Wow! What great slice of history, a museum full of spectacular specimens, A town full of mystery, a…read more1900 ft mine shift that you can walk over (it's covered with glass!), a spectacular mansion which serves as the state museum, and beautiful scenery including a view of the San Francisco peaks in Flagstaff and views of the red rocks of Sedona. We happened upon a fabulous history guide upon walking in. A 50+ year native called us to the front porch of the Douglas mansion (which sits upon some of the mine tunnels!) and delighted us with a passionate 30 minute jam packed history. Not sure if this is a daily event, but I know we were extremely lucky to hear this talk. I cannot wait to go back and learn more.

This museum has a lot to go through and it would take you some time. You'll need more than an hour,…read moremaybe 1 1/2-2. There is a video that is so fun and worth watching. I wish there was a tour guide or someone to answer questions along the self guided. It does a great job at showing what the city was once like. All the original pieces from the mines are for you to see up close. Worth checking out!

Absolute gem of a state park and what the model should be for all parks:…read more 1. Incredibly helpful and informed staff 2. Cleanest restrooms of any state or national park I've ever seen 3. Phenomenal fishing for the kids in the lagoons 4. The little cabins are a must for families! Will be on our regular rotation now. Pro tip: if staying in the cabins, there is only one wall outlet inside. Bring an electric water kettle to heat up water for ramen, coffee, cider, oatmeal, and for doing a quick rinse of any cooking pans and utensils. We would died without our hot water kettle. Great job, Arizona State Parks!

We renew our pass for the state park every year. We love to come here as a family. The park is dog…read morefriendly. We bring our little puppy. There are very nice trails around three lagoons beautiful water views. There are benches and picnic table tables all around the park, this is a perfect spot to have a picnic at on a nice sunny day. They do have both shaded and unshaded picnic tables and seating. We walked around the park first and then had our picnic. It is very peaceful here there were lots of dogs and families out together. The bathroom here were very clean and well-maintained. There is a kids park up top where kids can hang out and zip line. There is lots of wildlife to see their birds, ducks fishing. We saw two eagles . There is also horseback riding that can be purchased separately. Overall a great experience we will continue to come back time and time again.

FYI: If you're planning to go during the government shutdown, you can't drive all the way to the…read moreparking lot -- it's about an 8-mile hike (a lot of it on gravel). But honestly, it's worth every step! Just when you think you've reached the falls... you haven't. Keep going! The road in is pure washboard -- about 13 miles of bump city -- so make sure you have a 4-wheel drive and that nothing inside your car is loose. Fossil Creek is absolutely stunning, and bonus -- no permit needed after October 1st. The other thing says this trail is easy. No, it's not to be careful if you're taking somebody elderly over that doesn't have good mobility because there's some rocks you had a climb and what not also make sure you take plenty of water to drink and a little snack everything you pack in your pack. I would also suggest leaving the house by three 330. No later you don't wanna be hiking in the pitch dark.

People really need to be better educated on the permit process and the strict requirements that are…read morenow being enforced. We had our permit that one of our husbands printed for us but since he was not in vehicle, they would not allow us to enter!! Worse than our problem were 2 women in thier turn around lot at thier gate and those 2 women were still stranded in the heat nearly 6 hours later. We the park rangers failed to relay a hugely important message to those ladies about thier spare tire being In the middle of the road 10 miles back !! Again a huge disappointment for those park employees who witnessed these women being stranded, and we feel with 3 employees and 2 trucks could have easily assisted these women or at the very least let them know where thier spare was located ! We were hugely inconvenienced by driving back several miles to pile into one car as the option they offered us, but these poor ladies we believe were clearly suffering unnecessary while not one of those employees told them where thier spare was located or possibly offered to get it for them .

We parked at the Tuzigoot River Access point after visiting the National Monument. This is a large…read moreparking lot, suitable for boat trailers. We went in January to walk along the river. It was very scenic, even though most of the leaves had fallen form the trees. There is a small beach at one location and small rapids for kayaking. Several dog walkers and a few mountain bikes were using the pathways. This would be a lovely place in the spring to fall when the trees are full.

This natural area is located next to Dead Horse Ranch State Park near Cottonwood. There is no…read morecamping or campfires in the riparian zone, but you can camp at Dead Horse Park. The river is stocked with bass, catfish, and bluegill. In the winter they stock it with trout. There is a lot of wildlife in this region to see. The Verde River is a great spot to canoe or kayak because of all the twists and turns in the river. You can load your boat at the ramp at the Tuzigoot River Access Point which has plenty of parking nearby. Swimming is at your own risk.

This is a fun lake to explore because there is so much to do here. We came over here to Watson Lake…read morebecause Lynx Lake had to be drained and we couldn't kayak over there. Watson Lake is great for boating, hiking, fishing and day picnicking. Rock climbers like to climb on the large rugged granite rock formations known as Granite Dells. These rock formations make this lake very picturesque. I used to see pictures of it all over social media before coming here. Watson Lake is located a few miles from Downtown Prescott. It is a reservoir that was formed in the early 1900s when a dam was built on Granite Creek. There are two boat launches for canoeing and kayaking. The Prescott Peavine Trail is the area's most popular trail if you want to hike around the lake. You cannot swim in Watson Lake because water quality and algae concerns. Before coming here, just know that there is a small daily fee to park your vehicle at Watson Lake. We enjoyed kayaking here. There were a lot of areas to explore at this lake. The rock formations are fun to kayak around and make for pretty photographs. If you are into bird watching, this is a great place to go because the Watson Woods Riparian Preserve is nearby.

