FIELD TRIPS & ACTIVITIES

A list of Arizona's national and state parks, monuments, recreation areas, historical and archeological points of interest. Many of these parks and recreation areas offer various interpretive programs, nature hikes, and other educational activities.

National Parks & Monuments
Arizona State Parks
Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Areas
City Parks
Historic Points of Interest
National Forests and Recreation Areas

National Parks & Monuments in Arizona

• Agua Fria National Monument (This new monument, formerly BLM land, encloses a small region of the high desert alongside the Agua Fria River between Cordes Junction and Black Canyon City, from I-17 east to the Tonto National Forest. The main purpose is to protect numerous ancient ruins and petroglyphs from the pueblo period of 1250 to 1450 AD, although this area also contains historical sites dating from the resettlement of the region in the nineteenth century and has diverse, flourishing plant and animal habitats.)
  
• Canyon De Chelly National Monument
  
• Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
  
• Chiricahua National Monument
  
• Coronado National Memorial
  
• Fort Bowie National Historic Site
  
• Grand Canyon National Park
  
• Hohokam Pima National Monument (This monument is not open to the public.)
  
• Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site
  
• Montezuma Castle National Monument
  
• Navajo National Monument
  
• Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
  
• Parashant National Monument
  
• Petrified Forest National Park
  
• Pipe Spring National Monument
  
• Saguaro National Park
  
• Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
  
• Tonto National Monument
  
• Tumacacori National Historic Monument
  
• Tuzigoot National Monument
  
• Walnut Canyon National Monument
  
• Wupatki National Monument
  

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  Arizona State Parks

  Northern Region:
  

• Dead Horse Ranch State Park (Recreational/Camping)
  
• Fort Verde State Historic Park (Historic)
  
• Homolovi Ruins State Park (Archeology/Recreation/Camping)
  
• Jerome State Historic Park (Historic)
  
• Red Rock State Park (Recreational/Educational)
  
• Riordan Mansion State Historic Park (Historic)
  
• Slide Rock State Park (Recreational/Historic)
  
• Verde River Greenway State Natural Area (Recreational)
  

  Eastern Region:
  

• Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park (Educational/Recreational)
  
• Catalina State Park (Recreational/Camping)
  
• Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area (Recreational/Camping)
  
• Lost Dutchman State Park (Recreational/Camping)
  
• Lyman Lake State Park (Recreational/Camping)
  
• McFarland State Historic Park (Historic)
  
• Oracle State Park (Group Educational)
  
• Tonto Natural Bridge State Park (Recreational)
  

  Southern Region:
  

• Kartchner Caverns State Park (Recreational/Educational/Camping)
  
• Patagonia Lake State Park (Recreational/Camping)
  
• Picacho Peak State Park (Recreational/Camping)
  
• Roper Lake State Park (Recreational/Camping)
  
• San Rafael Ranch Natural Area (Not yet open)
  
• Sonoita Creek State Natural Area (Recreational/Educational)
  
• Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park (Historic)
  
• Tubac Presidio State Historic Park (Historic/Educational)
  

  Western Region:
  

• Alamo Lake State Park (Recreational/Camping)
  
• Buckskin Mountain State Park (Recreational/Camping)
  
• Cattail Cove State Park (Recreational/Camping)
  
• Lake Havasu State Park (Recreational/Camping)
  
• River Island State Park (Recreational/Camping)
  
• Yuma Crossing/ Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park (Historic)
  
• Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park (Historic)
  

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  Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Areas
  

• Adobe Dam Regional Park
  
• Buckeye Hills Regional Park
  
• Cave Creek Recreation Area
  
• Desert Outdoor Center at Lake Pleasant
  
• Estrella Mountain Regional Park
  
• Lake Pleasant Regional Park
  
• McDowell Mountain Regional Park
  
• San Tan Mountain Regional Park
  
• Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area
  
• Usery Mountain Regional Park
  
• White Tank Mountain Regional Park
  

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  City Parks
  

• City of Chandler Parks and Recreation
  
• Flagstaff Parks and Recreation
  
• Gilbert Parks and Recreation
  
• Mesa Parks and Recreation
  
• Phoenix Parks and Recreation
  
  Camelback Mtn./Echo Canyon Recreation Area - This 75.8-acre park is a favorite hiking and climbing spot with sheer red cliffs, the Praying Monk rock formation, and the familiar camel's silhouette. Caution: the summit trails are difficult, strenuous climbs for experienced hikers only.
  
  Encanto Park - Encanto Park is a 222-acre oasis just a few blocks from the busy central corridor with picnic areas, a lagoon, paddle boats, canoes, swimming pool, nature trail, Kiddieland/Enchanted Island amusement park, urban fishing, waterfowl, two golf courses, a softball diamond, basketball and tennis courts.
  
  North Mountain Area - At 2,104 feet, North Mountain is a landmark Phoenix peak in its own right. The North Mountain area offers more than summit climbs; an array of trails of all levels of difficulty offers something for everybody.
  
  Papago Park - This fabulous park, located on 1,200 acres of rolling desert hills and rugged mountains, features a golf course, archery range, exercise course, softball complex, picnic areas, orienteering course, fishing lagoons (urban fishing license required), hiking trails, Hunt's Tomb, and the Hole-In-The-Rock landmark.
  
  Patriots Square - Located in the heart of downtown Phoenix, Patriots Square Park features two-and-a-half acres of open space with grass, trees, benches, an outdoor performing arts stage and two food kiosks. The park often is a site for community celebrations.
  
