Do you know that more than 400 vulnerable and threatened plant and animal species consider the National Park’s as their home? National parks are chosen for their natural beauty, unique geological features, and unique ecosystems. Arizona is full of incredible parks and monuments which are very beautiful and worth visiting.
So, if you love exploring, swimming, boating, camping, horse riding then pack your bags and go to visit the amazing national parks of Arizona. Here is a list of the best national parks in Arizona.
1. Grand Canyon national park
The Grand Canyon is Arizona’s most recognized and visited park. The Grand Canyon is undoubtedly Arizona’s most iconic sight, being enormous, majestic, and incredibly gorgeous. In cross-section, the Grand Canyon in Arizona is distinguished by laminated bands of red rock that reflect thousands of years of geological record.
With its puzzle corridors, beautiful colors and diverse range of treks for all experience levels, this canyon never fails to amaze tourists. Because the South Rim is more constructed and popular, it is the perfect place to go for guided tours and exhibitions all year. At least once in a lifetime, everybody should visit the Grand Canyon.
2. Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park is located near the town of Holbrook. It not only has petrified wood but also 13,000 years of human history. Because petrified wood is general wood that has been transformed into stone through the background, it challenges this argument. You can go camping, hiking or horse riding.
You may also ride a horse, stallion, pony, or mule into the Petrified Forest National Nature Preserve, and then go on a night camping trip via the park. Petrified Forest National Park has an enormous amount of petrified wood, and also the beautiful Pictured Desert environment and ancient creature remains, including dinosaurs.
3. Saguaro National Park
Mountainous sections of Saguaro National Park, some reaching more than 8,000 feet above sea level, are filled with pine and evergreen woods, producing a magnificent canvas of greenery. This park is so beautiful that you may get lost in its beauty.
Many visitors from different countries come to visit this amazing park every year. This park contains enormous saguaros in their natural habitat, as well as opportunities for animal observation, hiking, and beautiful excursions.
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4. Tumacácori National Historical Park
In January 1691, Father Kino came and built Tumacácori as a missionary, making it Arizona’s earliest expedition site. The construction process was often interrupted due to financing issues.
The bell tower’s dome was never completed, but the rest of the structure was completed after years of effort. Trekking, bird viewing, and horse racing are all popular activities in this park. The park is traversed by the path.
5. Organ Pipe Cactus Park
Another national park in Arizona known for being the habitat of a unique cactus plant is named after it. The national park is home to a wide range of desert plants, most of which are cactus. Organ Pipe shares land borders with Sonora, Mexico, and many visitors extend their holiday in Mexico after seeing Organ Pipe.
The organ pipe cactus grows wild exclusively in this park in the United States. This is one of the national parks in Arizona where you can relax and enjoy the beauty.
6. Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Monument Park
Monument Valley is the only area in the United States that is connected with the Wild West. It’s both totally unknown and yet comforting. The deep red shades of this desert area bathe the region between Arizona and Utah, adding to its renown for providing some of the most dramatic and enchanting light. Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park attracts numerous people from outside the United States because of its cinematic popularity.
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7. Chiricahua National Monument Park
Chiricahua National Monument happened 27 million years ago. Around that time, the eruption at Turkey Creek spewed a massive amount of ash into the atmosphere, which fell to the ground and finally solidified into volcanic rock.
That rock has eroded into a paradise of rock spires, resulting in a rock garden that looks like something Dr Seuss would have created. The park’s terrain is dominated by spires, unstable, surreal pinnacles that may reach hundreds of feet in height, while caverns, mountains, and lava flow offer variation.
8. Tonto National Monument Park
This significant park was established on October 21, 1907. If you visit this park you will see unique kinds of wilderness and plants. A little distance southeast, across side roads that lead up into the hills. The park also offers rustic camping facilities. Also, you can experience natural beauty, sunrise, and sunsets from here.
9. Casa Grande Ruins National Monument Park
The Casa Grande Ruins National Monument park was built on August 3, 1918. The National Park Service has the Management authority of these parks. This park is beautiful and unique. The Tonto and Montezuma Castle National Monuments feature an outstanding four-story structure from the late Hohokam era, most likely the 14th century, and is comparable with other excellently built ruins in Arizona.
10. Walnut Canyon National Monument Park
The Walnut Canyon National Monument is a US National Monument located about 10 miles southeast of Flagstaff, Arizona. Many people from different countries come and visit this park every year. The visitor center is a good place to start your tour of Walnut Canyon National Monument. The tourist center also has a bookshop, and guests can enjoy spectacular views of the canyon and distant mountains from the lobby.
11. Navajo National Monument Park
The Navajo National Monument was created to preserve three well-preserved cliff shelters of the Ancestral Puebloan people: Keet Seel, Betatakin, and Inscription House. It was located in the northwest section of the Navajo Nation territory in northern Arizona.
The National Park Service’s Navajo National Monument is a little-known jewel. Its limited crowds and breathtaking landscape make it an ideal location for learning about historical and modern native cultures. This park has a small bookstore, a gift shop, a juice corner and many other facilities. You will experience the spectacular natural view from here.
12. Navajo National Monument Park
The National Park Service’s Navajo National Monument is a little-known jewel. Its limited crowds and breathtaking landscape make it an ideal location for learning about historical and modern native cultures. This park is almost 800 years old. The Navajo National Monument has two extreme weather conditions: below freezing from December to February and peak heat in July. So it will be best to avoid those seasons.
13. CANYON DE CHELLY NATIONAL MONUMENT
Canyon de Chelly National Monument, which is in the Navajo Nation and is situated in northwest Arizona, provides breathtaking vistas of an enormous canyon and the well-known Spider Rock pinnacle.
14. WUPATKI NATIONAL MONUMENT
Five abandoned pueblos from the Sinagua and Anasazi eras may be found in Wupatki. These towns were built from the brightly colored, deep red local sandstone.
These pueblos are reached by way of a little trek and are situated on the desert plain northeast of Flagstaff.
Arizona is a state full of national history and culture. The natural environment, diversity, and cultural history of the National Parks of Arizona must be protected and enhanced. Development is necessary for a state. We should not forget that without natural elements our environment will be damaged.
If these natural parks and monuments are not protected by the people, then the culture and history of Arizona will also be destroyed.