Phoenix Area in Arizona, January 2024

For a busy city, Phoenix has several lovely parks which we have never visited in our 13 years of exploring the southwest. So we headed east after Christmas instead of going straight to Yuma like we usually do. We found free camping just off Highway 74 (aka Lake Pleasant Road) on the east side of North New River Road. Lots of space as well as many other RV campers.

Cave Creek Regional Park
	Our first hike was at Cave Creek Regional Park on the Slate Trail, to see the Michelin Saguaro. The trail was verdant with palo verde, cholla, and other desert flora.  We were told at the Visitor Center that this is one of only 3 known saguaro of this type, and no one knows why they grow this way.
	We then backtracked to the connecting trail that joins to the Go John Trail, and looped back to the parking lot. The Go John Trail has wonderful views overlooking the valley and outlying cities north of Phoenix.
	All trails are multi-use and we did see several other hikers, cyclists and horseback riders. It was a pretty hot day, even for January, although the elevation helped a bit. Even the horses were sweating!
White Tank Mountain Regional Park
	We hiked one day at White Tank Mountain Regional Park, taking the Black Rock Trail to the Waterfall Canyon Trail. As you can see, there is no waterfall now, although a small pool at the base remained. Due to the shade, the area at the "waterfall" is incredibly cool since the rocks act like a refrigerator.
Watson Lake in Prescott
	It has been 9 years since we have been to the Granite Dells, aka Watson Lake near Prescott. But this year, we have kayaks. Even though it's a one and a half hour drive north, we pack up and spend a day kayaking the lake. I'm so glad we did, as the water was so calm, great for kayaking.
	We both took a lot of photos here, but sometimes you just have to sit back and enjoy the scenery as you float by.
	A view of the lake and the granite rocks from the parking lot at the top of Watson Lake Park Road. The snow-capped San Francisco Mountains and Humphreys Peak above Flagstaff can be seen in the distance.
Agua Fria National Monument
	We hiked a short, easy trail from I-17 (with very dangerous parking right on the side of the interstate!) to the abandoned Richinbar Mine which sits above Agua Fria Canyon within the Agua Fria National Monument. When you get to the canyon, the trail turns right or left. Follow up to the left and look on the backside of the rocks at the small peak to see petroglyphs.  The trail to the right goes to the mine.
	Remnants possibly of the head frame at the Richinbar Mine site. Brad loves abandoned mines, although there wasn't much to see here. Honestly, the terrain along the trail is very open and not very interesting, although the view into the canyon is nice, and came as a surprise. I think we might have enjoyed the hike at Badger Springs, just a few more miles north on I-17, where there are also facilities and proper exit/on ramps.

 

Prescott to Sedona, AZ

After our brutally hot hike up Picacho Peak, we decide to escape the heat in southern Arizona and head for the mountains to the north, between Pheonix and Flagstaff. We stay just outside of Cottonwood for a few nights and travel to our destinations because mountain roads will not allow travel with our trailer in tow.

Granite Dells at Watson Lake near Prescott

Watson Lake near Prescott is a reservoir within an area known as the Granite Dells. These strangely eroded granite cliffs are made all the more beautiful by the clear water.

The lake is a popular water recreation area. People are kayaking, paddle boarding and boating with electric motors. No swimming is allowed because it is a reservoir for residents' household water.

The dam at the end of the lake. A trail leads around the entire lake, up and over the rocky formations, but we hike only to the dam and back to the parking lot, a total distance of perhaps just over one mile.

Many water birds (ducks, cootes and herons) enjoy the lake and these still coves.

Jerome - Once a copper mining town then reduced to a mere ghost town after the depression, Jerome is now a vibrant tourist destination boasting art galleries with local works.

Jerome's most famous landmark - The Grand Hotel. Originally a hospital, the restored building sits high atop Cleopatra Hill overlooking the entire valley and the city of Cottonwood.

Looking out from the hotel parking lot, we can see across the valley to the red rock hillsides of Sedona and the snow-capped San Fransisco Mountains outside of Flagstaff to the north.

Me outside the lobby entrance of The Grand Hotel.

Just down the street from the hotel is "The Surgeon's House", now a B and B. With the same view as the hotel, we can only imagine how relaxing it would be to sit on the patio here enjoying happy hour.

Sedona

Since we only have one day to explore Sedona, we decide on an easy hike up Fay Canyon. Ten years ago, at the end of the maintained one mile trail, the underside of this rock face fell into the canyon some 30 feet below where Brad is standing.

Typical us, we scramble past the rock fall and find a narrow foot path that skims along the edge of this cliff. We have a picnic lunch enjoying the solitude.

Brad looking down Fay Canyon.

A strange rock formation along the main trail in Fay Canyon.

Brad atop Fay Arch (the black arrow is pointing to him), accessed by a small trail branching off the main trail and not signed. The sheer size of the cliff face is certainly impressive.

Brad at the viewpoint at the top of Airport Road, overlooking the city of Sedona. Buildings are hard to see because they are intentionally built to blend into the red rock surroundings.