Explore Our Apache Trail Tours

Posted on August 17, 2020 by azscenictours

The Apache Trail

Our Apache Trail tours are a blend of beautiful scenery, fantastic Western history, and a gorgeous boat tour through Canyon Lake. We are happy to offer custom and standard Apache Trail tours for interested groups. Keeping CDC safety measures in mind, we ask our guests to wear masks when in the vehicle and keep distance from other when outside the vehicle as well. This is not a problem when exploring the Apache Trail, which is a great example of wide open space! Our Apache Trail tours are also perfect for those staying in Phoenix with a limited amount of time in a day to explore something unique. Due to the Apache Trail being so close to Phoenix, our Apache Trail tours are our shortest because the drive time is significantly less than the Grand Canyon or Tombstone. It takes one and half hours to get to the end of where we stop on the Apache Trail – Tortilla Flat. Because travel time is short, our tour can focus more on the scenery and fantastic history of the area. If you’re looking for the best possible experience, consider taking a tour with us! The Apache Trail is awesome, and we encourage you to call, email, or reach out on Facebook to learn more about the tour. If you’d like to learn more about our Apache Trail tours, continue reading.

Apache Trail Map

Map of our tour through the Apache Trail.

This map highlights are usual stops at the Superstition Mountain Museum, the Goldfield ghost town, a scenic drive to the Dolly Boat Tour on Canyon Lake, and our last stop at Tortilla Flat.

Apache Trail Scenic Drive

Weaver’s Needle, visible along the Apache Trail.

The road that goes through the ‘Apache Trail’ is Arizona State Route 88. Arizona is full of scenic drives, especially near Sedona and southern Arizona. However, the Apache Trail is one of the best. The road winds you through a mountain range that is part of an ancient volcanic range, giving the mountains and hills colors of yellow and orange. There are deep valleys that dip from the mountains and hills, sometimes filled with a river or even man-made lake. Notable geological features stick out, like Weaver’s Needle and the Superstition Mountains. Coupled with all of this is the remarkable scenery of southern Arizona’s cacti and flora plants. Some of the tallest saguaros dominate the landscape, as well as barrel cacti and yucca plants as well. Eventually, the pavement ends just outside of Tortilla Flat, and drivers have to take a dirt road with steep downhills that lead into valleys, as photod above. The Four Peaks dominate the highest points of the skyline as well. So, for those looking for a great blend of a day trip that isn’t too far from Phoenix, but still provides excellent scenery, then the Apache Trail is one of the best. The whole area is protected by the Tonto National Forest , helping to protect the delicate desert environment.

Canyon Lake Boat Tours

Arizona Scenic Tours has partnered with the Dolly Boat Tour company to provide our guests with an excellent experience on Canyon Lake. Dolly is the name of the steamboat that the tour company uses, and the tour provides a guided narration as well as snacks and alcohol. This is a great way to end the tour, as taking the boat through massive canyon walls culminates an experience that brings you so close to the geology of the area. Guests will have opportunities to see wildlife such as mountain goats, bald eagles, and coyotes. Part of the canyon wall even has the remnants of petrified palm trees sticking out! Guests and guides alike love this unique boat experience.

Hope to see you there!

Learn more about our Apache Trail tours by clicking here. Arizona Scenic Tours provides hotel pick ups and drop offs, as well as water, and a knowledgable and funny guide. As mentioned earlier, we are happy to provide safe and private tours to accommodate those looking for a safer pandemic experience. Let us know if you have any questions!

The Grand Canyon Guide

Posted on July 26, 2020 by azscenictours

Your Grand Canyon Guide

The Tonto Plateau in the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is a fascinating spectacle of nature protected by the United States as a national park. We are happy to present our Grand Canyon guide to help you plan your trip to the Grand Canyon. To get the most out of your time and enjoyment at the Grand Canyon, we recommend booking a tour with us. We provide knowledgeable guides, transportation, hotel pick up and drop offs, and everything in between. As you plan your trip, it’s always helpful to know what your plans are and how you’d like enjoy your Grand Canyon adventure.

Where is the Grand Canyon located?

Mather Point in the South Rim.

