EXPLORE AN ARCHITECTURAL WONDER. Built in 1904 by two brothers for their families, the duplex-style Riordan Mansion, part of the Riordan Mansion State Historic Park , is one of the best examples of American Arts and Crafts architecture open to the public today. Guided tours through the home—fitted with the then-cutting-edge technologies of electric lights, central heat, hot and cold running water and telephones— leave on the hour. Self-guided tours of the grounds can be taken any time the park is open. Riordan Mansion State Historic Park, Flagstaff TAKE IN SWEEPING VIEWS OF RED-ROCK BEAUTY. Family-friendly trails wind along the banks of Oak Creek to vistas where hikers enjoy sweeping views of rocks tinted red by rusting iron at Red Rock State Park near Sedona. Watch for mule, javelina and other critters in the 286-acre park on daily guided nature walks. Or, on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, set out with a naturalist on a guided bird walk. The visitor center has exhibits on geology, wildlife and plant life. SPOT SONORAN DESERT FLORA. Lost Dutchman State Park honors a miner whose gold mine remains “lost” to this day, but the real treasure here is the flora, especially during the spring when, depending on the winter’s rainfall, desert wildflowers carpet the base of the Superstition Mountains. Hike the easy Native Plant Trail, the moderate Treasure Loop and Prospector’s View trails or the challenging Siphon Draw to the top of the Flatiron. Book a cabin in the park to stay overnight. Lost Dutchman State Park, Apache Junction ALL PHOTOS THIS PAGE: ARIZONA STATE PARKS & TRAILS TIME TRAVEL TO AN OLD MINING TOWN. The town of Jerome already had one producing copper mine when James S. Douglas purchased the nearby Little Daisy Mine in 1912. Four years later, Douglas used profits from his mine to build a mansion with steam heat and a central vacuum system. Now Jerome State Historic Park , the mansion contains family heirlooms, local artifacts, minerals and historic photographs. Outside, mining equipment, a buggy and a 1929 Ford Model A truck are on display. GO ON A GHOST HUNT. The “Best Haunted Destination in America,” according to USA Today , Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park operated as a territorial prison for 33 years, from 1876 until 1909. While the park doesn’t offer ghost tours, it’s rumored some inmates never left. Be prepared to encounter John Ryan, who took his own life in Cell 14, or the spirits of those who endured solitary confinement in the Dark Cell. A little girl is also reported to haunt the park. VENTURE INTO SPECTACULAR CAVES. In 1974, two spelunkers discovered a “living” cave whose formations are still growing in the limestone hills near Benson. Today, Kartchner Caverns State Park offers several half-mile tours inside to see one of the world’s longest soda straw stalactites, a 58-foot column and other extraordinary formations. Stay overnight in one of the park’s cabins, and hike the park’s trails the next morning. The Discovery Center features exhibits on cave formations, cave life, hydrology and history. Kartchner Caverns State Park, Benson 9
Arizona Official State Travel Guide Arizona 2020-21: Page 9
