Today’s 2014 #BayouTravel series: A Walk In the Park, State Park Spotlight features Arizona State Parks. If you are interested in reading our previous A Walk In the Park, State Park Spotlight featuring Alabama State Parks, Arizona State Parks and other exciting travel posts, you can type the word #BayouTravel into our blog’s search bar for additional travel links. Enjoy Arizona’s Walk in the Park.
Arizona
If you’re looking to head a little west this year for vacation, check out the great state parks in Arizona. Many offer history lessons and a look at the Wild West, as well as stunning scenery and breathtaking natural adventures for everyone in the family. Here are just five of those.
Alamo Lake State Park
A camping adventure at Alamo Lake State Park offers incredible star viewing opportunities no matter if you’re in a tent or an RV, and there are RV and long-term campsites available. You’ll want to stay a while to get all the beauty the park has to offer, from the lake to the dessert, the gorgeous cacti to the wildflowers available in Spring. Mountains surround the lake and wildlife, like bald and golden eagles, foxes, mule deer and wild burros frequent the area.
Alamo Lake was created when the Alamo Dam was built in 1968. During floods, the lake has been known to rise an amazing 11 feet in one single night, which helps to create one of Arizona’s best fishing holes. Fishing tournaments are often held on the lake.
You can make online reservations by visiting the site at http://azstateparks.com/Parks/ALLA/index.html or by calling (520) 586-2283. There is a $5 non-refundable reservation fee per site.
Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park
If you’re looking for a park that includes a museum, exhibits, gift shop, campgrounds, picnic areas, and nature sights for days, then Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park is where you want to go.
Visit the Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park, which was built in 1882 in the shape of a Roman cross, for a taste of the real Wild West. The building once housed the offices of the sheriff, recorder, treasurer, board of supervisors, jail, and courtrooms, but today it is a museum filled with the treasure and old guns of those who helped tame the West.
Tombstone was once known as the West’s wildest mining town of silver, and it rose and fell in less than one decade. Exhibits at the park show the authentic history of the town and visitors can learn about miners, cattlemen and pioneers, and see a replica of the gallows (the originals burned in 1912) in the courtyard. Seven men were publicly hanged there. Learn more about this ill-fated town and see amazing natural beauty all around you when you book a reservation to the park by visiting http://azstateparks.com/Parks/TOCO/index.html
Catalina State Park
Catalina State Park offers its Spring & Summer 2014 Arizona Family Campout Program, which is designed for families that have little or no experience camping. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the great outdoors and what nature has to offer all of us.
But whether you’re a seasoned camper or a novice, Catalina State Park has something for everyone with an extensive year-long calendar of events that is sure to have something for you no matter when you go. You can enjoy live animals, kid’s activities, biking events, hiking groups, bird-watching events, and so much more. Educational groups and programs are also offered at various times of the year.
Catalina State Park sits at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains and features almost 6,000 acres of foothills, canyons and streams, more than 150 species of birds, and biking and hiking trails that lead into the Coronado National Forest. Aside from campground, picnic tables, grills, trails, restrooms, and a gift shop, the park also offers an equestrian center. If you don’t have a horse, rent one for the day or book a horse ride!
For more information or to schedule a trip, contact the park office at (520) 628-5798for details, or visit http://azstateparks.com/Parks/CATA/index.html
Lake Havasu State Park
If outdoor recreation is your goal, Lake Havasu State Park is your destination. The park offers many water recreation activities, as well as hiking trails and campsites. Beautiful beaches, boat ramps, the nearby famous London Bridge of Lake Havasu City all make it a fantastic water sports location.
The park offers 3 boat ramps, 47 campsites, picnic area, event space, and beach area, as well as the 1.75 mile long Mohave Sunset Trail. The Arroyo-Camino Interpretive Garden showcases birds, lizards, and an array of foliage and flowers.
Entrance Fees are $15 on weekends (including Fridays) and holidays, and $10 other days for a carload of people (up to four adults).
Camping Fees are $35 for beachfront sites.
You can reserve your spot by going online at, http://azstateparks.com/Parks/LAHA/index.html or by calling the Reservation Center at (520) 586-2283. Lake Havasu is ready to welcome you for an unplugged adventure you won’t soon forget.
Patagonia Lake State Park
Like other parks around Arizona, the Spring & Summer 2014 Arizona Family Campout Program is offered at Patagonia Lake State Park. A Junior Ranger program is offered, as well, to get kids interested in state parks and nature.
If birding is something you want to do, there is really no better place to do it than Patagonia Lake State Park. More than 200 species of birds can be seen here within a single weekend and boat and birding tours are both offered almost all year long. For more information on thee tours, call 520-287-2791 to register. The cost is $5 per person per tour plus the park’s Day Use Admission.
Aside from birding, you can also explore vegetation canyons, dams, and coves, as well as take night tours to view riparian wildlife. On certain days, bird walks and tours are FREE!
Established in 1975 as a place to watch whitetail deer and blue herons, Patagonia Lake State Park overlooks a 265-acre man-made, fully-stocked, lake. The tracks of the New Mexico/Arizona railroad lie beneath the lake. It’s a popular lake for fishing and it offers a handicap fishing dock. Water skiing is prohibited on certain weekends for the sake of the fishers.
