Northern Arizona Travel Guide: Oak Creek Canyon to Painted Desert (Part 2)

The Northern Arizona Travel Guide is a resource for those planning a road trip in the region. It is especially useful for trips originating in Las Vegas or Phoenix, or for those traveling on I-40. All the popular attractions are included, such as Oak Creek Canyon, historic Route 66, the Painted Desert, Grand Canyon National Park, Monument Valley, Hoover Dam, Lake Powell, Prescott and Sedona, Arizona. Many less famous destinations are also included. Details include descriptions, links to many references, and suggested visit times. Also, review our recommended travel itineraries.   NEW! Grand Canyon Skywalk   For easiest use, scroll map to top.

Using the Interactive Map

Place your mouse pointer on any item number (in purple) on the map. A brief description will appear. Click on the number for a link to detailed information below. Detailed Highway Map of Arizona in separate window

Northern Arizona Pull-Down Menu Hoover Dam / Northwestern Arizona Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon Flagstaff Area / I-40 East Grand Canyon - South Rim Northeast Arizona Grand Canyon - North Rim Utah National Park Loop Travel Itineraries

Lake Powell Travel Guide | Paria Canyon Guide | Las Vegas Area Guide | Grand Canyon Guide

Northern Arizona Destinations

This symbol indicates links into the American West Travelogue.

Map Items 6-10 Below      <Map Items 1-5>   |   <Map Items 11-16>   |   Travel Itineraries

(6) Flagstaff Area -

Flagstaff, Arizona, is the gateway to activities in northern Arizona, with easy access to Oak Creek Canyon, Grand Canyon, Painted Desert and more. Route-66 runs through old downtown Flagstaff which offers numerous shops and restaurants. The Museum of Northern Arizona covers natural history as well as the area's early inhabitants. Arizona Snow Bowl offers skiing in the winter (weather permitting) and scenic views the rest of the year. Three national monuments are just outside town. Visit time: a few hours to a day or two; good overnight stop (many motels, restaurants, services).

• Northern Arizona Crater Combo
• Flagstaff Visitor Guide
• Museum of Northern Arizona
• Arizona Snow Bowl
• Lowell Observatory
• Grand Canyon Railway (Williams, AZ)
• Wupatki National Monument (Indian ruins)
• Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
• Walnut Canyon National Monument (cliff dwellings)

(7) Grand Canyon - South Rim -

Grand Canyon National Park is about 80 miles north of Flagstaff, Arizona. Most visitor activities center on the South Rim and North Rim villages on either side of the canyon. The South Rim is the destination of most visitors. The two rims are only about 10 air miles apart but 215 miles by road. Visitor services include food, lodging and camping, as well as access to the most popular trails into the canyon. The Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the canyon offers rental cabins, bunkhouses, and meals and snacks, with nearby camping. Hiking to the bottom is extremely strenuous. Almost all Grand Canyon activities must be reserved well in advance, including lodging, camping, backpacking, mule trips, and white water rafting. Visit time: at least one day; several days if you have the time.

• Grand Canyon Area Travel Guide
• Grand Canyon Destinations (six articles)
• Grand Canyon Railway (Williams, AZ)
• South Rim - Tusayan Guide (Chamber of Commerce)
• Havasu Falls (Havasupai Reservation)
• Grand Canyon National Park (NPS)

(8) Winslow Area -

The popular Meteor Crater is about 20 miles west of Winslow, Arizona. The crater is the best preserved and most obvious meteor crater in the world. Outside of town, Homolovi Ruins State Park protects the remains of several ancient Indian pueblos. Highway Arizona-87 south offers direct access to Arizona's Mogollon Rim Country, a good place to cool off in the summer. Arizona-87 north goes to the Hopi Reservation and the visitor center at Second Mesa. Visit time: a few hours; more if you detour on AZ-87. Nice campground with hookups good stopover at Homolovi Ruins.

• Northern Arizona Crater Combo
• Meteor Crater (Visitor info)
• Meteor Crater (Scientific info)
• Homolovi Ruins State Park (Indian ruins)
• Rim Country Chamber of Commerce

(9) Petrified Forest and Painted Desert, Arizona -

The finest views of Arizona's Painted Desert are found in Petrified Forest National Park. The park's scenic roads, nature trails, and vista points offer outstanding photo opportunities. The park also offers huge fields of petrified trees, often bejeweled, remnants of a 200 million year old forest. There are also Indian ruins and rock art. Services are available at nearby Holbrook, where Route-66 runs through downtown, and the famous Wigwam Motel is still open for business. Visit time: one full day, with overnight stay in Holbrook.

• Petrified Forest - The Real "Triassic Park"
• Petrified Forest - Fossil Discoveries
• The Painted Desert Trail
• Petrified Forest National Park (NPS)
• City of Holbrook (select Travel Guide)

(10) Canyon de Chelly -

Canyon de Chelly is one of Arizona's most spectacular canyons with some of the finest Anasazi cliff dwellings. Access is by guided tour only. The Thunderbird Lodge has long offered tours on open six wheel drive trucks. You can also arrange to hike with a Navajo guide. South on US-191, the historic Hubbell Trading Post has been serving the Navajo Reservation for over 100 years and is still open for business. (Look for beautiful Navajo rugs there.) Visit time: an hour to tour trading post, at least a half day to tour the ruins. Driving can be slow around Chinle.

• Canyon de Chelly National Monument (NPS)
• Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site (NPS)
• Thunderbird Lodge

   <Back to Interactive Map>  |  <Top of Page>

    <Previous Page (Map Items 1-5)>   |   <Next Page (Map Items 11-16)>   |   Travel Itineraries