Scenic Drives

Saguaro National Park, Tucson

For tourists and locals alike, the word “forest” usually conjures trees, not a stand of saguaro cactuses covered in spines. But candelabra-shaped saguaros, found exclusively in our Sonoran Desert, are classified as arborescent (tree-like), so the “forest” label is hardly a stretch. Nomenclature aside, Tucson’s cactus forest — tucked within Saguaro National Park East and nestled up against the Rincon Mountains — is as starkly beautiful as any primeval forest you’ve ever seen or imagined.

Coronado National Forest, Safford

Sometimes, big things really do come in small packages. And big scenery often comes on little roads. State Route 266 is one of the shortest state highways in Arizona — with just under 20 miles of pavement cutting across the rugged rangeland south of Safford — but every mile dishes up dramatic vistas as the road rambles westward along the fringe of the Pinaleño Mountains, making this quick journey a big one for memories.

Monument Valley, Navajo Nation

There’s a reason John Wayne once described Monument Valley as “the place where God put the West.” The landscape unfolds and extends until it touches the horizon, then massive monoliths erupt from the red clay. There’s nothing like it — sky and Earth come together to create this sacred place — and there’s no better way to see it than along Valley Drive.

Kaibab National Forest, Williams

Sycamore Canyon is Arizona’s second-largest gorge — second only to the natural wonder that can be seen from outer space. The attributes of the Grand Canyon are many, but the state’s runner-up has a few of its own, including the 13-mile drive to reach it. It’s a picturesque route through the Kaibab National Forest that gets less traffic than a Sonoran Desert highway in the dead of summer.

Payson Ranger District, Tonto National Forest

Some scenic drives require a certain amount of commitment. Whether it’s time, vehicle requirements or sheer guts, you often have to give a little in order to get Arizona’s spectacular views in return. Fortunately, the drive to Mount Ord is the exception. No sacrifice is required. In fact, this drive is more about bang than buck, so to speak. The views are breathtaking, the trip itself is quick and the fist-clenching moments are few and far between.

Chino Valley Ranger District, Prescott National Forest

Both ends of this drive are scenic, but the nature of that scenery — from Prescott’s small-town charm to Camp Wood’s quiet isolation — couldn’t be more different. You’ll need a reliable vehicle and a three-hour block of time, but that’s a small price to pay for views as varied and breathtaking as any you’ll find in Arizona.

Tombstone to Pearce

History can be fickle. Long after the last gunfighter was planted on Boot Hill, Tombstone survived to grow into an international tourist attraction. Yet neighboring towns with pasts nearly as colorful have faded into oblivion, leaving behind faint scars on the landscape.

Cave Creek Ranger District, Tonto National Forest

Sheepherders never much liked the Verde River. In spring and fall, they had to swim their flocks across the water, leading them to summer pastures and winter ranges. It was dangerous business, and stray sheep often were lost to the river’s current.

Finally, in 1944, the Flagstaff and Howard sheep companies completed construction of the Verde River Sheep Bridge, minimizing seasonal sheep loss and providing an easier entry to the west side of the Mazatzal wilderness.

Las Cienegas National Conservation Area

It’s hard to believe that Las Cienegas National Conservation Area was, at one time, at risk of becoming a master-planned community and golf course. Instead, the locals rallied, and in 1986, the area came under the protection of the Bureau of Land Management. In 1988, it became part of the National Landscape Conservation System. Today, it’s accessed by a 24-mile drive that’s best described as spectacular.

Coconino National Forest, Flagstaff

“Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world.” So wrote the prolific adventurer and naturalist John Muir. If you’re headed south from Flagstaff and want to prolong your stay in the pines, try West Side Mormon Lake Road (County Road 90). The ponderosas framing this 17-mile, partially paved route to Munds Park may not unlock fantasy worlds such as Narnia, but they will open myriad doorways to the mountains, where the magic of scent, shade and scenery prevails.