LESS-TRAVELED PARKS AND MONUMENTS IN ARIZONA
Canyon de Chelly National Monument Box 588, Chinle, AZ 86503 (520) 674-5436 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 (520) 723-3172 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 Dos Cabezas Box 6500, Willcox, AZ 85643 (520) 824-3560 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 (520) 366-5515 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 (520) 847-2500 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 Willcox 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 (520) 755-3475 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). Three Mission Restaurant. Navajo National Monument H.C. 71, Box 3, Tonalea, AZ 86044 (520) 672-2366 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 (520) 387-6849 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 |