Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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From Arizona State Parks Check out our extensive Arizona wildflower list at the bottom of the page, complete with vibrant photos and bloom information! How many will you see in 2021? February showers make March wildflowers in the desert parks and create yet another reason to explore this beautiful state! During years of average and above average precipitation, it seems every direction you look there are beautiful yellow, red, white, orange, blue, or purple flowers blanketing the landscape. Try... Full story
The year 2020 saw a lot of people venturing into the outdoors for the first time. According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, this past year 6.2 million new shooters took up the sport. There was also a spike in camping and other outdoor activities. Some people were afraid to gather together inside, but outside is a different matter. If you are one of the newbies, I hope you continue to enjoy the outdoors this year and for many years to come. Many Good Reasons There are a lot of good... Full story
I've been camping for a very long time. When I was a kid, camping was usually in conjunction with hunting or scouting, and my dad had so much camping gear the truck was really loaded down. The only part I didn't like about camping back then was putting things away. Nowadays, since there are so many great light-weight options for camping gear, we camp even more often. Here are some tips and gear that will make your next camping trip easier. These also make great gifts for the campers on your... Full story
Havasu Havik Grand Prix An epic two-days, beginning Saturday, Nov. 7, of off-road racing UTVs-Quads-Trikes-Bikes is hitting the Island track with the debut of the Havasu Havik Grand Prix! The gate is open Saturday and Sunday from 6 a.m.-10 p.m.; registration is Friday, Nov. 6 6 p.m.-8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 6 a.m.-1 p.m. Daily gate fees are adults: $10, youth (6 years-12 years), and free for children (five years and younger). The camping fee is $20 per vehicle for the weekend (fires must... Full story
Peoria, AZ (October 9, 2020) – The Annual Haunted Harbor Trunk-N-Treat at Lake Pleasant will occur on Saturday, October 24 from 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. The event includes a safe and fun environment to trick or treat, Halloween costume contest, a live Rockabilly band and food trucks. Although there is a $7.00 entry gate fee per carload, this charge is waived if children are dressed in Halloween costumes. All attendees must wear a mask and follow posted social distancing guidelines. Pleasant Har... Full story
There Are Beautiful Drives Near Alpine And Springerville If you're looking to get out of the heat and see some gorgeous country where it's cool and green, I've got the perfect road trip for you. If you've ever been to Alpine or Springerville, you already know how pretty the Apache-Sitgreaves Forest is, and I've got a couple of back-road drives for you that don't require 4WD. In fact, we saw a lot of RV's on the second part of our road trip. The First Leg The first leg of our trip starts just... Full story
Although the letter from London was often on our minds, Jim and I were able to enjoy our flight to Scotland, the wedding of his sister Lynn, and the delightful family of her new husband Frank. It had been a memorable time in Glasgow, but now that the celebrations were over, we were ready to begin our three-part travels of Scotland, the Irelands, and Wales. (We called this journey our "trilogy.") We telephoned London just before we left Glasgow. As there was not an answer at Crampton's, we... Full story
The National Park Service (NPS) is requesting all river trips, both commercial and non-commercial, to voluntarily bypass Havasu Canyon on the Colorado river, located at river mile 157. River guides and boaters are encouraged to honor this request out of respect and safety for the Havasupai people. The Havasupai reservation is under an emergency closure due to the COVID-19 virus. Entry into the reservation is prohibited and will be strictly enforced by the Havasupai Tribe. Camping at the confluen... Full story
With cooler Arizona temperatures on the way in a few months, recreation enthusiasts begin the seasonal transitionfrom summer to fall and winter outdoor activities like camping, fishing, boating, RVing, travel and off-roading. This means Southwest residents and vacationing visitors alike anxiously await the opportunity to enjoy everything that local deserts, mountains, rivers and lakes have to offer. Bigger, Better As it has for the past eight years, the official kick-off of approaching fall and... Full story
Lake Powell is now back to normal and open for fishing, recreating and camping 24 hours per day. Smallmouth Bass fishing has been incredible with a consistent catch of 40 fish or better each day. Most anglers are pounding the shoreline from 5-30 feet deep with plastic baits including Ned rigs, plastic grubs, Maniac Cutter bugs, and various crankbaits. Many have enjoyed topwater fishing in the early morning and evening in coves and the backs of canyons. Lake Powell bass seem happy to have anglers... Full story
Surprise Dad With The Perfect Gift/Gifts If you're lucky enough to have a dad who loves the outdoors and shares his adventures with you, Father's Day is a great time to show your appreciation by giving him a little something to make his outdoor times even better. I've included ideas at many different price points, so hopefully you will find something that you think is just perfect for your dad. Fishing Dads Baits There are so many options if your dad likes to fish! Is he a bass fisherman? Head f... Full story
May is when we celebrate our moms, and if your mom is the outdoors type, I've got lots of ideas for special gifts. The great thing about gifts for camping is that many of them do double or even triple duty: They're great for camping, but also for survival and for moms who are preppers. So here are a bunch of ideas for your mom, whether she camps, off-roads, hikes, hunts, preps, fishes, or all of the above. Biolite Campstove 2 Bundle I've written about the BioLite CampStove before because I have... Full story
