit for a swim in the park’s designated swimming area. You can shower off before bed in any of the campground’s three restrooms.

3 hours, 27 minutes (233 mi/375 km)

If you’re eager to get back to a city, you can start your day when the sun rises to maximize your time in Flagstaff. Otherwise, sleep in and maybe even hike another trail before driving to Riordan Mansion State Historic Park. Because it’s not far from downtown Flagstaff, we recommend getting a bite to eat at a place like Pizzicletta or Morning Glory Café. If you follow a plant-based diet, Red Curry Vegan Kitchen is not to be missed.

Once you’ve filled your belly, it’s time to fill your head with some intriguing stories and historical facts. Riordan Mansion State Park offers visitors insight into how two businessmen, Timothy and Michael Riordan, helped attract business and educational opportunities to the town of Flagstaff around the turn of the 20th century. Their shared duplex home has been preserved to mirror what it would have looked like upon being built in 1904. You’ll need to take a one-hour guided tour to see the mansion, though self-guided tours are permitted on the grounds.

There are plenty of places to rest your head in Flagstaff. Whether you choose to stay in an Airbnb that provides you with privacy or a high-end hotel that offers rejuvenating spa treatments, enjoy your evening in the city before — you’ll be back in the great outdoors come tomorrow morning!

2 hours, 29 minutes (162 mi/261 km)

After a cup of coffee and an early breakfast, drive to Lyman Lake State Park in eastern Arizona. If it’s summertime, you’ll want to start especially early so that you can squeeze in some activities before the heat intensifies.

The park has trails for hikers of all skill levels. If you are up for a moderate adventure, take the Peninsula Petroglyph Trail. Less than a mile long, it will not only introduce you to more than 200 petroglyphs (and instruct you on their significance via interpretive signs), but it will also afford you stunning 360 degree views of Lyman Lake. A visit to this park would likewise be incomplete without a stop by Rattlesnake Point Pueblo. This 14th century pueblo, occupied by the ancestors of the Hopi people, can be accessed from a .07 mile (.11 kilometers) trail on the park’s eastern side. It features three excavated rooms, though more than 80 rooms exist in total. 

After exploring Lyman Lake State Park on your own two feet, head to the lake to relax even more with boating, fishing, and swimming opportunities. Since motor sizes are unrestricted on this 1,500-acre reservoir, you’ll see folks on wakeboards, water skis, kayaks, and paddleboards having a blast. Watercraft rentals are available inside the park. If you’d prefer to fish, head to the no-wake area on the western side of the lake to try your hand at catching largemouth bass, walleye, and channel catfish. 

We imagine you’ll be exhausted after playing all day. Luckily, campsites and RV hookups are plentiful at Lyman Lake State Park. Eight comfortable cabins, each of which feature electricity and house up to six people, are also available for rent. Plan on making your own meal at camp or driving to the nearby towns of St Johns, Springerville, or Eager for some grub (but note that as small towns, their options are limited).

We suggest devoting your second day at Roper Lake State Park, and your final day of vacation, to some high quality physical movement. While not necessarily a prime destination for hikers, there are 5 miles (8 kilometers) of trails throughout the park. The majority of these trails connect campgrounds and park features, but the beginner-friendly Mariah Mesa Trail is a standalone trail clocking it at an easy .76 miles (1.2 kilometers). Be sure to stop and read the signs along the way to learn more about the ecology of the area. 

Dankworth Pond State Park, where you may have gone fishing yesterday, offers a very unique trail known as the Dos Arroyos Trail. This easy hiking loop, just shy of 2 miles (around 3 kilometers), leads hikers to Dankworth Village Heritage Education Site. Here, you can explore a re-created Indigenous village, replete with tools like grinding stones and roasting pits, as well as examples of traditional accommodations. 

Finally, we suggest taking Hwy 366 to Mount Graham and hiking through its forested landscape, home to plentiful Coues whitetail deer and the Mount Graham red squirrel, an endangered species. Biking and horseback riding are also permissible on many of the mountain’s trails. At 10,720 feet (3,267 meters) tall, Mount Graham is a sky island; the alpine ecosystem found near its peak stands in stark contrast to the desert ecosystem at the mountain’s base. As you ascend the mountain, watch how the desert scrub gives way to grasslands, then oaks, pines, spruces, and firs. 

After all that physical activity, you’ll welcome one more night at camp before driving the 2 hour, 45 minutes back to Phoenix. If you do feel like making the drive back tonight, treat yourself to an indulgent dinner in town as you reminisce on your favorite moments of the trip.