Getting Dreamy in Arizona

Perhaps it was growing up on the Eastern Plains of Colorado that led to an initial dislike of hot, dry, arid climates. The desert, up until April 2023, seemed to be the last place I would find myself in true awe and wonder, slipping out of reality and into dreams. In my mind, it was always scorching heat, no water, and no life. The plains I grew up on at least got a little moisture each year, there were signs of life to be had. It was pure ignorance to not understand that there is life in the desert. It's complex, vibrant and it's everywhere. More than the life it sustains, a desert climate lends itself to a mystic landscape of mountains, canyons and flats. A research trip through the state brought me new perspective, itching to get back one day. 

The trip itself was very fast-paced. I covered over two thousand miles in just four days, but those few days were enough to inspire. I started early and drove west from Denver to Moab, dropping south through Bluff and Monument Valley, crossing into Arizona. These were all roads and places I was familiar with, so only gas/pit stops. Upon entering Kayenta, however, I was ready to be in research mode, prepared to take notes for anything I'd encounter. My destination that evening was Page, on the edge of Lake Powell. My drive into the area was mesmerizing, and just as the sun is beginning to set. Hues of deep oranges, reds, pinks, and purples strode across the sky and the hills beside me. It had already been a day of tremendous beauty and change in landscapes, but the first few hours of the final leg of that day certainly had me ready to enjoy what Arizona offers. 

I awoke the next day for a quick trip to Lake Powell and to hike the small trail to see Horseshoe Bend along the Colorado River. Crisp blue waters with calming red rock canyons all around. It felt so peaceful. Alas, I had many more miles to cover. So, I continued south to Flagstaff. Now, this was a part of the state I had never been to. I had definitely heard of Flagstaff, but not much more than folks lived there and that it was the first Dark Sky Community, creating the program as we know it. Little did I know, though, that there were mountains, pine, spruce. I felt more in Colorado than Arizona! I was stunned, it was just truly breathtaking! I knew I would be circling back through the city on my return to Denver, so from there I went west to Williams. I was traveling along I-40, with portions being the historic Route 66. Getting into Williams, it was very apparent that this city thrived from the old highway traffic and tourism. Route 66 went straight through the historic part of the city, while the interstate was to the north of it, mostly bypassing the community. Lucky for us, I found out that a car show would be taking place while our group would be in town. The setting of Williams with classic cars roaming the streets is straight out of a postcard! My journey would continue taking me west to the Arizona/Nevada state line, at Bullhead City and Laughlin. The landscape would once again transition from pines to sagebrush and junipers, and eventually a stereotypical desert canyon climate with beautiful rock formations on either side of the highway. A little oasis on the river popped up upon entering Bullhead City. Palms and blue water with jet-skis zooming past against a backdrop of dry, jagged mountains. Once again, I was taken away by the splendor Arizona had offered in one day. One could say I was hooked!

The following morning, I made my way south to Lake Havasu City, following the Colorado River. As you meander along the highway heading east of Needles, a small wetland appears, fed by the river. The wetland eventually becomes Lake Havasu, a modern oasis with a city built for tourism and retirement on its shores. I had already been to Lake Havasu as a college student during spring break. Let’s just say I experienced that party scene and didn’t really need to see it again. Lake Havasu City is a wonderful place to visit, though, as the party isn’t all year long! Our group got to experience the calm and serenity the city and lake offers. Since I had visited, I didn’t stay long and continued south through Parker and the Colorado River Reservation. My destination that evening was Blythe, California, near the state line. Following the river through the canyons south of Lake Havasu felt adventurous! There was this feeling of ruggedness driving along the highway, and down on the river there were lots of folks enjoying water sports. The vibe could perhaps be seen as a calmer Moab with more focus on water. Then, the river opens into a valley of the Colorado River Reservation where the water is being put to use for agriculture. The smell of alfalfa overtook the senses. It almost felt out of place to see so much green in the middle of the desert, but was also quite enjoyable to travel through. This day was very calming, so when I finally arrived in Blythe, I had a great night’s sleep.

I was close to the end of my journey, and today was going to cover many miles. I awoke and started very early to travel south to Yuma. It was on this drive south that I encountered my first saguaro cactus. I saw one or two, and then more began to pop up. I was so excited! I had to pull over to take some photos, as this is certainly something I had not seen growing up in Colorado! The drive south just kept me smiling, and I began to think about all the critters that must be out there using the cacti as homes, food, water. Was there a coyote den in the distance? A well-hidden puma, perhaps? What about at night, are there bats as I’ve seen in documentary films? I didn’t have time to explore and witness any of that myself, but it has certainly encouraged me to return to do so. I crossed the Gila River and came upon Yuma, a sprawling city that sort of pops out of nowhere. It felt much like any other city, though there was a lot of adobe and stucco being used in the structures. The sense of place Yuma offered blends quite well with the desert environment in which it resides. I was able to meet with a couple of my contacts and then started my journey northeast toward Flagstaff. I went through the outskirts of Phoenix, and that felt very much like any large metropolitan area. Lots of traffic, construction, suburban homes, shopping complexes and growth. Unlike Yuma, there was a lot of hustle and bustle for this portion of the drive. It calmed as I made my way north along I-17 to Phoenix. That morning I saw my first saguaro, and little did I know that for this part of Arizona, one drives through a “forest” of saguaros. I was agoge and could not believe how gorgeous the landscape was. I continued north and then the familiar landscape of Flagstaff began to appear. I got settled in my hotel and then made my way to the historic downtown area for a delicious meal. The area was vibrant and full of people enjoying themselves. That night I had tickets to visit the Lowell Observatory. The place is incredible! It’s where Pluto was discovered and where plenty of research still occurs. Each night they bring out telescopes for the public to look at celestial objects, and even one for the moon! I geek out on these types of things, so I was definitely all smiles that night.

The following morning was the last day of my journey as I made my way to Denver. For Arizona, my last stop would be at Meteor Crater. So, I got up early once again and continued east. This northeastern portion of Arizona was much flatter with lots of wide open spaces. Montana is “Big Sky Country,” and I don’t disagree, but this part of Arizona could also take that name. Without any signage, you wouldn’t know there is a massive crater in the earth just south of the I-40! You drive south through private ranchland and then you come upon a pretty big hill with a visitor center on the side. The facility is very nice, with a great gift shop and theater. There are also lots of stairs to get to the top of that hillside. Once you do, you look down into a giant hole in the ground, a crater! It’s jaw-dropping. It’s also very humbling to think that our planet has been hit millions of times by space debris, and something that doesn’t seem very large could create such an impact on the landscape. Let’s hope a new crater isn’t created any time soon! The rest of my journey would take me through Albuquerque and then north to Denver. I had such a wonderful time on this research trip and came away with a very positive outlook on Arizona. It’s a wonderful state with so much to offer! It may get hot in the summer, yes, but I think folks are able to tolerate it because everything else Arizona has is just amazing! If you’d like to explore Arizona with Treasure Box Tours, join us in January for a winter escape. We’ll go through Phoenix, Tucson, Sierra Vista, Flagstaff and Winslow. It’s a fun trip full of beautiful landscapes, birding, history and even that space exploration with the Lowell Observatory and Meteor Crater. Happy travels!