Since I’m often asked for recommendations, I figured I’d list them out here and perhaps update it occasionally in the future. After all, it’s far easier to share a link that people can refer back to than to repeat a detailed conversation. I’m sure I’ve left some off, including ones I regularly visit, and I’m sure some ones I previous wrote off have improved since my last visit. But these are the ones I generally recommend.

That said, I’m not super technical about the production details, or the intricacies of styles I don’t like much. I’m more interested in tasting beer than trying to describe it. And while I log each new beer I’ve had on untappd, I don’t rate any of them, as my tastes can change with time, situation, season, or mood. These days, I’m still stuck in IPAland (with significant forays into sours), so my preferences often align with those. YMMV.

Metro Phoenix

The majority of good beer in the state is, naturally, in the metro Phoenix area. After all, that’s where most Arizonans live—and, of course, where I do too. I’ve listed others for around the state too.

Breweries

Wren House
Our favorite overall brewery in the state, they make the classic Spellbinder, which I consider the best flagship hazy in the state. The original location is in Phoenix with difficult parking, but to our great excitement, they also opened the Wren Südhalle (“South Hall”), a German/Czech-style beerhall just down the street from us. Needless to say, we’re regulars.

The Shop
The Shop makes Church Music, which is often the best IPA you can find on tap (or can) in non-craft beer bars. It’s good enough that I pocketed this hazy for our covid-delayed wedding reception and cracked it open mid-ceremony, to the crowd’s delight.

Arizona Wilderness
Arizona Wilderness made a splash when it launched many years ago in Gilbert, being named the best new brewery in America that year. Craft beer amid a wilderness-focused theme and locally-sourced ingredients? Oh yeah, I’m in. Their location on Roosevelt Row in Phoenix is always my first stop when we’re in that area. They still sport my most favorite brewery logo.

Roses by the Stairs
A relatively new brewery in central Phoenix, I’ve been impressed with their beers so far. It’s located where the old Easley’s Fun Shop used to be, it’s also next door to a “Little O’s,” a smaller version of OHSO.

Perch
Perch is on the list as much for the venue as the beers, which are decent but not great. But the venue is pretty interesting—it features both an exotic bird sanctuary and a large rooftop bar and live music venue. It’s usually our starting place in Downtown Chandler.

OHSO
OHSO was my favorite for a number of years. First, the locations are usually pretty interesting and feature great (dog and bike friendly) patios; their PV location was always my favorite, and it happened to be in walking distance. Their happy hour was a steal—an $8 small pitcher of any Arizona craft beer.

Goldwater
My go-to here is Hop Chowda, but it helps that there’s a new location within biking distance of our house. The original location is in Scottsdale, which is surprising weak beer scene.

Brewery-hopping

If you want to try a bunch of different stuff, the best place to brewery hop is Roosevelt Row in Phoenix (Roosevelt between 1st and 7th Street), where you’ll find a good smattering of breweries within a short walk. Another hotspot is downtown Chandler, and even Downtown Mesa.

Taprooms

Sleepy Whale
The best taproom in downtown Chandler. Lots of good pours, a small but decent can selection, and best of all, close to the action. It’s pretty rare that we go to downtown Chandler and fail to stop at the Whale.

The Theodore
We discovered The Theodore during the pandemic, and they always have some great beers on tap, plus a cooler of some good cans too. The nod to TR seals the deal.

Freely
Freely might be our newest favorite place. It features a good tap list, some good food, and also a decent fridge of beers.

Papago
Papago Brewing is where I had my first ever craft beer: Orange Blossom. While the old staple of the Arizona craft brewing scene in Arizona has since expired and gone out of business, its brand and recipes were purchased by Huss, which has continued to keep it alive. Eventually, a new location was opened at Mesa Riverview, which I consider more taproom than brewery (since its beers themselves are made by Huss).

Bottleshop 48
Bottleshop 48 was one of the few places during the pandemic closures that we made a concerted effort to support to help keep it open.

Chupacabra
The best taproom in Mesa is located in the suddenly-thriving downtown scene. As someone who grew up in this Mormon city, I’d have never predicted that previous sentence.

Wandering Tortoise
It’s been ages since I’ve been to the Tortoise, but that’s only because I don’t frequent that neighborhood very often.

Honorable mentions:

• Whining Pig: good tap selection, several locations
• Tap Savvy: one of few good options in the West Valley
• Hundred Mile Brewing
• Catalyst Brewing
• 8-Bit Brewing

Southern Arizona

Pueblo Vida
If you enjoy IPAs and sours, then Pueblo Vida is your jam in the Old Pueblo. The best beer in Tucson, imo.

1912
I’m not sure how much love 1912 gets in Tucson; it’s certainly less popular than some of the longtime staples down there. But we nearly always find a beer there that we personal like quite a bit, so we often try to make a stop.

Button Brewhouse
We’ve only been to Button a few times, but we’ve enjoyed the beer each time.

Tombstone
I’d have expected this to be a tourist trap with mediocre beer, but it’s one of the best in the state. In addition to its namesake location, there are also additional locations in Phoenix and Sierra Vista.

Tap + Bottle
The only taproom on our list, but it’s a good one. We didn’t spend much time in Tucson, so when we’re there we usually stick to breweries.

Northern Arizona

Dark Sky
Dark Sky Brewing in Flagstaff is our favorite in northern Arizona, perhaps our second favorite in the state.

Hops on Birch
There are a number of breweries in downtown Flagstaff, but this tap house has jumped ahead of most of them or us.

Favorites by city

Here are the spots I’d personally choose if I was heading to only one beer spot in each of these cities.

• North Phoenix: Simple Machine
• Central Phoenix: Arizona Wilderness
• Ahwatukee: Wren Südhalle
• Tempe: The Shop
• Scottsdale: Goldwater
• Chandler: The Perch
• Gilbert: Arizona Wilderness
• Mesa: Chupacabra
• Tucson: Pueblo Vida
• Prescott: Wren House (Prescott Valley)
• Flagstaff: Dark Sky
• Williams: Grand Canyon
• Kingman: Black Bridge
• Page: Grand Canyon
• Sierra Vista: Tombstone
• Yuma: Prison Hill

The post My favorite breweries and taprooms in Arizona appeared first on rscottjones.

To the uninitiated, Sonoran Desert National Monument stands primarily as an unfamiliar blob of color on the state map, sandwiched between two Indian reservations, a bombing range, and a generally blank space on the map. Cleaved into thirds by both an interstate and a state highway, and situated near the sprawling edge of the nation’s fifth largest city, a would-be visitor might imagine this to be a busy urban playground. A place to arrive early in order to find an open parking spot.

Instead, it’s nearly half a million acres of classic Sonoran Desert habitat: forests of iconic saguaro, veins of usually dry washes punctuated by mesquite, ironwood and palo verde trees, and basalt-strewn slopes that lead up to craggy high points, sometimes separated from one another by a flat valley occupied by a creosote army.

A place without a visitor center, only a handful of signed access points, and few obvious tourist destinations. A place large enough to contain within it three separate designated Wilderness Areas. A place where it’s not hard to find some solitude, especially when you get out on foot and follow your own path.

While I’ve traveled to many of our nation’s most cherished places—from Acadia to the Everglades, Yosemite to Denali—I feel most at home in the diverse Sonoran Desert, a land of specialized plants and animals each remarkably adapted to thrive in an arid climate. One of the best places I’ve found to explore this special ecosystem is Sonoran Desert National Monument.

