Grand Canyon National Park
The greatest of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World is the Grand Canyon in northwest Arizona. The Grand Canyon is a very colorful, very deep, and very steep gorge carved out by the Colorado River. The length of the canyon is best measured in river miles. Beginning at Lees Ferry and ending at the Grand Wash Cliffs, the length is 277 miles. The width of the canyon varies from one quarter of a mile to fifteen miles wide. Maximum depth is one mile. Granted Federal protection in 1893 as a Forest Reserve, the Grand Canyon became a National Monument, and achieved National Park status in 1919 becoming the Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon is a place that must be seen to be believed. There are two things to do at the Grand Canyon National Park. The first thing is to enjoy the view. What visitors encounter is a breathtaking vista that is practically indescribable. The second thing to do is to explore it. Activities include hiking below the rim, rafting on the Colorado River through Grand Canyon, backpacking, mule or horseback riding. Ranger-led tours are popular ways of getting to know the park. Bicycling is allowed on the park roads only.
Though these activities are available to visitors, they require either a minimum level of fitness (hiking through the canyon is strenuous) or time (rafting and pack trips are overnight trips). Therefore, most visitors to the Grand Canyon find that the sightseeing is the main attraction and requires travel to several overlooks to catch a different view. The Grand Canyon National Park does not rely on museums or historical sites to tour - it lets the canyon speak for itself. The attractions are the views - the places to visit are the overlooks that offer a unique view. There are special programs throughout the park to enhance the visitor experience with hikes to particular locations, nature walks, or the twilight program when the sun sets over the canyon. The brilliant hues and colors of the setting sun reflecting off the canyon are spectacular.
Nearly five million people see Grand Canyon each year. Most of them view the canyon from overlooks along the South Rim (this includes Grand Canyon Village, Hermits Rest, and Desert View). The South Rim is located 60 miles north of Williams, Arizona, and 80 miles northwest of Flagstaff, Arizona and is the most accessible entrance to the park. The less accessible North Rim is a thousand feet higher than the South Rim offering an excellent vantagepoint. Though the North Rim lies just 10 miles directly across the Canyon from the South Rim, visitors usually do not bridge the distance in a car. The paved roads around and across to the other side total 215 miles, or about a five hour trip.
The North Rim Visitor Center is open mid-May through mid-October and is closed in the winter. The center offers maps, brochures, exhibits, and a bookstore. Programs are offered in season. The South Rim's Canyon View Information Plaza is the main visitor center and is open daily year round. This center offers a bookstore and outdoor exhibits. Along the South Rim, several driving tours are available. Some are open to shuttle bus tours - others are open to private vehicles. Several ranger-led programs are available at the South Rim, as is a Junior Ranger Program.
Lake Havasu State Park
A popular place to cool off between the deserts of Arizona and California is at Lake Havasu, Arizona. Located along the Colorado River, Lake Havasu was created in 1938 when the Parker Dam was built. The Chemehuevi name "Havasu"means "Land of the Blue Green Water". Lake Havasu City, home of the London Bridge, was named for its 45-mile long lake. Along the shores of Lake Havasu, visitors will find sandy beaches, hiking and walking trails, and Lake Havasu State Park. Lake Havasu State Park is comprised of two distinct areas, Windsor Beach and Cattail Cove. At Lake Havasu State Park, a variety of activities including camping, hiking, fishing, and boating are available. The lake offers ramps to launch boats for water sports.
The London Bridge crosses the Bridgewater Channel from the mainland to a small island at Lake Havasu. When London, England sought to get rid of the famous bridge that was sinking in the Thames River, the winning bid resulted in the bridge being dismantled, shipped to California, and rebuilt in Lake Havasu. The "English Village"under the bridge features a taste of England with Tudor buildings, shops, restaurants, and breweries on tree-lined streets. This is also the place to rent a paddleboat, take a boat tour, or take the ferry to California on the other side of the Lake.
Today, Lake Havasu State Park and Lake Havasu City are popular vacation destinations. There is plenty for everyone, including playing golf on championship courses, soaking up the sun on the shores of Lake Havasu's beaches, or exploring nearby parks. Houseboats dot the lake and are available for rent, as are paddleboats, kayaks, jet skis, and other water sport equipment. Lake Havasu City caters to tourists with of restaurants, shops, and plenty of nightlife. In the day, the blue skies and the blue water sparkle against the mountain backdrop. In the evening, the desert skies are ideal for stargazing.
The Arroyo-Camino Interpretive Garden highlights the plants and wildlife within Lake Havasu State Park. A native and a historic variety garden is cultivated in the winter and in the early spring. Other nearby attractions include the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, the London Bridge, Buckskin Mountain State Park and River Island Unit, Cattail Cove State Park, and the Parker Dam.
Saguaro National Park
Saquaro National Park, Arizona's second most visited national park is overshadowed by its more popular sibling - the Grand Canyon National Park. However, 3.6 million annual visitors flock to Saguaro for a taste of Arizona, the wild west, and majestic desert located just to the east of Tucson, Arizona. Established as Saguaro National Monument in 1933, the area became Saguaro National Park in 1994.
Saguaro National Park is home to the Giant Saquaro, the most remarkable cactus plant in the desert. The Saguaro is the cactus in the "stick �em up"pose, arms or branches that grow outward and upward from a main trunk. These plants are located in a small portion of the United States and are guarded religiously. For one reason, they are very slow growing - flourishing to heights of 1-1.5 inches in the first eight years. Saguaros grow under the protection of a nurse tree, which is usually starved of water and nutrients once the new tree gains stature, and is subject to death. When the saguaro approaches 35 years of age, it begins to produce flowers, usually at the end of the trunk and arms, but flowers may also appear along the sides of the cactus. This process of growth is not a quick way to propagate the species. When the saguaro reaches 50-70 years, branches began to form. It can take up to 100 years where there is less precipitation.
Adulthood is reached when the saguaro has lived 125 years. At this age, the typical cactus may be 50 ft tall and weigh more than 12,000 pounds (6 tons). Total lifespan is typically 150-175 years. Many other cactus species are featured in Saguaro National Park, including the barrel, cholla, and prickly pear. The park also serves as a protected habitat for endangered species Mexican Spotted Owl, Sonoran Tiger Salamander, and the Lesser Long-nosed Bat.
Saguaro National Park is comprised of two sections; one is 20 miles east of Tucson, the other is 15 miles west of Tucson. The western section features the Tucson Mountains. The eastern section features the Rincon Mountains. The Sonoran Desert crosses into both sections. The Saguaro National Park offers over 150 miles of hiking and walking trails.
Both districts of Saguaro National Park are open daily. The visitor centers at each park are open daily and are closed on Christmas.
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