best camping places in arizona image
peaceandqu
I'm trying to find a place in the mountains to get away from the summer heat, to be near a lake or river so I can fish (preferably have the fishing area right by or in my campsite), and where I would hardly see any other people?
Somewhere in the White mountains or near the Mogollon Rim would be ideal.
Answer
And so is everybody else. That is a big issue in az where 90% of the state is dry hot desert. There will be folks anywhere you go wanting the same escape. Of the places I enjoyed the Mongollon rim is my top choice and the Christopher creek area was the most quiet. As for a lake or two woods canyon lake and willow springs lake are as quiet a place you can find.
Good Luck
http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=34.31126,-110.95058&z=13&t=T&marker0=34.30558%2C-110.88690%2C14.0%20km%20WxNW%20of%20Mogollon%20Rim%20AZ&marker1=34.33256%2C-110.94187%2C19.9%20km%20WxNW%20of%20Mogollon%20Rim%20AZ&marker2=34.32111%2C-111.01111%2CChristopher%20creek
And so is everybody else. That is a big issue in az where 90% of the state is dry hot desert. There will be folks anywhere you go wanting the same escape. Of the places I enjoyed the Mongollon rim is my top choice and the Christopher creek area was the most quiet. As for a lake or two woods canyon lake and willow springs lake are as quiet a place you can find.
Good Luck
http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=34.31126,-110.95058&z=13&t=T&marker0=34.30558%2C-110.88690%2C14.0%20km%20WxNW%20of%20Mogollon%20Rim%20AZ&marker1=34.33256%2C-110.94187%2C19.9%20km%20WxNW%20of%20Mogollon%20Rim%20AZ&marker2=34.32111%2C-111.01111%2CChristopher%20creek
Best places to visit at and around the Grand Canyon?
sam
I am looking to get the best of the best in for a 3 day trip from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon. I am trying to treat my Michigan born boyfriend to some great parts of Arizona in this short time.
What are the best lookout points at the Grand Canyon easily accessible by car or *short* hike? For daytime? For sunset?
What are the best restaurants (and ones to avoid) in the Grand Canyon village?
Which helicopter tour can you reccommend?
Best romantic experiences in general?
We have reservations at Bright Angel Lodge.
Answer
Bright Angel Lodge is nice (comfy, historic, affordable and near the rim).
Probably the best place to eat at the canyon is the fancy diningroom at the El Tovar lodge. This is a fancy formal diningroom with high-end dishes and a good wine list. It is also pretty pricy and you should get reservations. I also very much like Arizona Grill which is located on the east end of the Bright Angel Lodge building (but you have to go outside and around to reach the front door). They also have nice views and I would say the food is almost as good as El Tovar, but quite a bit cheaper and more casual. The cafeteria in Maswik lodge is certainly not fine dining, but is good for quick (and relatively cheap) eats - I especially like it for breakfast.
The only place I would really avoid food-wise is the diningroom in the Bright Angel Lodge which tends to be crowded and the food is bland and mediocre. The little saloon in Bright Angel is a nice place to have a drink in the evening (as is the one at Maswik lodge).
As for lookouts and viewpoints - they are all pretty amazing and each a little bit different. Mather and Yavapai Points (near the park entrance) are impressive, but are often overcrowded. Grandview, Lipan Point and Desertview to the east are also very impressive and usually less crowded, but a little bit of a drive. Probably the best views-for-the-effort is to take the free shuttle that runs from the lodges west along the rim to Hermits Rest. The driver will point out things along the way and you can get on and off at a number of overlooks along the way (I especially like Hopi Point).
In addition to the views, don't overlook the many interesting historic buildings at Grand Canyon Village - many (including Bright Angel Lodge) were designed by famous Santa Fe railroad architect Mary J. Colter. Of special interest are the grand 1905 El Tovar lodge (big impressive lobby), the nearby 1905 Hopi House gift shop (built to look like an Indian pueblo), Lookout Studio, Kolb photo studio (which often has free art exhibits) and Desertview Watch Tower.
If the weather is good, I would highly recommend that you try to take at least a short hike down one of the trails as being inside the canyon and feeling the walls rise above you is a much more impactful experience than just walking on the rim. Going just a half-mile down Bright Angel Trail (near the lodges) is nice, but the best short easy day hike is the 1.4 miles down South Kaibab trail (take the Yaki Point shuttle) to Cedar Ridge where you will get sweeping canyon views and possibly see condors. Wear comfortable shoes, bring plenty of water, dress appropriate for the weather and remember it is much harder and slower going up than going down. The trailheads can be icy if you are going in winter.
Speaking of appropriate clothes for the weather... remember that the South Rim is at 7000 feet elevation and so (unlike much of Arizona) it has a real winter with snow storms and sub-freezing temperatures. If you are going before late April, you probably want to have a hat and heavy coat and a sweater or light jacket is a good idea even in late spring or early fall.
As far as other things in the area of interest...
Well, coming up from Phoenix, there is always Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon with the famous resorts and red rocks. You could detour through here on your way up by getting off I-17 north of Camp Verde and then from Sedona following 89A up the canyon through Flagstaff (a long winding and scenic route - best not done in icy conditions). A lot of people really like Sedona, although many locals consider it a bit touristy and overpriced.
Flagstaff (which you will pass through on the way up) is a neat historic lumber and railroad town with a nice historic downtown area filled with shops, cafes and art galleries. Lowell Observatory (where Pluto was discovered in 1930) has a museum on the hill over town and the excellent Museum of Northern Arizona is just north of town on your way to the canyon. For food, I would recommend Beaver Street Brewery (on Beaver St south of the depot), Bun Hugger Burgers (South Milton on way into town), Mountain Oasis (downtown), Oreganos Pizza (near NAU) and Macy's coffee shop (across from Beaver Street). There are also a couple of good Thai places downtown.
