We've lived in Arizona for the past 14 years and I'm embarrassed to admit, but I used to think it wasn't all that pretty. Don't get me wrong, I love Arizona, but I grew up in Georgia where everything was so green and the desert was just so....well....brown. I thought when we moved to New Zealand it would be really hard going back from one of the most beautiful countries in the world the the desert. And although NZ did blow me away, being away from Arizona helped me appreciate that the desert really does have a unique beauty of it's own. The pastel sunsets, the silhouette of a saguaro cactus, the red cliffs, the vast starry skies and the sunshine....ohhhh give me ALL the sunshine! It holds so many other unique features that have since made me fall in love all over again. It's easy to take for granted the beauty in your own backyard and I want to get better about going out there and exploring it. Like this little pocket of the state. Not many people make it up to the northeast corner of Arizona, but I was in awe and I am now making it my own personal mission to let people know that this area of the state shouldn't be ignored! So whether you're an Arizona native, or just visiting, be sure to add this to your bucketlist! It's only 1 hr 45 min east of Flagstaff and is on the route if you're heading from the valley up to Moab or the Canyonlands, or even over to Durango. So there you go, start planning your itinerary now! There are a few stops in this area that are a must see:
The Painted Desert
Visiting the Painted Desert is like seeing art come to life. These badlands stretch over 160 miles from the eastern end of the Grand Canyon through to the Petrified Forest where it is the most easily accessible. They are painted with stripes of lavender and gray to hues of orange and red, it's like you've stepped right into a painting, or a different planet. It is millions of years in the making and each layer is rich in geological history. I would recommend the Painted Desert Rim trail. It is a short and easy 1.2 mile loop that gives you beautiful views of the rich red badlands.
Petrified Forest National Park
The Petrified Forest Park lies within the Painted Desert and stretches 28 miles with plenty of stops and hikes along the way, so take your time and plan for at least a half if not full day to truly appreciate it. There is a $20 entrance fee per vehicle which is good for 7 days. There are quite a few stops along the way (be sure to pick up a map at the visitor's center), but here are a few that I would recommend coming from the north entrance and heading south:
-Tawa Point is a scenic lookout and also the location for the Painted Desert Rim trail.
-The Painted Desert Inn this historic landmark was once an inn made of petrified wood and was a stopping point along Route 66, It has been converted to a museum where you can learn about the history of the building and the area.
-Pintado Point is the highest lookout point over the Painted Desert.
-Newspaper Rock is a short stop off the main road and consists of two large rocks that are covered in over 600 petroglyphs. There is a viewing platform with binoculars that my kids thought were the coolest thing ever, next to the petroglyphs of course (wink).
-The Blue Mesa Trail for me was the crowning jewel of the park. It was a spectacular one mile walk through the pastel layered badlands and made you feel as if you were transported to another planet. There are plenty of petrified logs scattered throughout the hike as well, it has so much to offer in such a short loop.
-The Crystal Forest is a short .85 milk loop, I mean, it had me at the name alone. You can discover plenty of petrified logs of all sizes and colors.
-The Rainbow Forest museum at the southern entrance is worth a stop, kids will especially like the dinosaur exhibits and paleontology dig.
-Rainbow Forest - After the museum head out to the where it has one of the highest concentrations of petrified logs.
Be sure to check out these stops in the Rainbow Forest:
- Old Faithful is the largest fossil log with a diameter of 9.5 feet
-Long Logs Trail is where some of the logs reach 120 feet
-Agate House is an ancient 8 room dwelling made of petrified wood
Canyon de Chelly
I have seen pictures of the place and knew it was beautiful, but seeing it in person is a whole other animal! It is like jaw dropping beautiful. And there is so much history in this canyon, it has been consistently inhabited for the past 5,000 years! Longer than anywhere in the Colorado Plateau. When you're looking down into the canyon you can see not only preserved Anasazi ruins built into an alcove on the side of the canyon wall and ground, but also small homes and farmlands and it makes you think about how vastly different their lifestyle is. Pretty amazing. It remains very remote, there is only one possible entry for vehicles and anyone entering by vehicle must be accompanied by a Navajo guide. You can take an adventurous 4x4 tour with Canyon de Chelly Tours or Beauty Way Jeep Tours, or take a serene horse back tour, either way it's such a great way to get up close and experience the beauty from down below. There is only one authorized trail if you want to hike down without a Navajo guide, the White House Ruin Trail. A backcountry pass and guide are required for all other hiking trails. The trail down to the ruins is 1.2 miles and is a fairly steep descent with switchbacks, so you'll definitely get a workout on the way back up! We have seen quite a few ruins here in Arizona and I must say that these are my favorite. They are thought to be originally constructed around 1070 and were home to at least 50 people. You can't walk inside the ruins, but can walk up to the fence for a better view. We didn't have time to do the hike when we visited but I would love to go back!
Let's play "I spy", can you spot the ruins?
You can see the road below for the guided jeep tours, I'm sure the view from down there is incredible! I am definitely coming back for you!
Spider Rock
As you take the scenic South Rim Drive there are several lookouts and stops, but the best one is the very last stop about 15 minutes from the visitor's center. Spider rock is an impressive red sandstone monolith that towers around 800 feet above the canyon floor and was formed about 230 million years ago as the windblown sand swirled and compressed with time. It looks nothing like a spider but got it's name from the Navajo legend of Spider Woman, which of course my kids thought was about the coolest thing ever. While you're there you can even stay in a traditional Navajo Hogan (or tent or RV) at the Spider Rock Campground.
So what do you think? Have I convinced you to visit here someday? I promise you won't regret it!
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