We spent a few hours on this lake on a cloudy post-monsoon morning. It was lovely!…read more The state park rangers were so kind and eager to help us with any questions. I rented a kayak for 2 hours for $35 and had a blast out on the water. There were many people fishing and swimming. It was great to see so many families staying in the cabins for the weekend to enjoy the lake. I would love to check out the well-maintained trails the next time I go. Also, the views of Mt. Graham are unmatched. Highly recommend!

A fantastic State Park with fun ready for everyone. The RV/camping opportunities are outstanding…read more The sites are VERY well maintained, which includes immaculate restrooms & showers. The park Volunteers are wonderful & work hard to ensure the park is a place for everyone to enjoy.. Day use or overnight stays, Roper Lake State Park is a terrific place to be. Enjoy!!

There are 2 extremes to this hike. You can choose to explore the lower canyon to a beautiful…read morewaterfall at the end surrounded by cliffs and call it a day for a total of 3 miles out and back OR you can hire a guide and canyoneer the upper canyon and spend around 5-7 hours while rappelling, climbing, and wading through endless pools and more waterfalls for a total of over 5 miles. On this adventure, my hiking group decided to take the easy route and enjoy the lower canyon. It kind of reminded me of West Fork hike in Sedona, because you cross the creek bed repeatedly, and you cannot help but stop and stare in awe of how beautiful the surroundings are. The hike is peaceful and you feel kid-like once more since you are forced to climb over small boulders, get knee deep or sometimes even waist deep in water, and brush past tree branches of various foliage. The life is teeming with so many different plant species present and with the Salt River connecting nearby, you just know the place is great for fishing as well. Permits are $15 per person for day hikes. Cibecue is on sacred land so remember to enjoy the hike in all its glory but be respectful and pack out everything you bring in.

One of my favorite hikes in AZ! How can you beat stunning canyon views, creek crossings, and a…read morebeautiful waterfall at the end!? Not to mention it's in the middle of nowhere away from all civilization--a great day trip getaway to relieve yourself after a stressful workweek! A few things to note before trekking out here: -You're going to want to be driving a 4x4 or high clearance vehicle as the road from the 60 turnoff is nothing but dirt and rocks. I've seen a Prius do it but it looked painful and damaging lol. -Permits are now $30 per person and you pay with cash into a box so come prepared. I'm not a huge fan of the price hike *no pun intended* but I can see why the reservation did it reduces the crowd. -Bring sturdy water shoes or prepare to get your hiking shoes wet/muddy. I have some pretty flimsy Walmart water shoes so I opted for the latter. There are multiple creek crossings and it's not like Seven Falls or Oak Creek--there are not enough stones to hop across and you will need to walk in the water.By the end of the day, my hiking shoes were completely soaked with muddy water. They will need some deep cleaning. -Piggy-backing off the point above, if you go following a monsoon storm, expect the creek and falls to be saturated with thick mud. Grand Falls style. -PLEASE pack in what you pack out. Do not litter or leave anything behind in this beautiful place.

If I had to describe this place in one word, I would say 'sanctuary.'…read more The Catwalk Recreation Area is a compact gem of stupendous beauty. I'd say it's one of the can't miss locations among the many in this state. Although I had seen some photos and videos, they didn't prepare me for the overwhelming experience. It's a canyoned, slot canyoned, nature trailed, tree-lined, water featured, and wildlife wonder courtesy of a built-for-the-ages metal catwalk that floats through much of it as you are suspended between ground and sky. I've seen so many places of natural beauty that I don't get as impressed or as thrilled as I did when I was younger. However, here, I can't think of enough superlatives to say how amazed I was. This place can easily fill with people on nice weekend days. I chose a cold weekday morning and I had the place to myself for a few hours. I considered that time an honor as I walked the catwalk gazing up to the cliff faces and sky while listening to the subdued roar of the water passing by below. I took time to descend from the catwalk and sit at a few places at the water's edge. I hike and camp and bicycle and, while they offer exercise and joy, the Catwalk Recreation Area seems to have its own built-in stress relief feature. This is such an embracing and calming place that can lift you up and say don't lose sight of all the good things in the world.

The Catwalk is so beautiful…read more The boardwalk itself is higher above the water than I anticipated and much shorter in distance than I expected. Regardless the feeling entering the canyon after the catwalk is almost surreal the rocks seem as if they just fell minutes before arriving. Almost like stepping in the Flintstones cartoon. I suggest going here, bring lots of water and snacks and wear a hat plus sunscreen the sun is very direct and hot. Not much shade until you get up the river a ways. I would say I think smaller dogs paws would not be comfortable on the catwalks metal grating but large dogs seemed very comfortable walking on it.