This is classic wandering territory. It’s cresting a rocky ridge line to see the desert unfold in front of you towards the morning sun. It’s finding a small tinaja during an otherwise dry month. It’s passing the remains of a prehistoric toolmaking site, not far from a historic trail through the low mountain pass. It’s unintentionally startling a coyote who was eyeing lunch. It’s spinning in a circle and not seeing a single building. It’s stillness and quiet as you turn to face a cool breeze.

There are no crowded parking lots here, but a few rough dirt roads penetrate inwards from nearly every edge, allowing deeper explorations into this unique national monument. But do not enter if you’re unprepared. There are hazards and dangers here, along with occasional natural resource damage, and of course, harsh elements that can ruin more than just your day.

While you can see a lot of this place through a truck window, you can’t experience its soul without getting your feet dusty. One thing I love about the desert is that it requires you to look down, often, to place your next step. This has always helped ground me more closely to the land. I notice more: the path a lizard made in the soft soil, a wildflower searching for sunlight from under the edge of a bush, an occasional pot sherd, a rusty pop top from a previous era, a glistening rock trying hard to be noticed in the late morning sun, a small piece of cholla looking for its next free ride.

I wasn’t there when the Butterfield Overland Stage passed through, nor when Juan Bautista de Anza or the Mormon Battalion did. And certainly not when the descendants of today’s indigenous tribes did. But I’ve walked these same paths too, stopping often to smell the creosote, survey a hillside crowded with saguaros, listen to the desert birds make themselves known, trudge through sandy washes, and inspect a peculiar variety of cactus I hadn’t noticed before—just as all those before me might have. Walking here feels like my own personal connection to the past.

Perhaps the biggest threat to this national monument is that it’s too often overlooked, by visitors and advocates alike. In a state blessed with iconic parks and uber-famous public lands, it’s sometimes easy to disregard the places you don’t see in every traveler’s social media feed.

For many though, places like this offer the real magic of our treasured public lands. Because it’s in these places—large, protected, mostly undeveloped landscapes like Sonoran Desert National Monument, where you can explore largely on your own terms—that you discover truly intimate and unforgettable experiences. There are important personal treasures to be found here, and it’s our collective responsibility to ensure future generations have the same opportunity to find them, too.

The post A short ode to Sonoran Desert National Monument appeared first on rscottjones.

To be honest, it didn’t look very promising, at least not yet.

“Yep, it’s up ahead a few more miles,” I responded, in a tone that likely overstated my own confidence.

We had already driven an hour from Phoenix to Gila Bend, then another hour west along Interstate 8, then turned off at an exit to seemingly nowhere, jogged back east a mile along the access road, then turned north on an unremarkable dirt road impossibly named Avenue 76½ E. Along this rough-at-times road, we had passed two desert squatter communities, an out-of-place boat shipwrecked on the top of a small hill, and miles of seemingly barren desert.

Some skepticism was probably to be expected. After all, I hadn’t exactly explained where we were going; I had just said that we’d find some rock art when we got there.

As it turns out, we were indeed on the correct road. A few miles further ahead was the Sears Point petroglyph site, an array of prehistoric and historic petroglyphs carved into a basalt ridge overlooking the floodplain of the once mighty Gila River. This is BLM land, a site well known by those who hunt rock art, but not a destination where you’ll find many tourists.

Finally, the road crested a small ridge, dipped towards the dry riverbed in the distance, and we could see our destination ahead. Ribbons of sandy driving routes spiderwebbed around tamarisk and mesquite clumps that dotted the lowland. I was glad to have my Subaru as we sloshed through deep pockets of sand and gravel, maintaining enough speed around the corners to avoid getting stuck. And just like that, we arrived at a patch of dirt sporting two informational kiosks and some carsonite signs indicating the road’s end. We parked, stepped out of the subie, and immediately scanned the butte for the first sign of rock art.

“There’s some over there,” I said, nearly in code, and pointed towards a prominent panel gazing down upon us.

We grabbed some cold water from the cooler, donned our daypacks, and scrambled up towards the first panel with cameras in hand. And so began our rather impromptu visit to Sears Point.

The Sears Point petroglyph site

Archaeologists consider Sears Point to be one of the most significant rock art sites in the Southwest. In addition to more than 2,000 rock art panels incorporating nearly 10,000 petroglyph elements, the area contains a number of geoglyphs and other archaeological and historical features.

Simply put, there’s a lot to see out here. And you’ll need to do some exploring to see it.

Sears Point is just one of several other similar sites along the Gila River, including Quail Point, Hummingbird Point, and Oatman Point just a bit upstream. The only site signed from the interstate is Painted Rock, a now-defunct state park that’s since reverted to BLM management. I won’t get into what you’ll find at each of these sites, how to get to them, or what makes them special, but a quick google search will answer most questions one would have.

It’s important to note that while Sears Point is a named archaeological district, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is managed as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern by BLM, sadly none of these adds sufficient protection for this site or its neighboring ones.

The campaign to protect the Great Bend of the Gila

As a result, several organizations—led by Archaeology Southwest and the National Trust for Historic Preservation—have been campaigning to protect Sears Point and other important archaeological and historical sites upstream as the Great Bend of the Gila National Monument. It’s a good idea and the cultural resources here are definitely worthy of such a designation.

The short video below explains a bit more about the cultural heritage this campaign seeks to protect.

Some tips if you plan on visiting

• You’ll want an AWD or 4WD vehicle to drive to the parking area, though don’t attempt it if it’s rained recently. You could probably make the drive with a 2WD high clearance vehicle if you stopped short of the deepest sand, which starts around here, roughly a mile from the main petroglyph panels. Either way, be prepared to extricate yourself if you get stuck no matter what you’re driving.
• Don’t go in the summer heat, and be prepared with water and shade. You’ll spend your entire visit scrambling over rocks while the sun beats relentlessly down on you, so please act accordingly. If it’s warm out, you might want to consider gloves to protect your hands from hot rocks.
• If you don’t have much time, check out the rock art panels near the top of the butte to the right. The largest panels and most easily accessible glyphs are found in that area, which will require some scrambling to get up to the faint trail that connects them. If you can, spend some time exploring the entire area, including the tops of the basalt mesas—there are thousands of petroglyphs, geoglyphs, rock alignments, and other artifacts in walking distance of your car. Stay alert to your surroundings and bring a gps to help you find your way back.
• Photographing sometimes faint petroglyphs on shiny basalt in the glaring sun can be a challenge, so keep this in mind as you plan your arrival and departure times. A circular polarizing filter can also be helpful in reducing shine and helping the rock art stand out better. An umbrella can both help keep you cool and shade smaller glyphs for better photographs. I wish I had considered these things before my visit.
• Practice Leave No Trace principles, and don’t touch the petroglyphs or do anything else that might impact the site. Once damaged, we can never get these resources back.
• Want to learn more about lesser-known archaeological sites the public hasn’t ever heard of? Here’s the very best way to do that.
• Do some research before you go, especially on other nearby sites, if you’d like to make a longer day out of it. There are many accessible places to explore in the surrounding area and within the Great Bend of the Gila proposal area.