Beautiful and well worth the visit. Scenery is spectacular and tons to do around the lake.read more

This is a neat national monument - expect to spend 1-2 hours here exploring the visitor center and…read morewalking up to the pueblo structure. The visitor center has a lot of artifacts and information about the history of the area and how it was excavated, as well as how the name came to be. It's a Tonto Apache term for "crooked waters," from nearby Pecks Lake. There's also a gift shop with the usual assortment of NPS offerings. Out off to the side of the visitor center is a paved pathway to the 2- to 3-story pueblo. You can even climb up to the top of a reconstructed room to view the area. It's impressive in size - Tuzigoot is the largest and best preserved of the many Sinagua pueblo structures. There was a volunteer out in the structure to answer any questions one may have - very nice touch. I saw a deer wandering out in the marsh vegetation and a lot of birds flying around.

Tuzigoot is a cool National Monument near Sedona! You see the ruins from over 900 years ago. It's…read morereally cool to see how they built places for survival. I would recommend a tour for more information if you can get one. I just walked around and explored, but would have gotten more history with a guide. There is a small gift shop and museum to check out as well. If you are there around lunch time, there are picnic benches available to sit on if it's not too hot! Overall, it's a great stop if you like history!

Recently, I visited the Honanki heritage site in Sedona. The road to arrive is a little rough and…read moreit is a dirt road so you will want a high clearance vehicle. Once you arrive, there is a short and accessible hike to arrive to the cliff dwellings. The place is truly magical and historical. There are many pictographs and petroglyphs on the walls. The Sinagua people inhabited the structures in AD 1150-1530. I went in the mid afternoon and it was very quiet there ... only saw a few people.

We rented ATVs and rode up here, which took about 20-30 minutes to reach the top. Once you arrive,…read morethere's a $5 fee to park your vehicle. They have a small area with restrooms, trash cans, and even complimentary ice water, which was a really nice touch, especially after riding in the heat. From the parking area, it's about a 5-minute walk up to the site. It's pretty cool to see, and there's a short path where you can walk around and take it all in. The walk itself is very quick, but the site is still interesting and worth checking out if you're already in the area. Overall, it's a neat stop and a nice break during the ride. I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way just for this, but if you're nearby it's definitely worth a quick visit.

Very cute little town! I recommend visiting in case you're around!…read more Please be prepared to get dizzy on the way there but other than that, a must so you can have a nice view once you're on the top.

We stopped in Jerome and was not disappointed. It is a cute town in Arizona's Black Hills. It…read morepromotes being a ghost town, and is considered one of the most haunted places in Arizona. We were able to park on the street for free, but there is also areas to pay for parking. We spent a few hours walling the town, going in and out of shops, galleries and wineries. Many of the buildings had plaques stating what the building was in the past. A nice way to learn about the history of the town. The views of the Sedona's Red Rock , Verde Valley and the San Francisco Peaks were beautiful. Worth spending a few hours visiting.

Short and sandy. Nice and shady during our walk June of 2024. Morning temps were in the high…read moreseventies. Take water for sure. Enjoy the shade of the trees and graffiti under the bridge. We extended our hike to 2.5 miles by looping out to River Walk by the ball fields and community gardens. Boots recommended for the soft sand but not necessary.

This is a fun popular hike in Cottonwood that is good for hiking, walking, and trail running. It is…read morepretty easy and is accessible from historic old town Cottonwood near the old jail parking lot. It is 1.6 miles through a dense riparian forest where you can spot many species of birds. This trail is great for birdwatchers. The trail itself connects Old Town Cottonwood with Riverfront Park and the Verde River. I have walked the Jail Trail a couple times when visiting Cottonwood and have always enjoyed the peacefulness it offers.

Cathedral Rock is a moderate trail. I highly recommend that if you're not used to using all hands,…read morefeet and your butt to climb, hike and walk through then don't attempt to go far here. You have to park in a lot, take the metro rail to the entrance and then make sure you use the bathroom first thing because there are no other bathrooms. Watch others to see how they tackle the rocks and hills and different areas. Also, trust when I say that you will get red dirt all over you and what you carry. Make sure you have a backpack and water bottle that you can just carry on your person. When you reach the top, it is truly a masterpiece! Going down was harder than going up by the way. Be very careful on your way down. Took us about 1.5 hours to get to the top and then about the same going back down. Watched a few people slip and fall, walk barefoot, and even touch the cactus. We're so glad we took this trail as beginners in Sedona.

It's a great hike, views are great. The transportation can be a bit challenging. If the parking lot…read moreis full and the shuttle parking is full, you will need to park in uptown and take another shuttle. Spent more time getting to the trail head vs. the time on the hike.