National Park Sites in Arizona

September 07, 2020

Arizona is a diverse state and it's National Park Sites are no exception. Arizona plays host to a wide variety of National Park Sites from the ancestral homes of the Anasazi to the wide landscape views of the Grand Canyon. Arizona is a state with amazing rock features and the inspiring dessert plans that pull out every drop of moisture from the dessert they can to grow and bring life to a dry landscape. I was fortunate to get to travel around Arizona a lot as a kid and went to a number of the National Parks sites as a youth. I am only reporting as visited the sites that I have gone to since I started this project and have pictures of my own to share. The sites are ranked by in my order of preference and of course I have my bucket list of sites I still need to visit.

#1 Grand Canyon National Park

The Grand Canyon is an amazing natural wonder and is something that everyone should have the opportunity to experience. The challenge is the crowds of this very popular national park. Be prepared to be around a lot of people, but enjoy the grand views, the colors of the rock and ponder the thought that the canyon was caused by water. Take time to get away from the Grand Canyon Village and explore some of the sites where the crowds get smaller. Prepare yourself ahead of time to hike down into the canyon and experience the greatness at a very personal level.

#2 Wupatki National Monument

Taking time to reflect on the people that called this location home is inspiring and to see the ruins of the civilization that was here is simply amazing. With multiple sites of dwellings to experience, Wupatki National Monument demonstrates the amazing structures these people built. The walking tour guide is helpful in interpreting the people and the culture that lived here. The loop drive to visit this site and Sunset Crater Volcano is also a very scenic drive.

#3 Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

The Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is a very large site managed as part of the National Park System. Located in both Arizona and Utah only the very southern end of the recreation area comes into Arizona. There are some interesting sites to see in this section and has very easy access from Page, Arizona along with a couple of other amazing times. Take time to visit the Glen Canyon Dam visitor center while you are here, or catch/rent a boat to explore the area.

#4 Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

Sunset Crater is a cinder cone and lava flow that is part of the San Francisco volcanic field that also created the nearby San Francisco Peaks. The park is a good place to learn about volcanic activity and the different types of lava that form during an eruption. There are a number of short hiking trails that will take you to see some interesting lava formations. The lava can be sharp and can crumble easily so off-trail hiking is prohibited. This is part of a circular scenic drive that also takes you to the Wupatki National Monument as well. Take a couple of hours to explore this National Park site before you head off to the Grand Canyon.

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