TUCSON & SOUTHERN ARIZONA MAGICAL MOMENTS IN NATURE If you really want to get in touch with the spirit of the American West, head out into nature. Arizona offers spectacular outdoor adventures, from stunning scenic drives to awesome Sonoran Desert hikes. Go ahead, enjoy a magical moment. Start with a drive along picturesque Catalina Highway Scenic Drive and pull over at the many overlooks along the way, such as Windy Point Vista. Stroll the pedestrian walkway and seek out one of the panoramic viewing areas, where you’ll be treated to sweeping valley views of Tucson and the Pusch Ridge Wilderness below. Just outside Tucson, Saguaro National Park is an iconic desert escape that is home to 25 cactus species. Trek among towering saguaro, spiky cholla and globe-like barrel cacti, and keep an eye out for all manner of wildlife, such as roadrunners, kangaroo rats and even Gila monsters. For a tamer—but no less spectacular—nature trip, Tucson Botanical Gardens features expertly cultivated plant life in its 17 diverse gardens showcasing everything from pollinator-friendly plants to traditional American Indian crops. October through May, surround yourself with fluttering tropical butterflies at its Cox Butterfly & Orchid Pavilion. In Ajo, take off on a wilderness hike through Organ Pipe Cactus Chiricahua National Monument, Willcox National Monument . Miles of trails fan out into the Sonoran Desert, where you’ll encounter canyons teeming with plants and wildlife (including tortois-es and javelinas). During the winter months, park rangers host fun educational programs. At Chiricahua National Monument in Willcox, take the 8-mile paved scenic drive or hike 17 miles of day-use trails to get a full sense of this rare geographical showcase of massive columns, slender spires and impossibly balanced rocks—the result of a large-scale volcanic erup-tion 27 million years ago. Or, take your adventures to a new level—underground, that is—at Colossal Cave Mountain Park in Vail, where the guided Classic Cave Tour will take you six stories deep. Learn about the cave’s history and see ancient formations like stalactites and stalagmites. Back on land, saddle up for a horseback ride to explore the idyllic La Posta Quemada Ranch in the cactus-studded Sonoran Desert. Another subterranean treasure, Kartchner Caverns State Park in Benson features delicate soda straw stalactites, colossal columns and the world’s most extensive formation of brushite moonmilk. Go on a guided tour to learn about the history, geol-ogy and wildlife within the caverns, and see educational exhibits at the Discovery Center. Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tucson Kartchner Caverns State Park, Benson 54 VISITARIZONA.COM TOP TO BOTTOM: TUCSON BOTANICAL GARDENS; ARIZONA STATE PARKS AND TRAILS; NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Arizona Official State Travel Guide Arizona 2021-22: Page 54