How to get there

From Gila Bend, Arizona, drive west on I-8 towards Yuma for roughly 30 mins to exit 78, Spot Road. At the end of the off ramp, turn north and then right on the frontage road. Head back east for about 1 mile to Avenue 76½E, then go north along the dirt road for about 7 miles. When you hit the sandy wash, stay on the most used route and aim for the low buttes to the west. You’ll find a small dirt parking area and two kiosks; park here and explore the area on foot.

The post Exploring the Sears Point petroglyph site appeared first on rscottjones.

BIG NEWS: This guide is currently being updated, expanded, and migrated to KayakingtheSaltRiver.com, which is the new home of the Alliance of Salt River Paddlers.

Kayaking the Salt River

On summer weekends, the Lower Salt River can resemble a drunken party scene. Hoards of inner-tubers converge on the river to cool off and have some summer fun. Beer cans, bikinis, loud music, and general shenanigans are easy to find, along with plenty of police officers and DUI checkpoints, too.

But that doesn’t mean that the Salt River isn’t a worthy kayaking destination. Indeed, it’s a favorite of the metro Phoenix crowd.

→ This guide covers everything you need to know to kayak the Salt River.

Quick summary

Season: May-Oct
Ideal cfs: 500-1500
Experience level: Novice
Rapids: mostly Class I
River Miles: ~12
Vehicle shuttle required
Parking fee: $8 (Tonto Pass)

What time of year can you kayak the Salt River?

This stretch of the Salt River depends on periodic water releases from the Stewart Mountain Dam. The most consistent of these releases occur between mid-May and mid-October. Luckily, there’s a river gauge just below the dam where you can check the streamflow. This is public data, so you check the official USGS source, SRP’s website, or use something else like River app. The ideal flow for kayaking is between about 500-1500 cfs. The bare minimum flow you’d need is about 300cfs, though you’d probably have to get out and drag your kayak through some shallows at that level.

Here are the current river conditions:

Even when the gauge looks too low for a full run, you might be able to kayak further down the river. The Verde River joins the Salt River near the Phon D Sutton Recreation Area, often adding enough water to allow for a run downstream. The last mile or so of calm water approaching Granite Reef Diversion Dam features enough water to paddle year round, though it’s more lake-like in that stretch. If you’re desperate for a paddle but the Salt River isn’t cooperating, you can just as easily continue up the road to Saguaro Lake.

What time of day should you kayak?

The key to enjoying your time on the river is to either start very early, or to arrive well after the party has dissipated, or to find yourself there mid-week. My favorite time of day to kayak the Salt River is early in the morning. You’ll avoid both the worst of the summer heat and the worst of the tubers. It’s remarkably peaceful first thing in the morning, and you’ll also see more wildlife by paddling early. I recommend getting on the water no later than 7am, which means arriving closer to 6am to unload your boat and set up the car shuttle (more on that below). Salt River Recreation begins busing tubers to the river at 9am sharp, so you’ll want to be downstream of the bridge well before then.

If mornings aren’t your thing and you’d rather paddle at sunset, be sure to check out the sunset and moonrise times when you’re planning your trip. Take note that it’ll still be hot out even after the sun sets, and you still might encounter the tail end of the party-goers (while the shuttle buses end at 6pm, the party often lingers later). If it’s July or August, you’ll also want to keep your eye on any monsoon storms—it’s a good idea to avoid the river during or immediately after one of these storms.

How long does it take to kayak the Salt River?

The main stretch from Water Users to Granite Reef Dam is about 12 river miles and requires a 7 mile car shuttle. On average, it takes roughly 4 hours to paddle the whole stretch, though that depends on how fast you paddle and how fast the river is running. Some groups get it done in 3 hours while others enjoy a more leisurely 5.5 hour paddle. My recommendation is to set aside plenty of time for your first trip and learn what your own style is.

How difficult or technical is it to paddle?

Generally this is a beginner/novice trip with only Class I rapids, two of which approach Class II during certain flow rates (and occasionally reaching Class II after some flash flood events). At the 0.5 mile mark from Water Users, you’ll encounter Snaggletooth Rapid. Later, around mile 2.0, you’ll encounter a rapid known as either Pinball Alley, Bulldog, Rattlesnake, or Rocky Road, depending on who you’re paddling with. This is the fiercest of the entire Lower Salt River, but shouldn’t give you much trouble. Under some flow rates, you’ll also encounter another wave near Coon Bluff Rec Area around mile 7.0. Take note that the difficulties of each of these changes due to water levels, flooding, or other reasons, so take this just as a guide.

Most of the rapids and ripples on the Salt River are caused by a few large submerged rocks that sit higher than the surrounding river bottom—some of which are exposed above the waterline. It’s generally pretty easy to avoid these simply by paying close attention to the river ahead of you, identifying the areas of choppy water that might indicate an obstacle, and paddling around them. 

Here are two basic—and entirely oversimplified—paddling tips for getting through what you’ll encounter on the Lower Salt River.

The most important aspect for beginners is to simply keep your boat pointed straight downstream. Where most paddlers get into trouble is by hitting an obstacle like submerged rock with the side of their boat, tipping them to one side, and thereby allowing the force of the flowing water to flood the cockpit or otherwise capsize the boat. In simplistic terms, the best way to keep your boat upright is keep the front of the boat pointed downstream as much as possible.

Another problem you may run into is bumping into lots of rocks in shallow areas of the river. Again, the primary key here is to simply keep paddling. When you stop paddling, the kayak slows down, often turns to one side, and then you run into the problem above. Remember, you can only steer and propel your kayak when the paddle is in the water.

If you do capsize…

If you do fall in, don’t panic! Your pfd should keep you safe.

In many areas, the river is shallow enough to simply stand up in if you manage to tip over. If you’re in one of those spots, the first thing to do is to alert others (a great reason to attach a waterproof whistle to your pfd). If you can safely hold on to your paddle and boat, then start making your way to shore with your items. If you can’t hold on to them, let your friends downstream collect them for you.

If you can’t easily stand up—either because the river is moving too swiftly, or because it’s too deep, or because there are more obstacles coming up—then the very first thing you’ll want to do is reposition your body to safely float down the river. Turn yourself around so that you are floating on your back with your feet aimed downstream and your knees bent. Try to keep your head tilted so you can see downriver, put your arms out to help balance and steer yourself, and hold your butt up a bit to avoid hitting any rocks. The goal here is to avoid any downstream obstacles and use your legs as shock absorbers for anything that you do run into. Once you’ve gained some control, alert others. When it’s safe to do so, maneuver yourself to the shoreline.

It can be difficult to hold on to any objects after you’ve flipped, especially if you’re still in rough water. If you can’t easily hold on to an item, let go of it and have your friends paddle ahead to retrieve it for you. If you can safely hold on to an item, it’s usually best to choose your paddle over the boat, since paddles can get damaged or lost far more easily. If you do manage to hold on to your boat, it’s usually best to wait to flip it back over until you get to shore.

I always attach my gear—especially my phone case, cooler, and dry bag—to the boat using carabiners. That way if I flip over, I don’t lose any items. If you’ve ever paddled the river, you’ll see countless lost items on the shoreline or river bottom from people who did not do this. Not only do people lose many items, but each of these becomes trash in the river. So please—lash it down before you launch!

Once you’re to the shoreline, take a moment to collect yourself and your gear, drain any water from your boat, and find a good spot to re-launch from.

