Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Sorted by date Results 201 - 223 of 223
The area around Sierra Vista Arizona is diverse: everything from pine forests to desert and riparian areas. It makes for a great little vacation, and there is plenty to do down there. Last month I told you about a couple of things to do on the way down there from Phoenix or Tucson, plus Ramsey Canyon which is just south of Sierra Vista. After hiking Ramsey Canyon, you may be in the mood for a drive and perhaps another little uphill hike along the way. Coronado National Memorial The perfect... Full story
This is a gorgeous time of year to visit Saguaro National Park. There are two different parts to this park: the Tucson District west of Tucson, and the Rincon District which is just southeast of Tucson. The Rincon Mountain District of Saguaro National Park is easy to get to: Take the Old Spanish Trail from Tucson to the Rincon Visitor Center. There is a loop drive through the western part of the Rincon District that you should definitely investigate. You can ask for trail maps and information... Full story
If you're looking for a great day trip from Phoenix, I've got a great idea for you - the Pinal Mountain Recreation Area. We have driven past the little brown sign for it in Globe dozens of times, and we finally decided to go check it out. I'm really glad we did, because it's a beautiful place. There are campgrounds and plenty to see up there, and the Forest Service site says the campgrounds are good for trailers up to 20 feet. We actually had a bit of a time finding it, even though we took the t... Full story
A few months ago I wrote about some hikes near Safford in the Pinaleno Mountains, and the hiking and fishing available at Roper Lake and Dankworth Pond. The Safford area has a lot to offer, and it's a great place to visit this time of year because the weather is gorgeous and it's the perfect time to hike or just camp somewhere beautiful. Beautiful Scenery If you take Highway 70 east from Safford for ten miles or so, you will come to Highway 191. Follow 191 to milepost 160, four miles south of... Full story
One of our favorite things to do is take day drives in Arizona. Recently we decided to head east for a change, since every road we take off the highway going north seems to be closed to shooting. We wanted to do a little target practice, so we headed down Highway 60 toward Superior. At first we tried Mineral Mountain Road which goes south off 60 just a few miles past Florence Junction, but that road also had "No Shooting" signs. This time, for State Trust Land. According to my map, it changes to... Full story
When exploring the beauty of the Superstitions, even if you don't have a 4WD vehicle, you can get off the main highway and see a lot of things that you would never notice otherwise. If you take the Queen Valley turn-off and stay on 357 without turning north onto 172, you will be on a very good gravel road that makes a sort of triangle to the north before rejoining US 60. Since gravel roads slow you down, you have a chance to notice a lot more. These are some of the bird photos that were taken... Full story
Even if you don't have a 4WD vehicle, you can get off the main highway and see a lot of things that you would never notice otherwise. If you take the Queen Valley turn-off and stay on 357 without turning north onto 172, you will be on a very good gravel road that makes a sort of triangle to the north before rejoining US 60. Since gravel roads slow you down, you have a chance to notice a lot more. All the bird photos were taken on 357.... Full story
Although we love our annual summer hiking trip to Flagstaff, snow is not my thing. Fortunately, there are a lot of great hikes in and around Phoenix, and since the winter is such a great time to be outside in the desert, we do a lot of hiking close to home. Even if it's just a quick trip to Thunderbird Paseo Park to walk the dog, hiking in Phoenix is awesome this time of year. Thunderbird Paseo Thunderbird Paseo is in Glendale, and it is a long (around four miles) narrow park that is actually a... Full story
Even native Arizonans tend to overlook the southern bass lakes when they get the urge to bass fish. The biggest lakes are in the central part of the state and along the Colorado River, and those areas are also quicker and easier to get to for a majority of the population. For those who live closer to the border, and for those willing to take the time to get there, four smaller more peaceful lakes beckon. Although you could do a drive-by of all four in a single day, each of them is different... Full story
You may wonder why you would even need a CCW permit in Arizona, since we have Constitutional Carry. CCW stands for Concealed Carry or Carrying a Concealed Weapon. What's the difference between Constitutional Carry and having a CCW? Well, in Arizona you are allowed to carry a concealed weapon without a permit. However, there are many more restrictions when you do not have a permit. There are all kinds of laws about how close to a school you can be, whether you can enter a bar or a restaurant... Full story
Just a bit north of Springerville is an amazingly cool place that you may never even have heard of. It's the Wenima Wildlife Area and it consists of 357 acres of habitat along the Little Colorado River. We visited in late September and the days were still a bit warm, but cloud cover and rain cooled things off considerably. There are two great, easy hikes at Wenima, both of which are very kid-friendly. The day we were there, we met only one other group of hikers during the entire morning. It was... Full story