Very high on my list of places i can't wait to visit again...This 49,000 acre preserve, managed by…read morethe Nature Conservancy, offers overnight accommodations in a remote, peaceful setting. Be forewarned this is NOT a full service hotel and there is a very long list of rules/guidelines for staying here which are strictly enforced. Reservations are required WAY in advance if you hope to get a casita here, and the ranch is closed to visitors during the hot summer months due to rattlesnake activity. But (if you are still reading...) if you are pretty self sufficient, willing to pack in all of the food and drink for your stay (the nearest safeway will be an hour away down a dark, pothole filled dirt road) and in search of a rare respite completely immersed in the natural beauty of southern Arizona, then this place is well worth the journey. Muleshoe Ranch is located at the southern end of a 50 mile riparian nature preserve, at the convergence of three rivers in the Galiuro mountains. You can climb mountains, explore the terrain, hike through shady riverbeds or do all of the above in a single day. Your self guided adventures can range from an easy nature trail to a half day loop (Beth Woodin Trail, which is spectacular) or a 4 wheel drive expedition into the backcountry. The landscape changes with the seasons and at night there's some of the best stargazing you'll find anywhere. Wildlife abounds, and includes many species of hummingbirds as well as elusive troops of ring tailed coatimundi. Wildflowers are abundant in the springtime and the streambeds teem with life. The casitas (actually 4 casitas round a grassy courtyard) and a little stone house down the hill are available for overnight rental. Very comfortable accommodations with beds and fully equipped kitchens. Some of the casitas have a living/dining room area with futon sofas that convert into additional sleeping accommodations. There are plenty of little outdoor seating areas to rest and relax. There is an outdoor deck for stargazing and wildlife viewing, as well as a common room for socializing with other guests. Nearby there is a visitor center and a small gift shop which are open to day visitors during limited hours. The icing on the cake are the two outdoor natural spring fed hot (very hot!) tubs crafted from round galvanized cattle troughs, which are only available to overnight guests. Before or after a strenuous day of hiking they are heavenly! Be sure to visit the Nature Conservancy/Muleshoe website and read through all of the details about a stay at Muleshoe to decide whether it's right for you. It is a very special place off of the beaten path of tourist travel.

What an absolutely incredible find! Only 2 1/2 hours or so outside of Tucson but it feels like a…read morewhole other world! No cell phone reception and no Internet. Amazing hiking trails, gorgeous wildlife, sunsets and sunrises that take your breath away. All while talked into a nature conservancy park. So you learn all about programs they are doing to help nature. One being there incredible monarch butterfly program. The Casitas are super cute! Perfect accommodations. Each has a bathroom, a little kitchen, and usually seating either on the front patio or back patio. Hot water was perfect and the septic system worked very well. And don't forget to pack your swimsuit-they have hot tubs that you can sit in. And I haven't heard if you get up early enough sitting in them to watch the sunrise is well worth the early morning alarm!

I've been here twice and each time I have visited, it is mesmerizing and I don't want to leave!…read more This place is famous for their hoodoos and amazing rock formations that will leave you speechless and in awe! And while this place is a national monument, one thing our government could do instead of all the other nonsense going on is to upgrade this place to a national park. We stopped in here after spending time at Kartchner Caverns and today the scenic drive beyond the campground was closed because of the rain and snow that came down steadily last night. And because of this and due to the amount of time we had, we did a shorter walk along the Silver Spur Meadow. This trail is very easy, well shaded and what a beautiful place to view birds! I think may have seen 15 or more species in just the short walk we did here today. I was also here about 2 years ago and did the Echo Canyon Trail to the Grotto and that was such a lovely easy hike with all sorts of cool rock formations and I enjoyed climbing around. Id like to come back and do a more strenuous hike and when I get a chance, will come back and do the Heart of the Rocks trail! Visitor center is very cool with a really nice gift shop, museum, bathrooms and very informative rangers. Parking lot can be a bit tight but more parking available down the road. I was able to get a fun stuffed sandhill crane! I could spend a lot more time here and just love this place! Great place to get a dose of nature and love how the air feels at close to 5500 feet!

Hidden gem. Way in…read morethe southeast corner of Arizona, south of Wilcox, we dropped in to the secluded national monument, a mountain island, in a desert ocean. We dropped by the visitor center and the kids were able to work with NP Volunteer Eric V., who was amazing. Eric was enthusiastic, and such a motivator with the kiddos. He swore in the Ruiz kids with their Chiricahua Junior Ranger badges, and helped us with a late afternoon idea to get the most out of the park. We drove up to Massai Point and enjoyed the drive up looking at roadside views of rock formations, like Sea Captain and Organ Pipes. When we got to the top, the kids were excited about the leftover snow...yes, snow. We got out to walk around the top of Massai Point and the Nature Trail. The top of Massai allows for a good panoramic view of the park and it's peaks. After a good 20minutes of awesome views we dropped into Echo Valley to see some of the rock formations up close. It's crazy how through millions of years of erosion left the hillsides full of balanced rocks, mushroom rock formations, and trails to see all of them up close. Literally, a playground of rocks in the mountains. Being in the mountains even at this elevation is different than the surrounding flats below. Temperature is different, flora, and fauna...all distinct up in the Chiricahua. Another cool thing is that the monument is the 104th dark skies destination. When it's dark, you can see stars for days. Stars the limit here. Looking forward to the next visit...and maybe an overnight stay.