Renting a kayak for the Salt River

What kind of kayak should you rent?

Just about any kayak will do on this easy stretch of the Salt River. Sit-on-tops seem to be the most common, followed by sit-ins, followed by inflatables. Overall, I’d say that’s in line with my personal preferences for this stretch of river. But don’t get me wrong, if I only had an inflatable available, I wouldn’t hesitate using it.

Sit-on-tops are great because they’re very stable and they don’t make some new paddlers as nervous as the enclosed cockpit of sit-ins. But sit-ins perform the best, even if they require a bit more skill to keep upright. Inflatables are the easiest to transport—no doubt about that—and are very stable but don’t perform as well, especially when it comes to tracking a straight line at slower speeds. Luckily, performance isn’t much of a concern on a river like this. You’ll have fun whatever you paddle.

Where to rent kayaks?

I recommend renting kayaks from the Arizona Hiking Shack, which is near 32nd Street & Thomas in east Phoenix. They have both sit-on-top kayaks and inflatable kayaks available for rent as either single-person or doubles. Single-person kayaks run $35/day while doubles are $45/day. All of their kayaks come with paddle and personal floatation devices (pfd), and inflatables also come with a manual pump. They’ve always provided me the necessary river straps to transport rental boats on my vehicle. You can also rent a variety of other accessories, or purchase something new from their shop. They also sell Tonto Passes.

Redline also rents a number of boats these days and is a popular option, too. Previously known as East Valley Kayak Rentals, this outfit is located near Higley and McKellips in Mesa. Single kayaks rent for $45/day ($40 if paying in cash), while doubles cost $65/day ($60 if paying in cash).

REI Adventures is another rental option. REI rents inflatable kayaks for $35 (singles) and $50 (doubles) for “1 day” rentals, which means picking them up and returning them the same day between 8am and 5pm. For an extra $10, you can keep them for a full 24 hours. REI also offers river delivery and shuttle for only $15 per boat. That means that they meet you at the river with the kayak and help you set up the shuttle for your driver; the fee also includes one Tonto Pass for your vehicle. You’ll need advance reservations, and this service is only offered between 10am and 4pm, but otherwise this could be an excellent option.

There are a handful of other places you can rent from, including both individuals or other non-storefront locations; you can often find these advertising on craigslist and elsewhere. You can also rent kayaks from Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch by booking one of their unguided tours.

What to bring kayaking

The basic items you’ll want to bring kayaking the Salt River

There are a number of basic items you’ll want to bring kayaking on the Lower Salt River. During kayaking season, I recommend keeping them all in one place, such as a plastic tote bin, so that it’s easy to grab before your trip without forgetting anything.

Kayak + paddle
Duh. You’ll never live it down if you arrive without either of these two items.

PFD
It’s federal law to have a PFD for each person onboard, and it just makes sense to wear it. After all, PFDs that you’re not wearing typically aren’t useful to you after you’ve fallen into the water. Buy one that’s comfy so you’re more inclined to use it.

Hat or visor
Unless you’re paddling at night, you’ll probably want a hat or visor. Luckily, if you’re launching in the early morning, you’ll be paddling with the sun at your back.

Sunglasses
Trust me, you’ll want to bring these. If you have prescription glasses or sunglasses, you might want to bring a croakies-style glasses strap to keep them secured to your head in case you end up in the water.

Sunscreen
Don’t forget to put on plenty of sunscreen before you launch. And keep in mind that you’ll need to reapply it when you stop for a break. Or better yet, wear long-sleeved UV protection shirts that will ensure you stay covered (it’s easy to keep these wet, which helps keep you cooler). Remember to add sunscreen to your legs, inner thighs, knees, and feet—all of which may be exposed during your paddle.

Appropriate clothes
You’ll want to wear clothes that are comfortable while wet (e.g., not your standard cotton t-shirt). I usually wear a swimsuit and a long-sleeved synthetic shirt with UV protection. Some people wear lightweight hiking or yoga pants to help protect their legs from the sun. Whatever you wear, make sure that you’ll enjoy wearing it even when it’s soaking wet.

Towel
You may want to dry off if you go for an unexpected swim, and it’s also useful to keep a dry one in your vehicle, too.

Dry bag
These are particularly important for keeping everything dry in case you tip over. Be sure to clip your bag to the boat with a carabiner so that it doesn’t float away if you capsize (this goes for all items on your boat, including coolers). I always bring several ziplock baggies, just in case I need them.

Sandals or water shoes
You’ll likely get your feet wet at some point during the trip, so I recommend wearing sandals with heel straps (like Chacos or Tevas—not flip flops that can easily fall off and float away if you capsize) or water shoes. Some people use neoprene booties, but I suggest sticking with something a bit more substantial. Good traction is useful, as submerged rocks can be quite slippery.

Water
Always bring (and drink) water, even if you’ve brought other beverages. This is the desert, after all.

Snacks
Most groups take a break halfway through the paddle, which makes for a perfect time for a quick snack.

Whistle
Federal regulations require every boat, including kayaks, to have a signaling device on board—and a whistle is your best option on the Lower Salt River. Even if it wasn’t required, I find it useful to have, especially to communicate with friends ahead or behind me on the river. Just be sure to let everyone know what the signal code is prior to hitting the water.

Optional items

Cooler
Most paddlers bring a cooler to keep their beverages cold. I strongly recommend a cooler with a zipper, as the others will usually dump all of their contents if you tip over. Not only are you then without your beverages, but you’ve also created more river trash. As with all gear, make sure to lash your cooler to your boat.

If you bring adult beverages, remember to leave the glass at home. Also keep in mind that the Bush Highway is heavily patrolled by sheriff deputies. Play it safe and find a designated driver.

Kayaking gloves
Most people on the Salt River don’t use kayaking gloves, but they can be nice if you often get blisters while paddling. If your paddle starts to get hot in the sun, it’s easy enough to quickly dunk it in the water to cool it off.

A change of clothes for the car
This is especially useful if you plan on grabbing a post-paddle beer or lunch with your paddling friends.

Cold drinks for the car
Trust me, it’s great to have a cold beverage on hand while you load your kayak and gear in the hot sun after a long paddle. I usually bring some extras in case a paddling partner needs one, too.

Headlamp
If you’re paddling near sunset or by moonlight, be sure to bring a headlamp. A white light is required by law, and it’s important to have if something goes wrong. Be sure to test the batteries before you leave home, and better yet, carry some extras in case you need them.
It’s also helpful to add a couple glow sticks or other small lights on the front and back of every boat so everyone can see where each boat is. You want these to be bright enough that others can see where your boat is, but not so bright as to impair your night vision. And, please tie them securely so they don’t fall off and become river trash.

Bug spray
Depending on the time of year, there can be swarms of tiny flying insects (including mosquitos) near where people launch and take-out and in a few other short stretches on the river. If you hate dealing with flying insects, you might want to bring some bug spray or even a cheap bug head net.

An extra trash bag (and gloves or a “picker-upper” tool)
It’s our collective responsibility to keep the river clean, but not everyone takes this responsibility to heart. While it’s frustrating to come across someone else’s trash, it’s even more frustrating to know that it’ll remain there unless we pick it up. Help do your part to make kayaking the river a more enjoyable experience by picking up any trash you see during your trip. I end each trip with numerous pieces of trash I’ve collected along the journey.

