2013 Arizona Official State Visitor Guide - (Page 68)

Sure-footed mules carry riders along the trails of the Grand Canyon. ROBERT SILBERBLATT Northern Arizona a drive-through wildlife park in Williams where you can ogle burros, mountain goats, wolves and bison along with—of course—black bears. The only American Indian-owned and -operated zoo in the country, Window Rock’s Navajo Nation Zoo and Botanical Park is a sanctuary for more than 50 native animal species of the Southwest. MOREY K. MILBRADT The GRAND CANYON One of the world’s Seven Natural Wonders, the Grand Canyon is 277 miles long and more than one mile deep in spots. But statistics don’t do it justice. Each shift of light, each approach—whether hiking, river rafting, hovering above in a helicopter or driving to different vistas—reveals another facet of the awe-inspiring abyss. About ninetenths of Grand Canyon National Park’s 4.5 million annual visitors flock to the more easily reached South Rim. Some 200 miles away, the remote, higher-elevation North Rim is only open from May to October because of snowfall. To the west, Havasu Canyon, on the land of the Havasupai, is even more difficult to reach. But for many, the 200-foot-high waterfalls cascading into travertine pools justify the long hike, mule ride or cost of a helicopter ride in. If going into the canyon is beyond your physical abilities, the Grand Canyon Skywalk, operated by the Hualapai Tribe at Grand Canyon West, offers the otherworldly experience of hovering more than a mile above the canyon floor on a clear-bottomed walkway. Glen Canyon Dam, near Page, helps calm the mighty Colorado River. WATER SPORTS Ways to get wet ’n’ wild on the stretch of the Colorado River that rushes through the Grand Canyon range from paddling your own canoe to zipping along in a motorized raft. Looking for smooth water? Book a trip to Lees Ferry (the state’s flyfishing capital) from Page’s Glen Canyon Dam. Page is also the hub for water sports—and houseboats— on Lake Powell, created when Glen Canyon Dam was built to harness hydroelectric power along the Colorado. Page’s John Wesley Powell Memorial Museum celebrates the life and journeys of the Civil War hero who led the first river expedition along the Grand Canyon. Relive Powell’s adventures with a thrilling whitewater rafting ride on the Colorado River as it rushes through the canyon. In the White Mountains, power boating, waterskiing, wind surfing and fishing number among the many aquatic activities on snowmelt-fed rivers, streams and lakes. WATCHABLE WILDLIFE OFFBEAT AZ Downtown Flagstaff is always a happening place, and never more so than on New Year’s Eve, when crowds gather to watch a huge, illuminated pine cone descend from the balcony of the historic Hotel Weatherford. 68 Many wild creatures enjoy Northern Arizona’s wide-open spaces. You’ll find elk south of Flagstaff around Mormon Lake and in the forested Lamar Haines Memorial Wildlife Area north of town. Six captive-bred endangered condors were released near Vermilion Cliffs in 1996, and now more than 70 soar over the area, many visiting the Grand Canyon in summer. Buffalo roam two wildlife areas operated by the Arizona Game and Fish Department: Raymond, east of Flagstaff, and House Rock, south of Grand Canyon National Park. Passengers aboard the Grand Canyon Railway might spot elk, mule deer, antelope and the occasional mountain lion. For guaranteed sightings, visit Bearizona, ASTRONOMY The world’s first designated International Dark Sky City, Flagstaff is home to the Lowell Observatory, founded in 1894 and now featuring the 4.3-meter Discovery Channel Telescope. Flagstaff is also home to the Atmospheric Research Observatory Arizona 2013 Official State Visitor’s Guide 

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2013 Arizona Official State Visitor Guide

2013 Arizona Official State Visitor Guide
Arizona State Map
Contents
Authentic Arizona, A to Z
Tastes on Tour
Make a Splash
Centers of History & Craft
Statewide Calendar of Events
Phoenix & Central Arizona
• Regional Map
• Resource Guide
• Activities & Attractions Listings
• Accommodations
• Golf Courses
• RV Parks
Tucson & Southern Arizona
• Regional Map
• Resource Guide
• Activities & Attractions Listings
• Accommodations
• Golf Courses
• RV Parks
Northern Arizona
• Regional Map
• Resource Guide
• Activities & Attractions Listings
• Accommodations
• RV Parks
Arizona’s West Coast
• Regional Map
• Resource Guide
• Activities & Attractions Listings
• Accommodations
• RV Parks
North Central Arizona
• Regional Map
• Resource Guide
• Activities & Attractions Listings
• Accommodations
• Golf Courses
Smart Traveler
Arizona Visitor Centers
Arizona Mileage Map

2013 Arizona Official State Visitor Guide

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