Day Trips From Prescott

Lake Havasu National Monument Grand Canyon Arizona Trail Lowell Observatory Grand Canyon Railway

Red Rock State Park. Red Rock State Park's 286 acres are a beautiful destination for hiking, biking, horseback riding and picnics. Arizona's famous Oak Creek meanders through this scenic park, creating a diverse riparian habitat abounding with plants and wildlife. The 5-mile trail system of interconnecting loops lead to stunning vistas of red rock or along the lush greenery of Oak Creek. Hike along well-marked trails, such as Apache Fire Loop, Coyote Ridge Trail and Eagle's Nest Loop, which teaks you to Eagle's Nest - the highest point in the park with an elevation gain of 300'. Traverse the riparian corridor by the Kisva Trail, Yavapai Ridge Trail and Javelina Trail, whcih takes you into the pinyon and juniper woodlands. Rattlesnake Ridge rises just above the Twin Cypress Picnic area. Bikes and horses are allowed on designated routes.

Lake Havasu. Relax and enjoy the scenery of Lake Havasu, a 45-mile nautical oasis of natural beauty nestled along the Arizona border. Home to the world-famous London Bridge, Lake Havasu is a water lover's paradise and a desert lover's dream. More than 400 miles of stunning coastline will refresh you with exceptional watersports, including fishing, skiing, kayaking and houseboating. Explore the lake from the beautiful beaches or scenic hiking trails. Lake Havasu boat tours cruise you into remote canyons and historic sites. Explore the area with Sonoran desert walks, hiking adventures, 4-wheel off-road desert tours or climbs in Havasu’s Outback and Mohave Mountains.  [Top]

Montezuma Castle National Monument. Discover this historic five-story Native American dwelling carved out of an ancient limestone cliff. Nestled into a towering limestone cliff of the Verde Valley, the 20-room high-rise apartment tells a 1,000 year-old story of ingenuity and survival in a desert landscape. The best preserved cliff dwelling in North America, this enduring legacy of the Sinagua culture reveals a surprising people. Begun during the twelfth century, Montezuma Castle took three centuries to complete. Visit www.nps.gov/moca.  [Top]

Grand Canyon. One of the natural wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon is a colorful, steep-sided gorge in Arizona, carved by the Colorado River. Largely within Grand Canyon National Park, the collosal chasm is 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and over a mile deep. With awe-inspiring views, Grand Canyon is a natural treasure for exploring back country roads, beautiful hiking trails, braving helicopter rides, savoring sunsets, or rafting the currents of the Colorado River. The canyon is a gift of timeless beauty and majesty that transcends experience. Adventurous ways to explore the rugged parts of the Canyon are by pack trail and backcountry roads. Fly above the canyon on exciting helicopter and airplane tours that land in the basin, or explore by train, van, river raft or horseback. Hop aboard the Grand Canyon Railway, a century-old rail train that arrives at the historic Grand Canyon Depot. Visit www.nps.gov/grca.  [Top]

Arizona Trail. A National Scenic Trail, the Arizona Trail is a narrow band of earth stretching across Arizona from Mexico to Utah. The 800-mile Arizona Trail traverses the state, linking deserts, mountain ranges, canyons, communities, public lands and people. A favorite destination of hikers, equestrians, mountain bicyclists, cross-country skiers, snowshoers and joggers, the Arizona Trail is a beautiful long distance trail that highlights the state's topographic, biologic, ecological, historic and cultural diversity. The Trail is made up of 43 passages, ranging from 11 to 35 miles in length. When completed, the Arizona Trail will be the most spectacular long-distance trail in the country.  [Top]

Lowell Observatory. A research institution that studies astronomy, the solar system and astronomical phenomena, Lowell Observatory has been the site of important findings including the discovery of the large redshift of galaxies, the realization the universe is expanding, and the discovery of Pluto in 1930. Lowell's astronomers use ground and space telescopes and NASA planetary spacecraft to conduct research in astronomy and planetary science. The Mars Hill campus in Flagstaff offers tours and telescope viewings. The visitor center offers interactive exhibits and tours to the Clark Telescope and Pluto Discovery Telescope. The observatory also has four research telescopes at its Anderson Mesa dark sky site and the Discovery Channel Telescope. The McAllister Space Theatre is a multimedia theatre and digital planetarium that features 20-minute shows and overviews of the sky at night.  [Top]

Grand Canyon Railway. Hop aboard Grand Canyon Railway, a century-old rail line that take you to Grand Canyon National Park. The Grand Canyon Railway features steam and diesel engines with five classes of service on beautifully restored passenger cars. The train departs daily from Williams and drops you off at the historic Grand Canyon Depot - just steps from the South Rim. Call 800-THE-TRAIN or visit www.thetrain.com.  [Top]