Bilge pump
If you don’t have a self-bailing boats, you may want to bring a bilge pump—a manual hand pump that can be used to get excess water out of your kayak’s cockpit. Alternatively, you can also bring something like a plastic drink cup that you can use to scoop out water. I generally don’t worry about this on the Salt River, where the cool water helps keep you refreshed and it’s easy to stop to drain your boat if needed.

Kayak cart
While it’s general paddler courtesy to help carry your group’s boats down to the launch point (or back to the vehicles at the take-out), some people prefer using a kayak cart—a two-wheeled contraption that you attach to one end of your boat.

Gloves for your vehicle
If you’re transporting your boat on top of your vehicle, you may want to bring some gloves to avoid burning your hands while loading—after all, your vehicle has been in the sun for hours and it’s likely very hot.

You’ll need a Tonto Pass

In order to park at any of the recreation areas along the Lower Salt River, you’ll need a Tonto Pass.

Quite a few kayakers carpool to the river in order to save on Tonto Passes. I highly encourage this, as it also reduces parking issues at the recreation sites (especially Granite Reef). Paddling groups routinely meet in shopping center parking lots near Power and McDowell and leave vehicles there during their kayaking trips. As long as you park at the edges of the parking lots, you shouldn’t encounter any problems.

Which Tonto Pass do you need?

There are two primary options for Tonto Passes: a $8 Daily Pass and a $80 Discovery Pass, which is good for one year. If you’re just starting out kayaking the Salt River, I’d recommend grabbing a daily pass. The daily pass requires you to scratch off the appropriate date and time before displaying it, so you can easily stock up on a few without “starting the clock,” so to speak.

A quick side note: because these passes are only good for 24 hours from the time you validate it, you may need more than one to do an overnight trip on one of the lakes (no overnight dispersed camping is allowed along the Salt River itself).

If you recreate often along the Salt River, the annual Discovery Pass might be cheaper for you. If you’re a senior or disabled, you qualify for a discounted $60 annual Senior or Access Discovery Pass.

Note that you do not need an additional Watercraft Pass if you are using a non-motorized boat, like a kayak, packraft, or canoe.

Where can you buy a Tonto Pass?

Tonto Daily Passes can be purchased from Tonto National Forest offices, online, by mail or by phone, or at a long list of local retailers (pdf). Here’s slightly-outdated google map showing all of the vendor locations; I suspect that most all of these locations are still active resellers, but you might want to call first to be sure. I usually buy mine at one of the gas stations near Power & McDowell on my way to the river.

Some of the recreation sites also have a kiosk where you can buy them. I try to rely on these only as a last resort, however, since the machines aren’t always working and there is a convenience fee added to the charge.

The annual Discovery, Senior, and Access Passes are only sold at Tonto National Forest offices, and you’ll need to bring ID or proof of your disability. Each of these passes is issued to one individual who must sign the back of the pass. The pass then covers all occupants of a single, private noncommercial vehicle as along as long as the pass holder is present.

Does the America the Beautiful Pass/Interagency Pass work?

An America the Beautiful Annual Pass (also known as the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands, or interagency pass) covers your vehicle when you park and kayak from the sites along the Lower Salt River. You can purchase an America the Beautiful Annual Pass online, in person at a number of federal recreation areas and offices, or at select retailers, such as REI. Please note that online orders are not fulfilled electronically and include an additional processing fee. I prefer to purchase my annual pass at my favorite local national park, which gets to retain a portion of the sale price for its local operations.

In previous years, there was substantial confusion, even among some Tonto National Forest rangers and staff, on whether the America the Beautiful pass covered kayakers on the Salt River. As a result, quite a few kayakers had been mis-told (and some even ticketed) for using an America the Beautiful pass in the past. However, that confusion was finally remedied and everyone now seems to be on the same page—the America the Beautiful annual pass is indeed accepted at all the Lower Salt River recreation sites.

Salt River kayaking map

Below you’ll find a custom google map of some of the locations mentioned in this guide.

How to get to the Salt River

There are three ways to get to the Lower Salt River, which is accessible solely via the Bush Highway. The first is to drive north on Power Road from the Loop-101 freeway in northeast Mesa. Power Road heads north for a few miles before turns east and becomes Bush Highway, passing each of the river’s main recreation areas and roughly paralleling the river until reaching Saguaro Lake.

Alternatively, further east you can drive north on Ellsworth Road, which becomes Usery Pass Road and connects with the Bush Highway a few miles later. When arriving at Bush Highway via this route, Blue Ridge, Pebble Beach, Water Users and Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch will be to your right, whereas Coon Bluff, Phon D Sutton, and Granite Reef will be to your left. If you went straight, you’d arrive at Salt River Recreation, the outfit that runs the busy tubing rental and shuttle service for the river.

The other way to find the Lower Salt River is via Exit 199 from “The Beeline,” Hwy 87. This might be most convenient for those coming from the north valley via Shea Blvd and Fountain Hills. At the top of the off-ramp, turn south and follow the road past Saguaro Lake.

Where to launch from

There are a number of places you can launch from. I’ll take them in order, starting at the furthest upstream put-in. You’ll need a pass for each vehicle parked in each place mentioned below, except the privately-run Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch.

Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch

This is the furthest spot upstream to launch, just a bit down river from Stewart Mountain Dam. The longest trip you can do on the Lower Salt River starts here and ends about 13 river miles later at Granite Reef. The best part of launching from the ranch is the first 3 minutes: you almost immediately hit some fun rapids as the river turns hard right under some magnificent cliffs. After you clear the rapids, look up—you might see an eagle perched high above you. It’s my favorite stretch of the entire river, even though it’s just a few minutes upstream from the first public launching spot. The actual put-in here at the ranch is a bit more difficult than a sandy beach, but the views are worth it.

Because this launch starts at a private guest ranch, you’ll need to pay for the privilege. One option is to book what the ranch calls a “self-guided tour.” That basically covers your parking fee, boat and gear rental, and a shuttle back to the ranch. Roughly two-hour “tours” cost $50 while the longer 4.5 hour trips run $75. You’ll need a reservation for both of the tours. If you’re just looking to launch from the ranch, you can instead pay $15 per vehicle (includes one boat), plus $5 for each additional boat. You’ll need to check in with the front desk to pay and obtain a parking pass before you launch, and the ranch requires you to remove your vehicle by 3pm.

Water Users

This large parking lot is where most tubers start, and it’s also the most common put-in for longer kayaking trips down the Salt River. Water Users is located just a few minutes downstream of Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch and requires a Tonto or Interagency Pass to park at. This rec area is no frills—it’s really just a place to park while you paddle or float the river. There are pit toilets here, but no drinkable water. If you fail to arrive long before (or long after) the summer tubers, you’ll regret stopping here. This is also sometimes referred to as Stop 1 for the tubers.

“The Bridge”

There are two recreation areas on the immediate east side of the bridge over the Salt River. The downstream/north area is called Blue Point, while the more expansive area across the highway is called Pebble Beach. Both are popular areas to launch kayaks for shortened trips down the river.

This is also a great spot to launch for those who want to avoid the rapids of Bulldog Canyon (sometimes referred to as ‘Pinball Alley’), the most extensive set of rapids on the Lower Salt River. In spite of its smaller parking lot, Blue Point is a bit preferable as the shoreline is closer to the parking lot so you won’t have to carry your boat as far. Also, the river flattens out and is more shallow near the bridge, so it’s easier to start on the other side of the ripples, especially in low water. The river around Pebble Beach can also get rather crowded with non-kayakers, so it can be easier to just avoid dodging kids swimming or fisherman stading in the river by launching downstream of the bridge.

