Scenic Drives

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, Alpine

"It’s not how you start; it’s how you finish.” That’s the mantra of gym teachers and campaign consultants everywhere, but it also can apply to scenic drives. Take the Blue Range Loop, a 49-mile jaunt that starts and ends in the idyllic White Mountains town of Alpine. The first leg of the loop is dotted with reminders of the worst wildfire in Arizona’s recorded history. But beyond that are pristine forest and riparian areas, plus expansive views of one of the most remote and unspoiled places in the Southwest.

Kaibab National Forest, Williams

Before there was the smooth, straight blacktop of Interstate 40 to ferry auto travelers across Northern Arizona, there was Route 66. And before Route 66, there was a little-known route called the National Old Trails Road. This coast-to-coast highway was established in 1912 to encourage auto touring, and it stretched for some 3,000 miles, from the East Coast to California.

Prescott to Seligman

In many parts of the country, strip malls and subdivisions have crept into rural areas that contain treasured remnants of the past. Williamson Valley Road offers a journey in the opposite direction — through once-bustling frontier communities far from the nearest big-box store. On its winding 70-mile path from Prescott to Seligman, the road takes you back to Arizona’s rowdy Territorial days. The spectacular scenery and hiking trails along the way are gravy.

Coconino National Forest, Verde Valley

For most travelers, Interstate 17’s Exit 298 means the red rocks, aura readers and turquoise jewelers of Sedona. That’s what you’ll encounter if you head northwest from the freeway on State Route 179. To the southeast, though, you’ll find Forest Road 618, a leisurely back road that winds through Arizona prehistory and spectacular scenery on the way south toward Camp Verde.

Saguaro National Park and Tucson Mountain Park

Thanks to Old Tucson Studios, the Tucson Mountains have become synonymous with the Southwest, having provided the backdrop for countless movies and television shows. A 38.3-mile loop through Saguaro National Park West and Tucson Mountain Park, which includes Old Tucson, encompasses this iconic landscape, with towering saguaros, volcanic peaks, petroglyphs — even roadrunners and coyotes.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Readers have reported that road conditions on this route have deteriorated since this story was published. A high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicle, such as an SUV or truck, is required, and all-terrain tires are strongly recommended.

Black Mountains, Western Arizona

The fuel pump is an underrated part of automotive history — and something we take for granted today. Early cars relied on gravity to feed fuel to the carburetor, and that often made steep hills a challenge. One example: the Kingman-to-Topock section of Historic Route 66, where tow-truck operators made a fortune rescuing motorists in the 1920s and ’30s. The passage was arduous enough that Route 66 eventually was rerouted around it.

Coconino National Forest, Sedona

There’s a lot to do in Oak Creek Canyon, but beyond the resorts, hikes, campgrounds and other recreation spots, don’t forget that a simple road trip on State Route 89A, from Sedona to Oak Creek Vista, is one of America’s most scenic drives, even after a fire that burned the area in 2014. And on most days, you can go round-trip in 90 minutes or less.

Kaibab National Forest, Grand Canyon

There are two ways to get to Grand Canyon National Park’s South Rim. You can choose the 21st century route via the park’s paved, patrolled and sometimes-crowded south and east entrances. Or, if you value scenery and history over convenience, you can follow the path taken by 19th century visitors who arrived on stagecoaches and horse-drawn wagons via the Grandview entrance. The 30.4-mile Tusayan-to-Grandview Loop offers an alternate and more secluded way into the park, and it also treats travelers to a journey back in time.

Coconino National Forest, Flagstaff

In the heat of summer, there’s no better place to take a road trip than Flagstaff, and no better route than this 24.4-mile loop, which winds along shady forest roads past wildflower-filled meadows and includes a short detour to Lava River Cave, Northern Arizona’s natural icebox.

We begin at Forest Road 171, about 10 miles west of Flagstaff. The gravel road is bumpy but wide and straight as it runs through a well-managed ponderosa-pine forest, which occasionally gives way to wide, grassy meadows strewn with volcanic rock.