Onondaga Central
Last edition of the Tiger Prowl featured Arizona as its Featured Location. However, Arizona has so many natural wonders to hike and adore, it would take you more than one trip to see it all. This edition features Sedona, Phoenix and all the area has to offer. This region still provides the same brilliant blue skies, hot, arid soil, awestruck cacti as the Grand Canyon region of Arizona
Phoenix is the capital of Arizona. The majority of the activities will be located just outside Phoenix. However, there is plenty of fun to experience in the capital. You can tour the campus of Arizona State University. The beautiful campus is located in Tempe, Arizona, approximately 8 miles east of downtown Phoenix. Papago Park is a great place to spend a few hours on your trip. The Desert Botanical Garden is a 140-acre plot of land in Papago Park. The Arizona Cactus and Native Flora Society was founded in 1937 and established this park in 1939. This magnificent garden is not your typical garden, it now has more than 50,000 plants, in more than 4,000 taxonomic groups, one-third of which are native to the area, including 379 species. Some of which are rare, threatened or endangered. Another place located on Papago Park, is the Phoenix Zoo. Founded in 1963, the zoo is on 125 acres, offers 2.5 miles of walking trails and displays 1,400 animals for visitors. While in Papago Park, you must make one more stop, it’s a hiking destination called Hole-in-the-Rock. It is a stunning sandstone rock formation formed 6-15 million years ago. Camelback Mountain, located smack-dab in the middle of the large metropolitan area of Phoenix, is famous for its Camel shape and iconic for its breathtaking views of the city. If you are looking for an educational experience, you can visit the Heard Museum that showcases the rich Native American Culture in Arizona. Lastly, while you’re in the area, visit the South Mountain Park and Persevere. It is the largest municipal park in all of the United States and one of the largest urban parks in North America. It is a great place to picnic along with a great hike exploring the park. Not far from Phoenix is Scottsdale. If you are interested in lots of hiking in Phoenix, go to https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g31310-Activities-Phoenix_Arizona.html for specific trails. Sedona, Arizona has marvelous views of enormous red rock creation. Sedona is family-friendly and offers a tremendous amount of hiking trails. One place to hike is Bell Rock, with its iconic bell shape, it is easy to spot near the village of Oak Creek. The trail is relatively easy but does offer difficult challenges and paths for those up the challenge. Nearby is Courthouse Butte Loop. This is considerably quieter the Bell Rock trail and is best done if walked clockwise. Courthouse Butte will give you a spectacular view of the colorful Mogollon Rim. These two rock structures are nearby and the Bell Rock trail is accessible from the Courthouse vista, giving the hiker a shorter trail to walk. West Fork Canyon offers many trails in Oak Creek Canyon and runs along West Fork Creek. The trail offers plenty of shade from the harsh desert sun and is 6.9 miles long. Airport Mesa Trail/ Airport Loop Trail provides a beautiful overlook of Sedona and a gorgeous spot to watch the sunset. The trail is only 3.5 miles long. Cathedral Rock has numerous trails and is a relatively flat area, but some sections get incredibly steep and using your hands is necessary. Hikers can test their courage by following a narrow ledge to get to the other side of the lookout. This section is at the highest point of the trail where there is a saddle between two massive towers. This is used as a turnaround point for many. This trail crosses over Templeton Trail. Next, you can hike Doe Mountain Trail, a popular yet quiet hike. It is only 1.2 miles along the flat surface of Doe Mountain and is known for its solitude. From this trail, you can spot Courthouse Butte, Fay Canyon, Bear Mountain, and Mescal Mountain. Fay Canyon is an easy 2.4-mile hike through one of Sedona’s most beautiful and scenic areas. The trail ends with an incredible rock formation towering over the trail on either side. Bear Mountain is a steep 4.3-mile hike, with a substantial elevation gain. This hike allows you to see extinct volcanoes of the snow-covered San Francisco Peaks, the ghost town of Jerome, Doe Mountain, Courthouse Butte, and the Mogollon Rim in the distance. Mescal Mountain is known for mountain biking but it is definitely a great hike as well. The trail goes along the outskirts of Mescal Mountain. You can view many other landmarks in Sedona on this hike. This can be combined with Boynton Canyon Overlook Trail. Boynton Canyon Trail is a 6.1-mile hike with outstanding views and barely any shade so bring water. Soldiers Pass is extremely fascinating and is generally not a busy hike Devil's Kitchen Sinkhole, along with the beautiful Seven Sacred Pools, are seen on this hike. These are important religious sites for the local Native Americans. The pools may not have much water in them depending on the season. The loop is 4.1 miles. Devil’s Bridge Trail is 4.2 miles out-and-back and it leads to a beautiful natural sandstone arch. You can walk below it and then take the stairs to walk on top of it. The first part of the trail is wide and easy; the back half of the trail is narrower and steeper as you climb towards the arch. If you'd like to avoid the crowds and the dusty jeep trail, start at the Chuckwagon trailhead for a slightly shorter four-mile trip. North Wilson Mountain is an unforgettable long hike in Oak Creek Canyon. Finally, Hangover Trail which has red rock overhangs. It is a part of our Mitten Ridge hike. Hangover Trail is a very unique and exhilarating trail. It displays phenomenal views all along the way with an especially rewarding view atop a red rock saddle that overlooks Oak Creek Canyon and Bear Wallow Canyon. Another thing to do while in Sedona is take a Jeep tour through the desert, rocky terrain. The most popular company is Pink Jeep Tours. Popular tours include Broken Arrow, Diamondback Gulch, Scenic Rim tour and Ancient Ruins tour. Combinations of tours are offered and each tour offers a different level of ruggedness and different perspective of the desert. Jerome is an old mining town and currently a ghost town. You can visit the historical museum to learn all about the booming copper-mining town. Founded in the late 19th century, Jerome is built into the Black Hills of Yavapai county overlooking the Verde Valley. According to the 2010 census, 444 people lived in Jerome. In the mid-1950s, ore deposits ran out and the population dwindled down to fewer than a hundred. By 1967, Jerome was a National Landmark. Prescott is a historical western town with its famous Whiskey Row. It is a true western town with stores and restaurants to prove it. Not only can you get a bite to eat, but you can go on a natural excursion to Watson Lake. Watson lake is a beautiful blue lake surrounded by jagged granite boulders and miles of hiking trails. It was formed in the 1900s when a dam was built. You can also visit Lynx Lake and Goldwater Lake. Native American ruins are scattered all over Arizona. One popular one is Tuzigoot, a 2- to 3-story pueblo ruin on a limestone and sandstone ridge just east of Clarkdale, Arizona, 120 feet above the Verde River floodplain. You can walk around the ruins, learn the history of the tribes and experience the ancient life for yourself. Montezuma Castle is an awe-inspiring ancient ruin. Located in Camp Verde, Arizona, Montezuma Castle was built and used by the Sinagua people. Another ruin to visit is Wupakiti Native American Indian Ruins located near Flagstaff, the ruins are many settlements scattered throughout the monument. Astonishingly, it is comprised of 100 rooms. Wupatki, which means "Tall House" in the Hopi language, is a multistory Sinagua. If you are interested in visiting more ruins go to https://www.gypsyinsuburbia.com/usa/top-10-arizona-native-american-indian-ruins/ Sources: https://www.planetware.com/arizona/top-rated-hiking-trails-in-sedona-us-az-84.htm https://www.wildlandtrekking.com/blog/top-trails-sedona/
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