There are pit toilets at both sites, but no running water. Don’t forget that you’ll need a Tonto or Interagency Pass to park at both Pebble Beach and Blue Point. Pebble Beach is also known as Stop 2 by the tubers.

Granite Reef

If you’re looking for more of a workout, you can also put-in at the Granite Reef Recreation Area—traditionally, the last take-out of the Lower Salt River stretch before the Granite Reef Dam. From here, you can only paddle upstream, against the slow flow of the river. However, this area is nearly always flat, slow-moving water that more closely resembles a lake than a fast flowing river. It’s also your best and easiest option for a quick paddle during low flow periods.

Where to take out

Phon D Sutton

Phon D Sutton is the most convenient and the most popular ending spot for Salt River kayaking trips. Finding the take-out is extremely easy; just aim for the small beachy area on the far left as you approach the large rock outcropping that sticks out into the river. This popular rock area will almost certainly be filled with various people fishing, sunbathing, or otherwise enjoying the river. Disembark here and carry your boat up the small hill to your left and you’ll find yourself at the parking lot.

Phon D Sutton has pit toilets, picnic shelters, and both a large parking lot and a secondary lot further back. Be sure to park your vehicles in the back half of the first parking lot area. The path you’ll later carry your boats up emerges between the two picnic shelters, so aim to park in a spot close by.

Granite Reef

Granite Reef is the end of the line for kayaking trips on the Lower Salt River. Unfortunately, it’s also home to the fewest parking spaces of any of the main rec areas, so you may want to start a bit earlier than normal if you’re planning on parking several vehicles here. Alternatively, you can set up a “reverse” car shuttle—more on that below. Granite Reef is also home to the smallest landing, so it make take a few moments to empty a crowd off the river. In fact, the take-out can be a bit hard to find from the river. There is a medium-sized palm tree on the north bank—river right—that you should keep an eye out for. The take-out is nearly directly across the river from the tree, tucked into a small nook. If you can’t find a parking space at Granite Reef, there’s a dirt pull-off about 4/10ths of a mile east.

How to set up a car shuttle

The great thing about kayaking a river is that the water does half the work for you—whether or not you paddle, you’re heading downstream. The bad part of kayaking a river is that you’re heading downstream, so you’ll need to arrange a car shuttle.

The only exception for the Salt River is if you’re launching from Granite Reef. The water is more lake-like down near the dam, so it’s possible to paddle up river up a bit and then float back down to your car. Unfortunately, that’s not really an option for the rest of the river. If you’ve paid for a tour from the Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch, then you’ll be receiving a ride back courtesy of the ranch and you can skip this section.

You’ll need at least two vehicles for the car shuttle, and each vehicle will require a Tonto Pass. It’s a bit easier if you have more than 2 cars and more than 2 people, as it allows you to have someone you know keep an eye on your boats.

1. Drive the boats to the launch site. Drop off your boats and any gear that you want for the trip. You’ll probably want to leave at least one person here to watch your stuff.
2. Drive all the vehicles to the take-out where you’ll leave them for later. I like leaving a cold beverage and a towel in my vehicle so I have it when I finish the paddle.
3. Using as few vehicles as possible, drive everyone back up to the take-out.
4. Launch your boats and enjoy your paddle down the river.
5. When you’re done kayaking, someone will need to drive the owner(s) of the vehicle(s) used in step 3 back to their vehicles parked at the put-in while everyone else loads their boats into their own vehicles.

You can also reverse this scenario and drop off a sufficient number of vehicles at the take-out first, on your way to the put-in. This adds a bit of difficulty in that you’ll need to transport all of the boats up to the put-in using fewer vehicles than they arrived in, but it’s one way to deal with the lack of parking spaces at Granite Reef.

A third alternative to dealing with Granite Reef’s limited parking is to follow the normal car shuttle routine but to leave one or more vehicles at Phon D Sutton or one of the pull-offs along the Bush Highway. At the end of the paddle, drivers can be shuttled back to their vehicles before heading back to the take-out to retrieve their boats. As you can imagine, I usually prefer to end at Phon D Sutton to avoid these logistical challenges.

Other things to consider

Salt River wild horses

Yes, it’s common to see “wild” horses during a paddle. No, they’re not actually “wild,” at least in the most accurate sense of the word. While recent legislation officially bestows the name “wild horses” upon the herd, they’re not exactly wild, at least in the truest sense of the word. Unlike other native wildlife, these horses did not evolve with the Salt River landscape, but are descendants of domesticated horses.

Nonetheless, many paddlers enjoy seeing them. You’re most likely to see some if you paddle in the early morning. Feel free to take photos, but please don’t disturb them. They also often cross the Bush Highway, so please be careful while driving. Originally stuck in a legal limbo, these horses are now protected under state law. There is a local nonprofit that helps to manage the herd, and you may encounter volunteers who try to keep people from harassing them.

Learning how to kayak

Arizona Hiking Shack, REI Paradise Valley, and REI Chandler locations offer short classes on kayaking and can help you choose the proper gear. Arizona Game and Fish Department also offers some education courses, as do a number of other groups.

Finding other people to kayak the Salt River with

The easiest way to find people to paddle with is by joining a Phoenix-area Meetup group. There are a few kayaking-focused groups, including Paddle Arizona, Phoenix Kayak Club, and Just Add Water Paddlers, among others. Each of these groups offers nearly-weekly kayaking trips down the Salt River. A number of other meetup groups offer Salt River kayaking events, even if they aren’t primarily a paddling group. A quick search will likely yield several scheduled trips. There’s also a Facebook group for Lower Salt River Kayakers where people more informally meet up for trips together, as well as one focused on organizing shuttles called Lower Salt River Shuttle Connection. And if you’re still striking out, check out this post about ways to make more outdoor recreation friends.

Where to go for a post-paddle food or beverage

Red, White and Brew at Power/McDowell is a common post-paddle get together spot. I also recommend Desert Eagle Brewing’s Falcon Field location near McDowell and Higley. Both offer a selection of craft beers and decent food.

What other questions do you have?

I’ve tried to put together a comprehensive guide for kayaking the Salt River, but I may have missed something. Let me know what else you want to know about in the comments.

The post The Complete Guide to Kayaking the Salt River appeared first on rscottjones.

One of my favorite annual trips to lead is a moonlight paddle down the Lower Salt River east of Phoenix.

The Salt River is a great little trip either early in the morning, or long after the tubers have gone home—it’s serene, has some nice scenery, is convenient to the metro Phoenix area, and offers easy logistics. I think it’s at its best during a full moon.

Armed with water cannons, some adult beverages, and glowstick-decorated kayaks, we met at Blue Point Picnic Area after work, unloaded our boats, and set up the car shuttle. We hit the water just as the sun set and stopped to enjoy the moonrise over the mountains in the first eddy downstream. There’s something special about paddling a river with just the light of a full moon. With the limited light, there’s an interesting incongruity: ripples and small rapids seem more exciting while the overall trip seems more placid.