The Grand Canyon is located in Arizona. The Grand Canyon is a massive canyon that stretches all of the way from southeastern Utah and through northern Arizona. It is the only natural wonder of the world in the United States. The Grand Canyon National Park (South Rim) is about four hours from Las Vegas and Phoenix. The closest city in Arizona to the Grand Canyon is Flagstaff, about an hour away. The West Rim of the Grand Canyon, famous for its Skywalk, is about one and half hours from Las Vegas, and is part of an Hualapai Indian reservation.

The Grand Canyon Railway

The Grand Canyon Railway has become a popular highlight for those looking for a bigger experience. The train has been running trips between Williams, Arizona and the Grand Canyon Village since 1901. Its trips include meals and drinks for some tickets and will take about 2-3 hours to get to Grand Canyon Village. Williams to the Grand Canyon by car is about a 45 minute drive. The train ride is scenic as it winds through the Kaibab Plateau, where you are surrounded by volcanic cinder cones and mountains on the horizon before arriving to the Canyon itself. Combo packages include overnight lodging. We at Arizona Scenic Tours can help you set up a trip with the Grand Canyon Railroad, as well as the Verde Canyon Rail Tour we provide.

Grand Canyon National Park Facts

The Grand Canyon became a U.S. National Park in 1919. But before that, it was a created as a national monument in 1908, and even different parts before it were preserved under federal protection. The idea was to protect the region from mining, especially the early dangerous days of mining uranium. Surrounding the park are national forests and monuments, including Kaibab National Forest and Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument. These lands protect the majority of the Grand Canyon ecosystem.

The Grand Canyon runs 277 miles long. Its greatest width is 18 miles wide! It averages over 6000 feet deep, that’s over a mile.

The Colorado River has been flowing through the Grand Canyon for nearly 6 million years. The Colorado River is tiny when looked at from the rim, but quite sizable when you are at the bottom of the Canyon. The River is gigantic – it creates the border between Arizona and California. It runs all of the way to Southeastern Utah with several tributaries.

How was the Grand Canyon formed?

Grand Canyon Winter

Speaking of the Colorado River, it was instrumental in the formation of the Grand Canyon. The Canyon is made of Sandstone, a sedimentary rock that is easily erodible, especially when exposed to water and wind. There is uplift under the Grand Canyon, meaning the earth is pushing the Canyon up. As the Canyon and the terrain is pushed up, the river continues to cut its way through it, digging and even deeper Canyon. The higher the Canyon and its rim become, the more susceptible it is to wind and rain. Comparable canyons include Canyonlands in Utah, or even Oak Creek Canyon in Sedona south of the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon is a fantastic example of geological erosion. It is estimated the bottom of the canyon, a dense layer of granite rock, is around 2 billion years old. Once water hits such a dense rock, the rate of erosion slows. However, it’s nearly all sandstone for 5000 feet above this layer, leading to a great depth of erosion. So, to summarize how the Canyon was made, it was six million years of the Colorado River plowing through erodible sandstone to create what we have today.

Best time to visit the Grand Canyon

There really isn’t a bad time of the year to go. The holiday season is sometimes the busiest, but seeing the Canyon under snow (!!) is fantastic! Spring and Fall seasons have the best weather with really good visibility. Summers are just as good, but can be hot and crowded. My recommendation is May, June, September, and February.

Grand Canyon at 7000 feet.

How old is the Grand Canyon?

It is estimated that the Canyon is between five and six million years old. The plateau on which it sits on is around 50 millions years old. The layer of granite rock on the bottom is about 2 billion years old.

Conclusion

Now that you’ve learned so much about the Grand Canyon, it’s time to take a trip! Arizona Scenic Tours has been the premiere Grand Canyon guide for two decades in Arizona. Our guides know so much more than what is presented here, but you can learn more by booking a Grand Canyon Tour with us! Call or email to learn about our tours and custom options. We look forward to taking you to the canyon!

