A new year is here, and just in time for Arizona’s early Spring, Cactus Camping is going to be sending out new green shoots! We’ll be posting some sorely needed updates for our 50 best campgrounds, and of course, it’s never too early to prepare yourselves for wildflower season. Stay tuned!
The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for much of Arizona this weekend, with temperatures reaching 115 degrees and above. So now’s the perfect time to flee to the high country.
To make the trip a little easier on your budget, the National Park Service is waiving the entrance fee for many national parks for this weekend, July 18-19, 2009, including the $25 entrance fee at the Grand Canyon. Remember that it is always less crowded at the north rim than the south rim, and the temperatures are a bit cooler. If you’re inclined to hike, keep in mind that temperatures inside the canyon are much higher than at either rim.
For other options, view the 700-year old cliff dwellings at Walnut Canyon in Flagstaff, explore the hoodoos of the Chiricahua Mountains near Willcox, or take a free houseboat ride at the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area on Lake Powell or at Lake Mead.
There are also some gems that you can always experience for free, like Navajo National Monument and Parashant National Monument.
Don’t worry if you don’t get a chance to get away this weekend. There’s another free weekend coming up August 15-16, 2009.
“In this economy…” is a phrase we’re all tired of hearing, but there’s no denying that this has been a tough year for everyone, and the state parks are feeling the pain as well. The Arizona State Parks system lost 34.6 million in funds from the state this year and had to reduce their ranger staff by 26%. Reports from Arizona’s budget discussions in early 2009 threatened the complete and indefinite closing of a number of Arizona parks.
The initial political wrangling has died down, and it looks like the parks system is taking whatever steps it can to make the situation a little less drastic (at least for now). Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, Jerome State Historic Park, and McFarland State Historic Park needed some structural maintenance repairs so these parks were chosen to be closed while construction was taking place. Tonto Natural Bridge State Park has since re-opened for the weekends during June.
Several other parks including Fort Verde State Historic Park, Oracle State Park, Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park, Tubac Presidio State Historic Park, Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park, and Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Park, have been reduced to a 5-day schedule and are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
The majority of the state parks remain open and can be visited 7 days a week, 365 days a year, including the four state parks we have highlighted in The Best in Tent Camping: Arizona: Picacho Peak State Park, Lost Dutchman State Park, Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area, and Lyman Lake State Park.
The economic crisis isn’t going to be over any time soon, and the parks system will probably take another hit this coming year. If you value the role the state parks play in providing recreational opportunities, protecting natural landmarks, and preserving Arizona’s heritage, consider dropping a line to your state representatives to tell them so. Volunteering is a terrific way to show your support, and you can also vote with your dollars by purchasing an annual pass or gifts from the online gift shop. Most importantly, get out there and enjoy your state parks!
The old saying “April showers brings May flowers” needs to be revised for the state of Arizona.
Here in the desert, we have two rainy seasons, one in the winter and one in the summer. In Native American tradition, the winter rains are considered female rains, soft and gentle—unlike the harsh, fast male rains of the summer. These feminine winter rains bring forth glorious displays of wildflowers that blanket the mountainsides—the showiest being slopes of bright yellow-orange poppies dotted by contrasting purple lupine and owl clover.
The Mexican gold poppy, Eschscholtzia mexicana, is in the same family as the infamous opium poppy. Like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, you might get the impulse to lie in the golden fields, but the Mexican gold poppy won’t get you high or make you sleep forever. You should start exploring the lower elevation desert mountains around mid-February in order to not miss the show. The best displays are usually around mid-March and will last only about two weeks.
So for Arizona, we’ll have to say “September through December showers bring February to mid-April flowers”, but what the phrase lacks poetically, the sight makes up in sheer beauty.
Darn February and its 28 days. The shortest month is almost over and somehow we haven’t quite established our regular blogging rhythm. Here are a few posts and some pretty pictures to make up for our recent absence.
Hello from Kelly and Kirstin! We’re the authors of Best in Tent Camping: Arizona from Menasha Ridge Press and this is our blog! 
Watch for postings about our favorite campsites in Arizona along with other fun activities, photos, and tidbits about Arizona.