The Japanese have a term "Shinrinyoku" that literally means "forest therapy". They know that getting outdoors soothes your soul and relaxes your mind. It is really good for kids to get outdoors and be able to run and play and explore nature – and yes, even get really dirty. My dad started taking me camping and hunting when I was very young, and I always love the feeling that you get when you leave the city behind. To this day, it lifts my spirits to get out where there are no buildings in v... Full story
The Tonto National Forest will begin the orderly closure of the following developed recreation sites as early as Monday, March 23, to protect public health and safety and align with state and local measures already in place to contain the COVID-19 outbreak. The developed recreation site closures will remain in effect until further notice. The Forest Service thanks all visitors and partners for their cooperation. Please report any instances of vandalism to facilities to the local ranger district... Full story
With approximately 10,000 surface acres of water, Lake Pleasant Regional Park is known as one of the most scenic water recreation areas in the valley. Each weekend, thousands of residents visit the park to camp, boat, fish, and hike. Recently, the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department began limiting capacity in the regional park system to allow for physical-distancing. However, the repetitive closures on the weekends at the lake became time-intensive for staff as they closely... Full story
OLYMPIA -- The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Parks) announced today they will reopen state-managed lands on Tuesday, May 5, for local day-use only recreation. The reopening will apply to state-managed parks, wildlife areas, recreation land, and boat launches. However, it may take several days for gates to be unlocked and sites to be serviced at remote areas due to limited staff capacity. Some parks may not open... Full story
There are two big outdoor events in Arizona this month, plus two fantastic new holsters I wanted to tell you about. Also, dove seasons, quail season, and waterfowl seasons may all be over, but that doesn't mean you can't still do some great bird hunting. Read on for details! Alien Gear Grip Tuck Holster This holster is different from the other Alien Gear holsters in a couple of ways – it's designed to fit an entire class of firearms instead of a single model like their hard polymer holsters, a... Full story
The International Sportsmen's Expo, always an Arizona favorite, returns to Scottsdale's West World March 13-15, 2020. WestWorld of Scottsdale is the ideal location for the Sportsmen, Boat & RV Expo. Hundreds of exhibiting companies offer adventure destinations, gear and services. Free activities and learning opportunities make for a fun day out for the entire family. Plus the giant RV Pavilion, hosted by Good Sam Media & Events, with on-site RV camping is available. Hours Friday: 10 a.m. - 7... Full story
Thousands of lanterns return to illuminate skies above Lake Pleasant. Soon after sundown, on Saturday, April 4th, friends, family and thousands of event goers will come together to share personal thoughts, wishes and goals as they set free lanterns on the southeastern shores of Lake Pleasant. A long-standing tradition, the lighting of (biodegradable) lanterns is a way of marking milestones, offering up wishes and goals, while celebrating in a festive, picturesque atmosphere. Drawing more than 10... Full story
One of the best things about enjoying the outdoors is that you can do it no matter what your age or activity level is, and it doesn't matter if you live in town or out in the country. When I was a kid, I was lucky enough to live near a big desert area in town, and my dad regularly took us out camping and hunting, but even if I were just hanging around the house, I could lie on my belly in the grass and watch the bugs and the birds in our backyard. So, whether you're looking for a gift for a... Full story
In many parts of our country, summer warmth has turned into crisp, cool fall weather. However, in the Southwest, we have an extended season of time to spend in and on the water and to enjoy many other outdoor activities. It's a wonderful transition season with temperatures neither too hot nor too cold, and there are so many adventures for us still in October: boating, hiking, RVing, camping, off-roading, fishing, and more. If we want a touch of fall, we can head north to the awesome colors of au... Full story
Comment period on revised Draft Environmental Impact Statement for motorized travel ends Tuesday, Oct. 29. The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (ASNFs) have released a revised Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for ASNFs Public Motorized Travel Management Plan. The purpose of the plan is to comply with the federal Travel Management Rule by providing a system of roads, trails, and areas designated for motor vehicle use while protecting biological, physical, and cultural resources. Alte... Full story
Lake Pleasant Will Again Host Annual Run Pleasant Harbor and Evofit will host the annual Dam Cancer Run/Walk at Lake Pleasant on Oct. 12, featuring a 5K, 10K, Obstacle Run and 5K Walk. All running events traverse the New Waddell Dam. Closed to the public throughout the year, this event provides runners a unique opportunity and vantage point of Lake Pleasant, 440 feet above the New Waddell Dam's foundation. In addition to the various running events, participants will receive swag bags and will... Full story
Finally cool weather is ahead and along with that are some great autumn events. Now is the transition time to fall and winter outdoor activities, including all that is available on local deserts, mountains, rivers and lakes. And, for women especially, the how to get the most out of the myriad of outdoor activities in the Southwest, is what "Becoming an Outdoors Woman" is all about. It's coming up soon - Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Sept. 6-8 - at Friendly Pines Camp near Prescott. Sponsored by the... Full story
Off-Road Vehicles, Boats, RVs, Travel Trailers and Special Attractions Set To Kick-Off Fall Outdoor Recreation Season, November 16-17, 2019 in Lake Havasu. With cooler Arizona temperatures on the way in a couple of months, recreation enthusiasts begin the seasonal transitionto fall and winter outdoor activities like camping, fishing, travel and off-roading. This means Southwest residents and vacationing visitors alike are anxiously awaiting the opportunity to enjoy everything that local... Full story