Phoenix, the most prominent capital state in America and the most famous city in Arizona, has many goodies. You will need to plan your vacation well, ensuring you have ample time in this city. There are various activities and sites to tour, including cultural facilities, historic sites, and golfing. If you admire golfing but do not know how to play, you can take classes in this city. To add to the great adventure encountered in Phoenix, you can visit nearby national parks. Besides, Phoenix facilitates access to various fantastic national parks nearby, including the following.
Petrified Forest National Park
This national park is located in Arizona, 215 miles from Phoenix. Therefore, it will take less than four hours to get to this destination. When you visit Petrified Forest National Park offers, you cannot afford to ignore the blue-banded rock formations, Native American scenes, and red-colored badlands. Likewise, you will note an arrangement of fossilized trees completing the landscape into a remarkable park. This national park drew its name from the numerous petrified logs found on the site. The park features fossils from the Late Triassic, which was the period of the onset of dinosaurs. Strolling around the park, you can find the location where dinosaurs existed and wandered.
Don’t miss out on the ancient river system that would outdo every current river—the arid landscapes in the park show natural and aging ongoing geological experiments to date. You do not have to worry about the unavailability of camping or residing place in the park as Phoenix is just a drive away.
Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon National Park is located on the northern side of Phoenix, about 225 miles away. If you seek to find a road trip experience in a national park, this is the right destination. Forget about the photos or videos you have watched; the immense view of Grand Canyons needs to be viewed in real life. The images underrate the park.
This national park is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, indicating its importance globally and to humanity. Note that this mind-boggling park is among the various Wonders of the World.
It is best to spend at least three days and three nights here to ensure you get the best of Grand Canyon National Park. Tourists can engage in exciting activities in this park scene, driving and hiking the Canyon. Also, visitors can relax and watch birds after a long day of hiking.
Death Valley National Park
The name of this national park should not scare you away from exploring it. It would be best if you let curiosity get the best of you. In California, Death Valley National Park is located four hundred and twenty miles from Phoenix. The park is about seven hours drive from Phoenix, allowing you to enjoy a road trip as you head there. This national park is outstanding for its colossal size comprising above three million, four hundred and twenty-two acres. Above 92% of the park is a wilderness and you can never exhaust exploring.
Apart from the enormous landscape, this national park provides habitat to Badwater Basin. Badwater Basin is the lowest part of North America. Tourists can also view the notable peak of Mount Whitney. Death Valley National Park is the hottest and driest location in America, found in the Mojave Desert. The temperatures can rise as high as 120 degrees Fahrenheit or more, making it unbearable for most animals. This park has various desert vegetation scattered all over it. As hot as it is, the park provides a home for some animals, including snakes, bighorn sheep, kangaroo rats, tarantulas, and coyotes. Various species of birds also survive in this national park.
Ensure you spend a night at the park to experience its night skies, one of the best in America. Additionally, it would be more enjoyable to have a sky view for couples. During the day, tourists enjoy outlooks from Dante’s view or Zabriskie’s point. You can also engage in hiking or explore dunes and historic locations.
Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park is located in California, and it takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes to get there. This national park is among the closest parks to Phoenix and provides a habitat to numerous wildlife. Likewise, the park consists of different landscapes and has abundant recreational activities.
The park derives its name from Joshua trees growing in this location. The park shares a part of the Mojave Desert, its most popular scenes. Come ready for camping as Joshua Tree National park provides one of the best camping facilities. It would help if you visited the park in spring when the wildflowers in the desert sprout and carpet the desert providing a colorful, unique view. Move around the desert and learn that there are various types of deserts. The park comprises palm oases, yuccas, mountains, and abandoned gold mines. If you visit the Joshua Tree National Park, be assured of having a busy schedule.
Zion National Park
Zion National Park is located in Utah, about three hundred and eighty-five miles from Phoenix. This park stands out as one of the most toured national parks in America, and its route from Phoenix allows tourists to enjoy a road trip as well. The park features many outdoor activities, a lush riparian panorama, and canyon landscapes. Do not miss this place if you like having an adrenaline rush and thrilling moments.
Consequently, the park features sensational sites like shimmering ponds, hanging gardens, and weeping rocks. Your family can tag along and have fun together. Also, make sure you document these epic family moments.
Zion National Park features hiking trails, including Observation Point and Angels Landing, ensuring visitors keep fit.
In conclusion, the national parks near Phoenix will enable you to encounter wildlife and various historical natural features. These national parks are locations you should visit with your fully loaded camera. You might think you have seen it all in Phoenix, but its neighborhood will prove you wrong.