  Phoenix Mountain Preserve/Dreamy Draw Recreation Area - This area boasts dozens of miles of trails that allow you to enjoy the Sonoran Desert in relative solitude even though you're in the middle of the city. Piestewa Peak (formerly Squaw Peak), part of the Phoenix Mountain Preserve, is one of the city's best-known landmarks. The park features a 1.2-mile trail to the peak's 2,608-foot summit, which offers a spectacular view of the Valley of the Sun.
  
  Reach 11 Recreation Area - This 1,500-acre recreation area is approximately 7 miles long and less than 1/2 mile wide. The park runs east and west along the north side of the CAP canal. There are 18 miles of seven foot wide, groomed, multi-use trails that bisect the entire park. The trails meander through a unique xeroriparian desert landscape that is abundant with native vegetation and wildlife. The recreation area includes Arizona Horse Lovers Park, a 90-acre world class equestrian facility.
  
  South Mountain Park - South Mountain is the largest municipal park in the world. The 16,500-acre park is home to more than 300 specimens of plant life and a wide variety of fauna, including rabbits, foxes, coyotes, snakes, lizards and birds. The park features picnic areas and ramadas, hiking trails and spectacular lookouts, in addition to the 10,907-square-foot South Mountain Environmental Education Center.
  
  Telephone Pioneers of America Park - The nation's first barrier-free park for physically challenged individuals. It features two beep baseball fields, a therapeutic heated pool, wheelchair accessible playground equipment, handball, volleyball, tennis, basketball and shuffleboard.
  
• Tempe Parks and Recreation
  
  Tempe Town Lake - Take a journey to Tempe Town Lake, one of Arizona's most popular outdoor destinations. Click on the photos to find information about a variety of Town Lake subjects including its history, flora and fauna, boating and fishing, parks and playgrounds, special events, and volunteering.
  
  Kiwanis Recreation Center and Park - This multi-purpose facility includes an indoor wave pool with spiral slide, full service snack bar, full size multi-use gymnasium, fifteen lighted tennis courts, outdoor sand volleyball courts, classrooms, and outdoor picnic areas. The center offers numerous activities for the community including instructional classes, sport camps and leagues, birthday parties and much more.
  
  Tempe Recreational Activities - Looking to learn a new skill, exercise, or just enjoy your leisure time? The City of Tempe Recreation Division has the perfect class for you and your family. Are you interested in teaching? They are always looking for quality instructors to enhance the variety of classes and workshops offered throughout the year at all of their facilities.
  
• Tucson Parks and Recreation
  
• Yuma Parks and Recreation
  

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  Historic Points of Interest

  Arboretum at ASU (Tempe)
  Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (Tucson)
  Besh Be Gowah Archeological Park
  Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum
  Blythe Intaglios (BLM)
  Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park
  Cochise Visitor Center & Museum (Wilcox)
  Colossal Cave (Tucson)
  Desert Botanical Garden (Phoenix)
  Fort Verde State Historic Park (Campe Verde)
  Fort Lowell Museum (Tucson)
  Grand Canyon Caverns (Peach Springs)
  Ho Hardy Archeological Park
  Homolovi Ruins SP (Winslow)
  Hoover Dam
  International Wildlife Museum (Tucson)
  Juan Bautista de Anza Trail (Tubac)
  Jerome State Historic Park
  Lees Ferry
  Lehner-Mammoth Kill Site (BLM)
  McFarland State Historic Park
  Meteor Crater (Two Guns)
  Millville & Charleston (BLM)
  Mineral Museum (Tucson)
  Mission San Xavier del Bac (Tucson)
  Monument Valley Tribal Park
  Murray Springs Clovis Site (BLM)
  Museum of Northern Arizona (Flagstaff)
  Navajo Tribal Museum (Window Rock)
  Old Tucson Studios
  Out of Africa Wildlife Park
  Painted Rocks State Park
  Pimeria Alta Historical Society Museum (Nogales)
  Rex Allen Arizona Cowboy Museum (Wilcox)
  Riordan Mansion State Historic Park
  San Pedro Trail
  St. Michael's Historical Museum (Window Rock)
  Sosa-Carillo-Fremont House (Tucson)
  The Arboretum at Flagstaff
  Tohono Chul Park (Tucson)
  Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park
  Tubac Presidio Presidio State Historic Park
  Tucson Botanical Gardens
  Tucson Museum of Art & Historic Block
  Yuma Crossing State Historic Park
  Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park
  

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  National Forests and Recreation Areas

  Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
  Coconino National Forest
  The Colorado River
  Coronado National Forest
  Ehrenberg Sandbowl OHV Area
  Fool Hollow Lake State Recreation Area
  Gila Box Riparian Nat'l Conservation Area
  Glen Canyon Nat'l Recreation Area
  Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area
  Kaibab National Forest
  Lake Havasu
  Lake Mead Nat'l Recreation Area
  Lake Mohave
  Lake Powell
  Madera Recreation Area
  Martinez Lake
  Mingus Mountain Recreation Area
  Oak Creek Canyon Natural Area
  Painted Desert Wilderness
  Pena Blanca Recreation Area
  Prescott National Forest
  Rainbow Forest Wilderness
  Roosevelt Lake
  Rucker Canyon Recreation Area
  Rustler Park Recreation Area
  Sabino Canyon Recreation Area
  San Carlos Lake
  San Pedro Riparian Nat'l Conservation Area
  Sonoita Creek Natural Area
  Stoneman Lake
  Tonto National Forest

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Do you know of another good field trip destination that is not listed here?
Please submit additional information to: ArizonaEd@ArizonaEdventures.com Thanks!