National Parks in Arizona

National Parks in Arizona

Arizona National Parks offer breathtaking natural beauty and historical significance that have been preserved over generations. Here are several that you shouldn't miss.

Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon in northern Arizona, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is one of the world's most beloved natural wonders. With breathtaking vistas and layers of red rock forming this breathtaking formation, its splendor has long inspired poets, philosophers, and artists. Visitors often shed tears upon first witnessing its immensity for themselves - so much so that its splendor was protected by the National Park Service in 1919; earning it one of America's most esteemed parks status.

The Grand Canyon provides a vast historical record of Earth's geological evolution dating back two billion years. Its vibrant hues are due to sedimentary rock formations compressed and weathered over millions of years by the Colorado River; their colorful surface attracts wildlife such as birds and plants native to its environment.

Photographs and videos can give a good glimpse of the Grand Canyon, but nothing beats experiencing its breathtaking grandeur in person. It is one of Arizona's most visited national parks with approximately five million annual visitors.

The Grand Canyon provides more than just hiking, mule rides and whitewater rafting. It also hosts numerous restaurants, hotels and shops that serve the growing number of tourists visiting its expanse. Plus, there are visitor centers and museums geared to welcoming these guests!

Downloading the National Park Service mobile app before heading out to see the Grand Canyon can provide invaluable assistance, with detailed maps, images and content which can be stored locally if your data allowance is limited.

The park plays an essential economic role for gateway communities like Tusayan, Cameron Williams Flagstaff Jacob Lake in Arizona; Fredonia Kanab Jacob Lake in Utah; as well as 11 federally recognized tribes. Furthermore, climate change affects water resources and geohazards such as droughts or flash flooding due to warmer temperatures extending the dry season and decreasing snowpack, leading to droughts or flash flooding events.

Petrified Forest

Petrified Forest National Park boasts colorful desert formations as its namesake, as well as fossils, petroglyphs, buttes and mesas that feature fossilized marine life and wildflowers throughout its various seasons. Explore this captivating park from one of its scenic overlooks or on short yet well-maintained trails. It will keep visitors engaged!

Petrified wood, from small fragments to massive trunks, can be found throughout the park. Dating back to the Late Triassic Epoch of Mesozoic Era when northeast Arizona was part of Pangaea supercontinent, these pieces date from when trees buried under sediment absorbed groundwater rich with silica from volcanic ash crystallized into quartz over time and created its signature rainbow colors seen today.

Long Logs, Agate House, Crystal Forest and Blue Mesa are the four prime spots to spot petrified wood in the park. We recommend visiting early or later in the day to maximize photo opps of petrified forests. In particular, Tepees should not be missed. Their unique badlands feature layers of color from pink through red to blue to gray that become especially striking at sunrise or sunset.

The Petrified Forest National Park lies about an hour and 45 minutes east of Flagstaff and can easily be accessed via Interstate 40. There is a visitor center at its southern entrance.

Tonto National Monument

Tonto Basin National Monument protects two cliff dwellings built by the Salado people that overlook today's Roosevelt Lake and are well preserved. Visitors taking an Upper Cliff Dwelling Tour can gain insight into this ancient culture while taking in spectacular views of their surroundings.

The Salado were an ancient culture who lived in the Southwest between 1250 CE and 1450 CE. Their ancestors arrived from various regions across the region, creating a vibrant community thriving on agriculture, hunting, fishing, weaving and weaving. This is evidenced by artifacts found by archeologists during excavation of dwellings by this prehistoric culture.

Visitors to this national monument can not only discover two cliff dwellings, but can also learn more about its surrounding landscape history at this site. As it serves as the meeting point of three biogeoclimatic zones, Sonoran Desert, Mogollon Plateau, and Colorado Plateau. Visitors are sure to spot an array of wildlife such as antelope, bighorn sheep, coyotes, jackrabbits and rattlesnakes!

Visitors can drive there from Apache Junction. It is west of downtown Phoenix, in about 75 minutes, by taking US-60 and AZ-188 until reaching park entrance.

Travelers to this stunning national monument may be perplexed as to its unfortunate name: tonto is Spanish for "dumb," meaning silly or idiot, hence this park's unique moniker.

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