Generally speaking, our night was more float than paddle. We shared beverages, enjoyed small conversations, and relaxed in the tranquility of the water. We stopped for a break and a group photo at the beach at Goldfield Ranch, joined by about a dozen feral Salt River horses. Drinking vessels sufficiently refilled, we returned to the boats and continued downstream to our take-out at Phon D Sutton Rec Area.

The remainder of the trip was a continuation of the earlier enjoyable night. The water cannons got quite a bit more use, which are particularly fun when you’re not entirely sure who squirted whom. The worst part of the evening was finding ourselves at the take-out; it had arrived much sooner than everyone wanted. Clearly, we’ll need to arrange another one next month.

I didn’t put much effort into taking photos. The combination of low light, the constant rocking of the kayak, and my preference for carrying a small point-and-shoot camera generally make for less-than-stellar photos. However, I post them in the hopes that they paint at least a crude picture of the evening’s moonlight adventure.

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Look on most maps of the Mogollon Rim region of Arizona and you’ll have trouble finding a label for Blue Ridge Reservoir, one of the nicer lakes in Arizona to kayak. Instead, you’ll run across a far less glamorous name, the C.C. Cragin Reservoir. This gorgeous narrow lake is located about 25 miles north of Payson, but only came into being because of water needs 200 miles away.

The lake that copper built

In the early 1960s, Phelps Dodge was looking for water to service its huge mining operation in Morenci. The most obvious source was the nearby Black River, but its water rights were tied up by the Salt River Project, better known as SRP. Phelps Dodge and SRP found a solution in a water trade. SRP would allow Phelps Dodge to use water from the Black River if the mining company delivered the same amount of water from outside SRP’s existing service area. A site on the Mogollon Rim was selected to complete the deal.

By 1965, Phelps Dodge had constructed a dam on East Clear Creek an hour’s drive north of Payson. The resulting reservoir—originally named Blue Ridge—held only 15,000 acre feet of water, but was surprising reliable given its location atop the Mogollon Rim. The project included an 11-mile long pipeline to deliver the water down the rim to the East Verde River, which eventually flows into SRP’s reservoir system. It was an exchange that served both parties well for decades to come.

How ‘Blue Ridge Reservoir’ became ‘CC Cragin Reservoir’

More than 40 years later, the Arizona Water Settlement Act of 2004 changed the name of the dam and reservoir to honor C. C. Cragin, a former SRP superintendent that helped greatly expand the system of dams along the Salt River east of metro Phoenix. The following year, Phelps Dodge handed over the reservoir to SRP, who now provides water to Payson and surrounding communities.

What’s it like to kayak here?

Blue Ridge Reservoir is definitely a favorite of many kayakers in the state. The narrow, intimate lake is flanked by relatively steep pine-covered slopes, so it feels more like you’re paddling a slow moving river than a broad lake. It’s easy to feel like you’re the only boat on the water here, as the lake curves around multiple bends just as a river does, obscuring other paddlers. With a treeline that comes right down to a 15 mile-long shoreline, the lake offers many opportunities to dock and enjoy a snack under the shade of the cool pines. Craggy rock outcroppings abound at the water’s edge, offering plenty of geologic eye-candy while you paddle past.

The lake is split between two arms. The western arm is much longer, while the southern arm includes the interesting curved dam that holds the water back. At an elevation of 6700 ft, the paddling season runs from May through October. While small motorized boats are allowed, this isn’t a place where paddlers will feel overwhelmed by motors.

How to get there

Blue Ridge Reservoir is located about 45 miles north of Payson, a roughly 2-hour drive from Phoenix. From Payson, continue north on Highway 87 for roughly 40 miles to FR751, near milepost 295. You’ll see a large US Forest Service sign pointing the way to Blue Ridge Reservoir (as with most paddlers, the CC Cragin name hasn’t quite taken hold). Turn east on FR751 and follow it about 4 miles to the boat ramp.

Parking at Blue Ridge Reservoir

One of the appealing qualities of kayaking on the Blue Ridge is the narrow, river-like canyon of the reservoir. Unfortunately, the same narrow width applies to the approach road, boat launch, and available parking area. You won’t find a large paved parking lot capable of storing dozens of trailers here. Indeed, there are only a handful of legal spots clinging the guardrail near the top of the boat ramp loading area, with a small parking lot up the hill for the remainder of the vehicles. Parking is currently prohibited anywhere else along the road. In short, expect an uphill walk after your paddle to retrieve your vehicle. I recommend either arriving early in the morning or late in the day to claim a parking spot.

Camping near Blue Ridge Reservoir

The Rock Crossing Campground is just two miles from the reservoir boat launch, so it’s well placed for a weekend of boating. It’s a popular place during the summer months and no reservations are accepted, so you’ll want to have a backup plan in case it’s full. Blue Ridge Campground and Clints Well Campground are the next nearest options, each a 10 minute drive away.

In addition, dispersed camping is available throughout the surrounding national forest, so you shouldn’t be without some sort of campsite to call home for the night. There are a handful of spots that work for shoreline camping from your kayak or canoe, if you’re feeling adventurous.

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After packing up the car with our gear, snacks, and picnic supplies, we hit the road for the 2.5-hour drive to the western approach of the Kofa Mountains. The entire low desert region around the town of Quartzsite, Arizona is prime RV camping in the winter months. The BLM public lands surrounding the town, and those that ring the Kofa, allow for long-term camping, so the desert flats are filled with both trailers and coaches, as well as the occasional #vanlife rig.

Kofa is a rather large place. It’s 665,000 acres of rugged mountain ranges and sloping valleys, all but one-fifth of which is designated Wilderness. The land was originally set aside to protect desert bighorn sheep back in 1939, the product of a Boy Scout advocacy campaign to protect the species. Mining, however, has seemingly always been a part of the modern history of this area. The name Kofa comes from the King of Arizona mine located along the mountain range’s southwestern edge.

The spiral labyrinth

Our first stop of the day was just outside the National Wildlife Refuge’s official boundary at a feature called the spiral labyrinth. I have no idea when it was constructed, who made it, or why. I’m not exactly a fan of mutilating the desert with something like this, but I’ll admit that it’s a lot cooler than I expected it to be.

The labyrinth is located just off the main road into Palm Canyon and is scraped into desert pavement, much like the ancient intaglios further west. At more than 60 feet wide, the spiral is impressive—especially given the quality of its design and construction.

I would have loved to stay here for much longer than we did and to walk the entire thing. Unfortunately, two inconsiderate asshats were camping right next to the thing, preventing us from taking the photos we’d like or even enjoying a serenity.

Queen Mine Road

Moving along, we entered the refuge and turned onto Queen Mine Road. The road is quite a bit rougher than Palm Canyon, as it eventually leads into a tight canyon where it dead ends. Thank goodness I have Sam the Subie. I’ve always wanted to camp along this road, which is home to a somewhat iconic photo spot, sometimes called the Kofa spires or Kofa sea stacks. It’s also the approach one would use for scrambling up Signal Peak, the highest point in Yuma County. I’ll be back to tackle this summit another time as part of my Arizona County High Points quest.

Palm Canyon

We doubled back and headed towards Palm Canyon for lunch. Palm Canyon is the most common destination for visitors. It’s incredible easy to find—the main sedan-friendly road into the Kofa leads directly to it. It’s also a signed half-mile foot trail, which means it’s usually the only Kofa destination that you’ll find on hiking websites or guidebooks. The canyon is home to the California fan palm, the only palm species that grows natively in Arizona.