I went to an immaculately maintained trail along a creek and meadow of horses and cows that backed…read moreup to the mountains. Beautiful, beautiful and the small town charm of it is amazing! I loved the rocks people paint and leave behind as well. I have done that in the past with my 3 boys. Love the idea and charm of it! Reminds me to do it again. I felt refreshed and enjoyed my 3 mile run!! The trails were marked with little white signs and I didn't feel unsafe. It got tight a couple times with some kind folks walking dogs and I'm a huge dog person- so doesn't bother me and I was able to squeeze past them without them needing them to move much in the skinny portion of the trail we happened to be crossing at the same time. I think they appreciated. Anyway, beautiful hike and is do it again! Looking for another trail to do today before we leave back to the Valley in the AM. I don't want to leave!

Just FYI, using GPS location from this does not lead you to a trail. It just lads you to a general…read moreresidential area that happens to be within the white mountains area.

This was a really interesting place to visit, but my God it is so far out there lol the roads twist…read more& turn, through a beautiful drive, but ugh The forest is pretty cool, zero service at all for like probably a 50 mile radius or so. You are definitely going off grid out there No gas stations either, so be sure to fill up. The hills will consume more gas compared to driving on a flat road I would've liked to explore the area more, but mainly drive there to see the dwellings. The hike up can be a bit strenuous for some, it's not but about a half a mile hike. It can get rough though for those who don't do any movement at all. Once in the dwellings, you'll be in there for about 30 minutes max, if you're alone. We stumbled on a tour guide, who talked about each of the rooms. He was really cool. Shout out to Keith, & Gus. As well as the guy who gave us a brief modern history of the dwellings. Couldn't see his name tag I will go back one day, but I will plan for a longer stay next time lol Silver City is a little over 1 hour away, but it feels like a lot longer

What an amazing place, to see where and how people lived millennia's ago is mind blowing…read more If you're traveling through New Mexico it's worth the extra hours drive to visit here.

A state park we visited for the day in New Mexico during our stay at Rockhound State Park…read more It has full hookup sites as well as a day use area. It is on the site of an area where several million years ago, a volcanic eruption threw numerous large boulders on to the landscape. The park has driving areas and hiking trails around and between these boulders. We spent several hours waking through and had lunch in the park at the picnic area. We had a good time exploring the park and recommend a visit if you're in the area.

Great little park. The visitor's center is interesting and the city of rocks itself is a really…read morefun place for kids and adults alike to hike, climb and explore. In between the rocks are plenty of oak trees and shady spots where you can get out of the sun. There are plenty of beautiful views as well. I can tell it'll also have good dark sky viewing but didn't get to that on my visit.

I like how this trail was so well maintained and had markers making it easy to navigate. The…read morescenery is stunning as your surrounded by towering pines and oaks and there's even water on the trail. It's about 2 miles to get to the Ice Cave which was cool (pun intended) to check out, but it was a little underwhelming. Still awesome to see an entrance of a collapsed lava tube where cool air creates a natural refrigerator even if it didn't have that wow factor. There's pretty wildflowers alongside cactus which is cool to see. We didn't see much wildlife but there are horseback riders that use the trail that you may come across. Overall, it was a good easy to moderate trail good for families and with some really beautiful scenery and I enjoyed the trail.

Don't expect too much for the ice cave. It's a hole in the ground with cold air, which is nice once…read moreyou've sweated in the sun for 2 miles. Use sunscreen, as it's not shaded. There is a geocache in the area if you geocache.

Best kept secret!…read more There were no cell signals at the parking and I created this page at about 10,000 feet in elevation when I was no longer in the woods area. If I get the information wrong, please update. They have three parkings. West, Sheep Crossing and East. No outhouse at the sheep crossing but the most convenient one. We probably passed by 3 or 4 groups during our 13 - 14 miles leisurely hike. It starts with small creeks good for finishing and playing with water, then nice meadow that made me want to just run around, woods area start and requires you to jump over and under tress that blocking trails. You see evidence of old fires that in its way to good recovery, and followed by above woods area to provide you unobstructed view of the area. Not allowed to summit here as they belong to Indian Nation but the loop hiking was very nice Walk was so peaceful and really quiet. Only sound you hear is the wind. Beautiful butterfly and flowers along the trail kept me entertained. I would love to come back here for backpacking and camping someday. Enough water nearby, I think camping here will be very luxurious things to do.

This is a gem place just a few miles from the sunrise resort. Has a decent parking space and…read moreinformation is clear at the entrance. Medium to hard levels and few routes available for the hike. Looks splendid overall and would love to hike here again. It was very chilled when we went hence there was literally no one else other than us. Also, we could hike much because of the cold. But I would return here in summer for my next hike.