Could I visit the last of NPS sites in Arizona on this trip? Perhaps not but I was going to try. If only I could keep from becoming distracted by serendipitously discovered sites worth visiting, beautiful locations worth taking pictures of, or parks worth hiking. For me, this tension always exists.
I started off well. Chiricahua and Fort Bowie were both on my list of unvisited National Monuments and I hit them straight off. I was doing well.
Then, on my way to Tumacacori I stumbled into the Titan Missile Museum National Landmark. The last remaining in-tact nuclear missile silo from the Cold War era which was open for touring. Suffice to say I made it to Tumacacori but with almost no time to loiter, but then, how many missions do I really need to see in my life? A quick visit to the border town of Nogales and I could call it a day.
The next day I planned to chase the sun. I made it to Mission San Xavier de Bac at sunrise to catch the magical image below. By mid morning I was at Casa Grande Ruins followed by Montezuma Castle, both really impressive sites in a region which little evidence of major structures from pre-Columbian indigenous populations. The run of National Monuments continued with a visit to Walnut Canyon where finally, on my third attempt, I was allowed to hike into and around the canyon. Twice previously I was prevented, first by arriving too late to be permitted access and second by a giant boulder which had fallen and blocked the access path.
I finished off with red rock wonders in Sedona after meandering Route 66 through Flagstaff and descending through Oak Creek Canyon. Such astounding colors!
I still need to get back to visit Tonto National Monument!
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