We all know Bartlett Lake for its fantastic boating, watersports, fishing, and camping. In fact, there is a story in this issue's "Land Cruising" section that highlights some of those activities - as well as the lake's beauty and hospitality. For some outdoor enthusiasts, though, the appeal of Bartlett Lake and area is the wildlife. Just recently, Margie Anderson visited the lake and sent photos of a sampling of some of the animals that call Bartlett Lake Home. PS / Watch for the opening of... Full story
Editor's Note: We were so sorry to hear of the Sept. 11 fire above Bartlett Lake Marina but join the Church family in emphasizing that the lower facilities are all open and waiting for you. Also, on your way in, please take note of the new restaurant that will soon welcome guests to a beautiful dining experience. I've been visiting Bartlett Lake since before the road was paved all the way in. Back then, we'd go out at night many times during the summer because the night fishing at Bartlett was... Full story
Common sense, awareness classes, safety products can all ensure that you enjoy the outdoors and avoid accidents. By Guest Editor Margie Anderson Nobody likes to think about death, especially when you are planning a fun trip to the beautiful Arizona outdoors. But, the fact is, people do die outdoors. That's the bad news, but the good news is that you can go a long way toward preventing that from happening to you or those you love. Boating Boating in Arizona is awesome - we have a number of very... Full story
If you're looking for a cool getaway in Arizona that is a bit off the beaten path (and therefore not quite so packed with human beings), you should give the Pinaleno Mountains a try. There are lots of excellent hiking trails, a lake to fish in, and plenty of good campgrounds whether you favor a tent or an RV. The tallest peak is over 10,000 feet, and you may be familiar with the name - Mt. Graham: the mountain with the famous protected red squirrels. The Pinalenos are one of the "sky islands"... Full story
Lynx Lake One of our favorite little hikes in the pines is the easy trail #311 that circles Lynx Lake. Most of this trail is shaded by trees, and the lake and the forest around it are gorgeous. We often see a huge variety of birds and small mammals, even in the summer. The paved part of the trail on the west side of the lake is wheelchair and stroller accessible, but once you reach the far end of the laken the trail turns to dirt. 'Bee' Prepared At this far end of the lake opposite the parking l... Full story
Page Springs Fish Hatchery is a wonderful destination for a day trip - that's right, the Fish Hatchery is a destination! For starters, it's free. Kids will love it because there is a trail that meanders along the creek, plus there is a picnic area where you can have some lunch and something cool to drink while the kids look at all the fish in the tanks. Speaking of kids, be sure to bring some quarters so the kids can feed the big trout in the show pond. It's even fun for grown-ups - get a... Full story
The geographic center of Arizona is about 55 miles ESE of Prescott, and the closest town hall to that location is that of Camp Verde. There is a bronze plaque to that effect in Rezzonico Park, placed there by the Arizona Professional Land Surveyors. The park in on Montezuma Castle Highway in Camp Verde. In fact, there is a ton of stuff to see and do in and around Camp Verde, including Montezuma's Well, Montezuma's Castle, and Tuzigoot National Monument. If you like the outdoors, you will love... Full story
When conditions are right, you don't have to go far from Phoenix to see spectacular wildflower displays. We've had some decent rains this winter, so this might be one of those years. One place you should definitely try is Cave Creek Regional Park. The park has over 11 miles of trails, and the hikes range from less than a quarter mile in length to almost six miles. We hiked the Overton Trail and part of the Go John in early April one year and the flowers were incredible - in places, the blossoms... Full story
In early February, the National Park Service began accepting applications for noncommercial river trip permits to raft the Colorado River through Grand Canyon National Park. The permits are for specific launch dates within calendar year 2015. A total of 461 permits will be available for 12- to 25-day river trips. Eligible individuals may apply online at the weighted lottery web site. To access the web site, start from the park's main web page at www.nps.gov/grca and select "River Trips/Permits"... Full story
The Chiricahua Mountains are a sky island in the southeast corner of Arizona – not a place you'd probably pass by on your way to somewhere else. But if you have never been there, you seriously need to add a visit to the Chiricahuas to your bucket list. The rock formations are spectacular – you will see towering hoodoos, rocks that look precariously balanced, shady grottos, and miles of standing columns that might remind you of a gargantuan army marching in formation. First Things First When you... Full story
Early Spring Hikes: Being able to hike year 'round is one of the many blessings of living in Arizona. In the winter, you hike in the desert; in the summer, you head for the mountains. And now, if we've had decent winter rains, wildflowers will start to show up in mid-February and continue through the middle of June. They will be particularly abundant from mid-March through April, making hikes at that time of year almost unbelievably gorgeous. For the three and a quarter million people who live... Full story
Things can get hectic in the winter – the kids are still in school and the holidays can make everyone feel rushed. Getting outside and taking a nice long hike can be one of the most relaxing things you can do. Exercise reduces stress, and if your kids are going stir crazy, letting them burn off steam on the trail will go a long way toward restoring peace in your home. You don't have to take the entire weekend off, or even a whole day – there are probably places to hike right near where you liv... Full story