Things to do in Sedona

Posted on July 10, 2020 by azscenictours

Things to do in Sedona

The Red Rock scenic town of Sedona in Arizona has grown over the years to attract adventurers from all creeds. Recently, the area has seen a huge growth in the wine industry, and outdoor recreation is as big as ever, even comparable to Moab, Utah. When you are considering things to do in Sedona, keep in mind that it’s large area with a lot of ground to cover. So why not take a tour with Arizona Scenic Tours? If you’re planning a longer stay and are looking for things to do in Sedona, check out this list!

Weather in Sedona

Sedona in the fall

The weather in Sedona is comparable to Prescott and Green Valley. That means winters can see snow and rains, although not often, and summers can be in the 90s. It really is beautiful year round weather. Some of the best hiking is through Oak Creek Canyon after a think snow. Note the featured image. The best comination of weather and crowds are late fall and early spring, when there are less people but perfect weather. The summer will be the busiest and the hottest, but you’re guaranteed the ideal light and weather to see Sedona at its reddest. Winter offers the least amount of crowds, save the holiday week, and the best chances to see Red Rock under snow. The weather and temperature in the spring and fall are fantastic. You can see colors of leaves changing in Oak Creek Canyon in the fall which is superb.

Tlaquepaque

Within the heart of Sedona is the village of Tlaquepaque. Not an actual village per se, but this unique part of Sedona is a beautiful replication of a colonial Mexican forum. The village hosts shops, restaurants, and services for those in town. One restaurant of note is the Sedona Brewery, a great place to grab a beer after a long hike or bike ride. The shops of Tlaquepaque are certainly high-end, but provide an opportunity to find jewelry unique to the area, and art from local artists. If you’re planning on doing a jeep tour, often pick ups are here.

Oak Creek Canyon

The truest gem of Sedona is Oak Creek Canyon. This canyon is north of the town and able to drive through on State Route 89. It’s absolutely worth a visit. The road through goes through the bottom of the canyon along Oak Creek, meaning that all of your views will be down looking up, creating striking scenes of mountain-looking canyon walls. The canyon is full of hiking trails, as well one of the most famous state parks in the states, Red Rock State Park. One of the most famous hiking trails in the state also starts here – the West Fork Trail. Several sites throughout the canyon offer opportunities to camp and picnic. These sites are run by the National Forest Service, so you will need to pay for a pass to use.

Sedona’s Vineyards

Relatively new to Sedona tourism is a wine industry that focuses on drier wines. Several vineyards line the Oak Creek between Sedona and Cornville. Getting to the wineries for tastings takes as little as 10 ten minutes from downtown Sedona. On our tours, we like to feature Javalina Leap Vineyard, who focuses on reds of all flavors. In turn, these wines are featured in Sedona as well, and can be drank at the famous Cowboy Grill.

Hiking

Hiking Bell Rock

Sedona has some amazing hiking and biking trails. Some of the best are right in town. These include Fey Canyon, Bell Rock Loop, and Cathedral Rock. These are all easy hikes that are even easier to access. Almost all of the trails in Sedona are managed and run by the National Forest Service. This means you need to get Red Rock Pass, commonly sold around town, in order to park at trailheads without getting tickets. But since the forest service receives money to manage the trails, they are clean, safe, and well maintained. This also goes with mountain biking – the trails are just as safe and fun. Bikers be weary, as sandstone can often be an unforgiving rock to fall on (we’ve seen things).

Road Trip

The Boyton Canyon area.

Sedona is nestled between some of the best parts of central and northern Arizona. Flagstaff, Jerome, and Prescott are all one hour or less away and are great towns to dine and explore. There are a few national monuments nearby which are preserving Indian ruins from the Sinaqua tribe, including Montezuma’s Castle and Tuzigoot. Definitely worth a visit! The drive through Oak Creek Canyon itself is one of the most scenic drive in the state and takes you to Flagstaff, which has its own wonders to explore. Are you a confident driver? Book an ATV or UTV while in Sedona to drive around its famous off-road trails. Arizona Scenic Tours can help you set that up!

Conclusion

Chances are you have limited time in Sedona. To get the most out of your time there, you can always book a tour with us! We show you all of the highlights and best spots. If you have a longer time to spend in Sedona, this list will set you up with everything you need to fill your time.

To learn more about about our Sedona tours, check out these links!