Camping sites range from undeveloped spots to sites with water and electric hookups. Park Entrance Fees are $10-$15 per carload, and $3 for individuals. Camping Fees are $17 for non-electric sites and $25-$28 for electric enabled sites. Boat sites are $17-$20. To reserve a campground, visit Patagonia Lake State Park online at http://azstateparks.com/Parks/PALA/index.html or call them at the Reservation Center at (520) 586-2283.
Thank you to azstateparks.com who allowed all of the pictures used within this post.
Have you ever traveled to Arizona? What State Park sparks your interest?
Additional Walk in the Park State by State Spotlight
Alabama State Parks
Alaska State Parks
Arizona State Parks
Arkansas State Parks
California State Parks
Connecticut State Parks
Colorado State Parks
Delaware State Parks
Florida State Parks
Georgia State Parks
Hawaiian State Parks
Iowa State Parks
Illinois State Parks
Indiana State Parks
Iowa State Parks
Kansas State Parks
Kentucky State Parks
Louisiana State Parks
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[…] Today we include California into our A Walk In the Park, State Park Spotlight. For those of you not familiar with our 50 week series, Blogging Babies and the Bayou will take readers into a new state every week and feature local State Parks. My mission is to open the eyes of many readers and give a small glimpse of what your own state may offer. Having lived in California for 12 years of my life, as a child I visited several State Parks through the Girl Scout Program. Enjoy our Walk in the Park. […]
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[…] Today we include Colorado in our A Walk In the Park, State Park Spotlight. For those of you not familiar with our 50 week series, Blogging Babies and the Bayou will take readers into a new state every week and feature local State Parks. My mission is to open the eyes of many readers and give a small glimpse of what your own state may offer. If you haven’t included Colorado into your U.S travel bucket list, then get ready to brag a pen and paper to make it official! Enjoy our Walk in the Park. […]
I haven’t been out to any lakes in AGES! This is definitely getting me inspired. I’m thinking Lake Placid, I so want to win that house this year!
I’ve sadly never been to Arizona! I would love to go to Patagonia Lake State Park the most out of them. Though Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park sounds cool too! It’s a hard choice for sure, and one I’d probably need to make with the help of the kiddos.
wow looks like an awesome place to visit.. I want to go to the old tombstone..
Such gorgeous pictures. I love state parks.
We’ve been to Catalina State Park and it is so beautiful! I would love to go back with the kids someday. There are so many beautiful locations in the US, I keep telling my family we are renting an RV and traveling around the country. They are horrified!
We have been to Alamo Lake State Park… It is large, desert park on a 500 acre lake, is just lovely and offers so many choices of service level and campsite privacy. Wild burros, great crappie and bass fishing, nice people, beautiful mountain sunsets. beautiful place to visit
Arizona is just so gorgeous! I had no idea there were so many state parks to visit! Thank you!
I am a huge fan of visiting parks (ours are called provincial parks here). This would make such a wonderful family trip – so much to see and teach children about! Love trips that can also be a good history lesson
That looks like a great place to visit! I love that its rich in history and stories. It looks like it has a little for Everyone!
I just want to do it all. Birding, museums, outdoors, looks like Arizona parks have it all. This is my kind of travel.
This sounds great:) The first picture looks like a very nice place.
LOVE visiting parks here! I wish I lived closer to you – these sound really exciting…Tombstone especially. Love doing the historical stuff.
Beautiful pics. Hope
I was at the Grand Canyon, but that is the only part of Arizona I have ever been to. I would love to see more of the state someday!
I’ve been out there for the whole Grand Canyon thing, but that was as a child and I honestly can’t remember much of it. I would really love to go back out there and see the GC again and some of these other treasures you mentioned!
Oh it looks so warm, would like to be there right now. It’s below zero here in Colorado.
I used to live in New Mexico and never quite made it over to Arizona!
Ok stop teasing me with the pictures that look like summer. I dont get to see water here in the desert of New Mexico, would love to visit
The pictures are really beautiful and all the parks look like fun places to spend some time with your family. I would really love to visit Lake Havasu State Park and take my camera with me.
I’m planning a trip to Arizona as a girls get away. These pictures are beautiful. Thank you for sharing & giving me ideas of places to visit.
I always wanted to explore Arizona. We drove through so many times, but never had enough time to explore and visit. We really need to make time next time during our travels
I would love to visit Arizona to go to the Catalina State Park, looks like a place where my family would love to visit
Wow! That is a great list of state parks. I hope to visit Arizona and those parks someday.
What a fabulous resource on parks in Arizona!
I didn’t realize all this beauty is in Arizona! America really is so beautiful! Will definitely have to think about it for the Summer!
Your write up on Arizona State Parks is fantastic and showcases its natural beauty. I haven’t been to Arizona but hope to visit some day for a yoga retreat or spa getaway and will definitely include a visit or two to a few of the parks you shared.
Elizabeth
I’ve never been to America, but I wanna move there sooo badly, so these photos always make me motivated to reach my goal.