There are many ways to enjoy Arizona's high country. On this trip we chose to visit the National Monuments, since we had never visited them before. The National Monuments are administered by the National Parks Service and there is a small admission fee per vehicle. We were, without exception, very impressed at the condition of the parks, the helpfulness of the employees and rangers, and the thoughtfulness with which the trails and stopping points were organized. At each place you can stop at the visitor's center, peruse the exhibits, and use the facilities. You may also pick up a free color pamphlet about the park, the history of the area and its importance from both an archeological and anthropological perspective.
Our trip took us north from Phoenix to Flagstaff, Arizona where we spent the night. The next morning, our first stops were Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki National Monuments. Sunset Crater is about 15 miles north of Flagstaff, and Wupatki is another 14 miles up the road. The Sunset Crater Trail is an easy and relatively short walk (1 mile) through the lava fields formed by the volcano. It is hard to imagine that one is in Arizona while walking through the vast area of ash and lava rock. Wupatki is an incredibly well preserved pueblo with about 100 rooms. A self-guided tour is all you need to see this fascinating structure. If you walk the trails and stop at the Visitors Centers to look around, both Sunset Crater and Wupatki should take you three to four hours.
At Walnut Canyon you will see how the Sinagua lived in the cliffs of the canyon. Their name means "without water" and it is amazing to imagine how they farmed and lived in these canyon walls. Walnut Canyon is the only place we visited on this trip where there were warnings about the strenuous nature of the hiking trail. The Island Trail (all concrete and steps) provides the opportunity to walk beside the cliff dwellings. It is slightly less than one mile. Walking back up is steep (240 steps), and there are many benches along the way to stop and rest. If you can, though, walk this trail--it is worth it--and take your time going back up. The Rim Trail is easier and shorter. The elevation is high here: about 7,000 feet. Take this into consideration when deciding which trail to take. One and a half hours should be enough unless you do both trails.
The next day we left early and drove about two hours to the Petrified Forest National Park. Leave 2 to 3 hours for this visit. You are now on the Colorado Plateau. This is another incredibly different place, and if you are interested in geology you will be happy here. Walk the trail in the middle of petrified wood strewn across the landscape as far as the eye can see. Do not touch and do not steal any pieces! Stop at the various points along the road on the way through the Painted Desert.
Canyon de Chelly is another two hours up the road and there are two rims. The North Rim Drive is 34 miles round trip and the South Rim Drive is 37 miles round trip. There is no entrance fee. This is Navajo private land, and they observe Daylight Savings time, unlike Phoenix or Flagstaff. Obey the speed limits and the laws here. If you have enough time, you can arrange for either a four hour or eight hour jeep tour into the Canyon. Either way you can enjoy the ruins and the beautiful canyon.
Hopefully you can get a little rest before you get back in your vehicle for the ride home, which should take you about 6 hours. We took an extra day, and went back to Flagstaff. We visited Arizona Snowbowl and rode the skyride to the top of Humphreys. It takes 30 minutes each way, and we spent only about 15 minutes on top. No matter how you plan it, you will have had an amazing weekend, seen four of Arizona's wonderful National Parks and Monuments and have a few rolls of spectacular pictures to prove it.
Speaking of pictures, I took a few on our trip. On the next five pages I have provided details of the various locations where we stopped on our trip, and each stop has a photo gallery attached to it.
Let's begin. Our first stop is....