If you are in the mood for more exploring, check out Sunset Crater and Wupatki National Monuments just NE of town. Wupatki is a prehistoric indian ruin and Sunset Crater is an extinct volcanic field - both are very interesting and not well known to many visitors. They are located along 89A toward the eastern entrance to the canyon at Cameron.
And lastly, even though it is a bit out of the way, if you are into romantic spots and good food, than I have to mention the La Posada hotel in Winslow (an hour east of Flagstaff on I-40). This is one of the grand railroad hotels designed for the Santa Fe by Colter in 1930 and it has been recently beautifully restored and reopened. It is a fantastic place, neat building, little hidden gardens and very nice rooms. The hotel restuarant (The Turquoise Room) is probably the best in the Four Corners area - excellent food that would be worth taking a little detour for (the signature soup alone is worth the drive).
Have fun!
Bright Angel Lodge is nice (comfy, historic, affordable and near the rim).
Probably the best place to eat at the canyon is the fancy diningroom at the El Tovar lodge. This is a fancy formal diningroom with high-end dishes and a good wine list. It is also pretty pricy and you should get reservations. I also very much like Arizona Grill which is located on the east end of the Bright Angel Lodge building (but you have to go outside and around to reach the front door). They also have nice views and I would say the food is almost as good as El Tovar, but quite a bit cheaper and more casual. The cafeteria in Maswik lodge is certainly not fine dining, but is good for quick (and relatively cheap) eats - I especially like it for breakfast.
The only place I would really avoid food-wise is the diningroom in the Bright Angel Lodge which tends to be crowded and the food is bland and mediocre. The little saloon in Bright Angel is a nice place to have a drink in the evening (as is the one at Maswik lodge).
As for lookouts and viewpoints - they are all pretty amazing and each a little bit different. Mather and Yavapai Points (near the park entrance) are impressive, but are often overcrowded. Grandview, Lipan Point and Desertview to the east are also very impressive and usually less crowded, but a little bit of a drive. Probably the best views-for-the-effort is to take the free shuttle that runs from the lodges west along the rim to Hermits Rest. The driver will point out things along the way and you can get on and off at a number of overlooks along the way (I especially like Hopi Point).
In addition to the views, don't overlook the many interesting historic buildings at Grand Canyon Village - many (including Bright Angel Lodge) were designed by famous Santa Fe railroad architect Mary J. Colter. Of special interest are the grand 1905 El Tovar lodge (big impressive lobby), the nearby 1905 Hopi House gift shop (built to look like an Indian pueblo), Lookout Studio, Kolb photo studio (which often has free art exhibits) and Desertview Watch Tower.
If the weather is good, I would highly recommend that you try to take at least a short hike down one of the trails as being inside the canyon and feeling the walls rise above you is a much more impactful experience than just walking on the rim. Going just a half-mile down Bright Angel Trail (near the lodges) is nice, but the best short easy day hike is the 1.4 miles down South Kaibab trail (take the Yaki Point shuttle) to Cedar Ridge where you will get sweeping canyon views and possibly see condors. Wear comfortable shoes, bring plenty of water, dress appropriate for the weather and remember it is much harder and slower going up than going down. The trailheads can be icy if you are going in winter.
Speaking of appropriate clothes for the weather... remember that the South Rim is at 7000 feet elevation and so (unlike much of Arizona) it has a real winter with snow storms and sub-freezing temperatures. If you are going before late April, you probably want to have a hat and heavy coat and a sweater or light jacket is a good idea even in late spring or early fall.
As far as other things in the area of interest...
Well, coming up from Phoenix, there is always Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon with the famous resorts and red rocks. You could detour through here on your way up by getting off I-17 north of Camp Verde and then from Sedona following 89A up the canyon through Flagstaff (a long winding and scenic route - best not done in icy conditions). A lot of people really like Sedona, although many locals consider it a bit touristy and overpriced.
Flagstaff (which you will pass through on the way up) is a neat historic lumber and railroad town with a nice historic downtown area filled with shops, cafes and art galleries. Lowell Observatory (where Pluto was discovered in 1930) has a museum on the hill over town and the excellent Museum of Northern Arizona is just north of town on your way to the canyon. For food, I would recommend Beaver Street Brewery (on Beaver St south of the depot), Bun Hugger Burgers (South Milton on way into town), Mountain Oasis (downtown), Oreganos Pizza (near NAU) and Macy's coffee shop (across from Beaver Street). There are also a couple of good Thai places downtown.
If you are in the mood for more exploring, check out Sunset Crater and Wupatki National Monuments just NE of town. Wupatki is a prehistoric indian ruin and Sunset Crater is an extinct volcanic field - both are very interesting and not well known to many visitors. They are located along 89A toward the eastern entrance to the canyon at Cameron.
And lastly, even though it is a bit out of the way, if you are into romantic spots and good food, than I have to mention the La Posada hotel in Winslow (an hour east of Flagstaff on I-40). This is one of the grand railroad hotels designed for the Santa Fe by Colter in 1930 and it has been recently beautifully restored and reopened. It is a fantastic place, neat building, little hidden gardens and very nice rooms. The hotel restuarant (The Turquoise Room) is probably the best in the Four Corners area - excellent food that would be worth taking a little detour for (the signature soup alone is worth the drive).
Have fun!
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