We positioned the car to block the wind, made some sandwiches and enjoyed the vista. After lunch, I scouted around the mouth of the canyon for some tent-appropriate campsites we could use on a future group trip. And yep, there are some primo sites with great views into the canyon. We’ll definitely be back.

King Valley

It was now time to explore the expansive King Valley, which bisects the wildlife refuge and separates its two primary mountain ranges: the Kofa Mountains and the Castle Dome Mountains. We headed back to the highway and down to King Road, then took it southeast into the interior of the refuge. Passing countless camp pull-offs and expansive vistas, we eventually headed northeast over the desert flats towards Polaris Mountain and the Kofa Mine. It was late afternoon by the time we arrived at the foothills, so we couldn’t stay and explore the area on foot.

A stop in Yuma

After departing the Kofa, we turned south towards Yuma. On our way, we stopped at the Yuma Proving Ground, a large military testing installation. The proving ground, still currently in use, is a remnant of General Patton’s massive Desert Training Center. An interesting note on the national wildlife refuge: in times of war, it can automatically revert to active Yuma Proving Ground land.

There are a dozen or more old tanks on display outside the main gates—each of which was originally tested on the facility grounds—so I stopped for Jen to take a look and read the various plaques.

Our purpose in heading out of our way to Yuma was simple: beer. Jen has officially adopted #azbeerquest and had not yet marked off Yuma’s sole craft brewery. This must be corrected. But first, we needed to stop at a dive bar that’s been on my list to visit for several years. It didn’t disappoint. I even had to fight off some handsy (and apparently quite lonely) locals looking to get frisky; I suppose that’s what you get at a former strip club.

We departed to grab dinner and a beer flight at the brewery and mark another off the quest. After a long but enjoyable day, we headed towards home, completing an impressive loop around southwestern Arizona.

Day trips rock!

I’m always a bit surprised when a friend seems shocked that we’d did a day trip like this one. I sometimes get questions like:

“How did you know where to go?” or “How long did it take you plan that trip?” or even “I could never just go do something like that.”

Let’s just set the record straight: day trips rock!

They’re easy to put together and they’re easy to do. They allow you to get out and explore your state. And if you bring food along with you, then they only cost a tank of gas. Don’t have a destination in mind? Don’t let that stop you. Grab a map, hit the road, and decide as you go. Don’t know what to bring? Just bring whatever you want to have with you. I’d recommend some water, beverages and snacks, and warm clothes if it’s cold out. Besides that, there’s really not much to it.

Stay tuned here and we’ll help ensure that you start taking more of those day trips and just get out more.

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Las Cienegas NCA Road Closure and Restoration Weekend

Feb 19 – Feb 21

Experience a lush desert grassland just an hour southeast of Tucson in Las Cienegas National Conservation Area. We will be out there closing and re-habilitating roads identified by the BLM in the Resource Management Plan for closure.

Work will include using hand tools to break up and re-vegetate the road surface. There are a variety of tasks available from light planting work to heavy lifting and shoveling. Sky Island Alliance will provide the training and materials needed to do the field work. You will need to bring everything you need for 2 days/nights of car camping. Everyone is responsible for his or her own meals and you are welcome to use our stove set up and/or grill. Don’t forget the basics such as food, water, rain gear, tent and a sleeping bag. Another option is just come out to help for one day (Saturday). Please send a response email for further information. Schedule: Friday -meet in camp in the pm, somebody from SIA will be there by 5pm Saturday -work all day, campfire at night Sunday -work through the afternoon and then head home by 2 or 3 pm.

Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Minimum Age: None
Age Group: All Ages
Max Group Size: 1
Volunteers Needed: 20
Contact Person: Sarah Williams
sarah@skyislandalliance.org 520-624-7080 x23

Historic Anza Trail Restoration in Sonoran Desert National Monument

Feb 20, 2010

Anza Trail Coalition, Friends of the Sonoran Desert National Monument, Arizona Wilderness Coalition and the Sierra Club are sponsoring this event to have volunteers restore a portion of the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail that was damaged by off-road vehicle use within Sonoran Desert National Monument.

Volunteers will restore areas damaged by off-road vehicle use. The restoration work will include digging, scraping, and raking to breakup compacted soils and obliterate vehicle tracks. The work requires the use of basic hand tools designed for trail maintenance—Pulaski, McCleod, steel-tined rake, and shovel. Work difficulty ranges from easy to challenging. There will be some native plant relocation activities. Volunteers are advised to wear sturdy shoes and dress appropriately for working outdoors. Please bring work gloves and a water bottle or canteen. There will be campsites available for those to choose to camp. A volunteer information sheet and map are available.

Difficulty Rating: Moderately Easy
Minimum Age: None
Age Group: All Ages
Max Group Size: 10
Volunteers Needed: 50
Contact Person: Thomas Hulen
thom@sonorandesertfriends.org (602) 619-9717

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All in all, it was a great trip. I’m glad that I won’t have to drive through Texas again (we did it last winter for our Texas roadtrip and the summer before that for our post-wedding trip through the South) – and that was enough. It was interesting to see another part of the country (you’re up next New England!), though I am yearning for some large, wilderness parks.

• Most surprising unit: Vicksburg National Military Park
• Most disappointing unit: Chalmette Battlefield (or New Orleans Jazz NHP)
• Unforgettable memory: New Years Eve in the French Quarter
• Forgettable memory: having a dead car battery on Christmas Eve at a New Mexico rest area
• Best food: Oceana, just off Bourbon Street. We ate there consecutive nights.
• Worst food: Chuy’s restaurant in Van Horn, Texas.
• If we would have had more time: we would done walking history tour of New Orleans
• Best part of the trip: spending it with Kim

National Park Service units we visited (9 new, 2 repeat visits):

• Big Thicket National Preserve (TX)
• Cane River Creole National Historic Park (LA)
• Poverty Point National Monument (LA)
• Natchez Trace Parkway (MS)
• Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail (MS)
• Vicksburg National Military Park (MS)
• Natchez National Historic Park (MS)
• New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park (LA)
• Jean Lafitte National Historic Park (LA)
• Jean Lafitte National Preserve (LA)
• Fort Bowie National Historic Site (AZ)

Blog posts on scottandkimmie.com:

• An inauspicious start
• Christmas driving, Riverwalk, and the Negotiator
• The plantations of the Cane River Lake
• Poverty Point and Vicksburg
• Driving the Natchez Trace and touring an antebellum mansion
• Ringing in the New Year in NOLA

Blog posts here on rscottjones.com:

• An inauspicious start to the roadtrip
• More thoughts on Big Thicket, Cane River Creole, Poverty Point, and Vicksburg
• Thoughts on New Years Eve in the French Quarter of NOLA
• This just in: John Madden has terrible taste

Some final random thoughts:

• Natchez Trace Parkway is full of really cool stuff and it’s a nice drive too. I definitely recommend some time along it.
• Jean Lafitte National Historic Park & Preserve is one of the more diverse units in the system. It contains several cultural centers, a prime French Quarter visitor center, the Chalmette Battlefield and the Barataria Preserve. Not bad for a relatively obscure park.
• Vicksburg National Military Park could do with a more reasonably priced auto tour drive – or at least allow visitors to borrow it for the tour (Lyndon Johnson National Historic Park did this well).

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