Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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Effective June 1, Grand Canyon National Park will increase park entrance fees and the cost of overnight backcountry permits. The current park entrance fees have been in place since 2006. Grand Canyon began charging for overnight backcountry permits in 1997 and last modified backcountry fees in 2000. Single Vehicle, Motorcycle, Annual Pass, Other The single vehicle entrance fee will change from $25 to $30 for a seven day pass. The motorcycle entrance fee will increase to $25 for a seven day... Full story
Some of the more remote sites on the Cave Creek Ranger District are now closed for the summer. The following sites will be closed until Oct. 1: Mesquite Campground, Horseshoe Campground, and Fisherman Point (also known as Catfish Point). The Tonto National Forest does not currently have the ability to maintain these sites in a safe and sanitary condition. Alternative sites for camping are Riverside Campground, Box Bar, Bartlett Flats, SB Cove and CCC campground. The trail to the river above... Full story
This series provides park visitors the opportunity to interact with members of Grand Canyon National Park's 11 traditionally associated tribes and for the artisans to share their history and traditional crafts. Demonstrations will occur regularly during the spring and summer at the Desert View Watchtower. Join jewelers, silversmiths, weavers, potters, and more as they share their culture, crafts, and stories. The first demonstrators were Tony and Ola Eriacho. From the Pueblo of Zuni, the... Full story
Every five years, the staff at Arizona State Parks prepares an information-filled report concerning plans for Arizona's motorized and non-motorized trails and their users. "This plan includes recommendations and action strategies to protect and enhance trails throughout the state including those in local city, county and state parks, as well as those on National Forest, National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management lands," said Sue Black, executive director. According to the data, the... Full story
Travel to Slide Rock and Red Rock State Parks in Sedona to create unforgettable family vacation memories. Both parks were selected in a recent travel poll by FamilyFun magazine readers as Top 10 State Parks in the country and were featured in the magazine's April issue. "The winners in each category represent places where families have formed lasting memories, and offer adventures for all types of interests, for animal lovers to history and science buffs," said Ann Hallock, editor-in-chief. "We... Full story
Preparing a summer vacation should be as easy and relaxing as the heavenly skies and vast wilderness of Sedona, Ariz. The city, surrounded by 1.8 million acres of national forest land and buttressed by four wilderness areas and two state parks, is a landscape built for adventure and offers numerous options for summer explorations. Angular formations, high mesas and rocky cliffs define the multi-terraced skyline. Forests are carved by a network of trails and surrounded by feisty streams, all... Full story
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
Grand Canyon, Ariz. –Coconino County Public Health Services District, in collaboration with the National Park Service, will be initiating monthly monitoring for plague at various locations on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. The purpose is to monitor public areas for the presence of plague and, if detected, to then initiate actions to prevent the potential spread of plague to the public. The process of monitoring for plague involves trapping and anesthetizing squirrels, removing a... Full story
The Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department is currently updating the 1988 Master Plan for Estrella Mountain Regional Park and is seeking input from the community. The goal of the Park Master Plan is to develop a long-range vision for the park that takes into account park visitors needs while also protecting the resources and natural open space found within the park. "The department is beginning the initial phase of the planning process and it is important for us to make sure that the... Full story
Kartchner Caverns State Park will celebrate Earth Day and the return of the Myotis velifer bat colony to Kartchner Caverns State Park at "Bat Day" on Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day will be filled with family activities, presentations and hands-on activities. The cave will be open for tours but those should be reserved in advance. Special Features The event will include presentations in the theater by State Park Rangers and guest speakers including Dr. Ted... Full story
Grand Canyon National Park joins parks, programs and partners across the country to encourage everyone to find their park and share their stories online at FindYourPark.com. Launched March 30 by the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation, Find Your Park, is a public awareness and education campaign celebrating the milestone centennial anniversary of the National Park Service in 2016 and setting the stage for its second century of srvice. Public Invited Find Your Park invites the... 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
Celebrate Kids to Parks Day at the Annual Mariachi Festival in Southern Arizona at Patagonia Lake State Park on May 16 (Phoenix, AZ - April 13, 2015) - Make plans to head south for the sounds of traditional and modern Mexican Mariachi Band music. Patagonia Lake State Park, near Nogales, Ariz., will host the 19th Annual Mariachi Festival at Boulder Beach on Saturday, May 16, 2015 (see full lineup below). "The day's activities will include a wide variety of Southern Arizona Mariachi bands and... Full story
Grand Canyon, Ariz. – A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that over 4.7 million visitors to Grand Canyon National Park in 2014 spent $509 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 7,846 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $711 million. “Grand Canyon welcomes visitors from across the country and around the world,” said Superintendent Dave Uberuaga. “We are delighted to share the story of this place and the experiences it provi...
(Phoenix, Arizona - April 27, 2015) - Travel to Slide Rock and Red Rock State Parks in Sedona to create unforgettable family vacation memories. Both parks were selected in a recent travel poll by FamilyFun magazine readers as Top 10 State Parks in the country and were featured in the magazine's April issue. "The winners in each category represent places where families have formed lasting memories, and offer adventures for all types of interests, for animal lovers to history and science buffs,"... Full story
(Phoenix, Arizona - May 6, 2015) - Every five years, the staff at Arizona State Parks prepares an information-filled report concerning plans for Arizona's motorized and non-motorized trails and their users. "This plan includes recommendations and action strategies to protect and enhance trails throughout the state including those in local city, county and state parks, as well as those on National Forest, National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management lands," said Sue Black, Executive Direct... Full story
Visitors are flooding the gates at Picacho Peak State Park to get into the park in time to see the mountainside blooms of bright yellow Mexican poppies, purple lupine, pink globemallow and yellow brittlebush. The Arizona State Parks department reports that the bloom this year is because over the past six months the park has received an accumulated record of almost 12 inches of rain. To help the public track the different wildflowers as they start to bloom in all the different State Parks, the... 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
For the entire month of March 2015, the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)/Arizona State Parks (ASP) is coordinating activities throughout the state for the 33rd annual celebration of Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month (AAHAM). These events will focus on current efforts to preserve our past by protecting our fragile and non-renewable cultural resources. AAHAM combines education with entertainment to reach both adults and children in an effort to teach responsible... Full story
HANGING OUT – Kelsee Haws, an enthusiastic outdoors woman and firefighter captain at Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology, is shown "hanging out" at Devil's Bridge, Sedona. She recommends a beautiful 1.8-mile hike in the Red Rock country to this beautiful, year-round destination -- just a short drive west of Highway 89A. Her comment: " "Join in the fun up in Sedona and have an adventure of your own"!... Full story
GO WILD FOR FLOWERS – Ahh -- spring is in the air! Along with the warm temperatures comes the chance to view Mother Nature at her finest as she carpets the desert floor with an array of beautiful colors. While some may curse the allergies the wildflowers bring, others are gleefully grabbing their cameras and heading outside to capture photos before they disappear. "We encourage everyone to visit our county parks during this wildflower season," said Maricopa County Supervisor Chairman Steve C... Full story
Arizona State Parks will be on your 2015 Income Tax Return Form 140 for the first time! Taxpayers are able to make a voluntary contribution to Arizona State Parks from their Arizona tax refund. "For the first time you can make a donation on your Arizona State tax form," said Executive Director Sue Black. "Giving a few extra dollars can create a lasting legacy for the State Parks, trails and historic sites." According to the "Arizona We Want 2.0" report, an Arizona 2009 Gallup Poll stated that... Full story
Join us for the annual historic re-enactment of an Arizona Civil War skirmish, Battle of Picacho Pass, and the New Mexico battles of Glorieta and Val Verde at "Civil War in the Southwest" at Picacho Peak State Park. The three re-enactments will take place on Saturday, March 21 and will be repeated on Sunday, March 22 Activities will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days but gates will open at 9:30 a.m. and no further entry is allowed after 3 p.m.... Full story
Grand Canyon, Ariz. – Grand Canyon National Park joins parks, programs and partners across the country to encourage everyone to find their park and share their stories online at FindYourPark.com. Launched March 30 by the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation, Find Your Park is a public awareness and education campaign celebrating the milestone centennial anniversary of the National Park Service in 2016 and setting the stage for its second century of service. Find Your Park invites the public to see that a national park can b... 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
