Sedona - 2008 Official Guide - (Page 26) DAY TOURS Day Tours From Sedona VERDE VALLEY LOOP Take Hwy 179 through Village of Oakcreek to I-17 and head south toward Camp Verde. Exit the interstate on Middle Verde Road (exit 289), travel east and watch for signs to Montezuma Castle National Monument and Montezuma Well, where visitors can spy ancient ruins and walk through an inviting riparian area. Continue to Camp Verde and Fort Verde State Historical Park. Take Hwy 260 toward Cottonwood to Out of Africa Wildlife Park, where exotic animals are housed in more than 100 acres of wilderness. Continue west on Hwy 260 to Cottonwood, where you’ll drive through “Old Town” and follow the original road to Clarkdale for a couple of miles before turning north on Tuzigoot Road, which leads to Tuzigoot National Monument, a prehistoric Indian ruin. Continue on the old road to Clarkdale and follow signs to the Verde Canyon Railroad depot. Here, you might want to take a trip on this historic train before continuing through Clarkdale, which was established as a company town when the railway serviced a large smelting operation. Drive north to Hwy 89A and climb the twisting road up Cleopatra Hill, the spectacular mustsee setting of Jerome where you can explore Jerome State Historical Park and Jerome Historical Society’s Mine Museum. Return to Sedona, soaking in distant views of Flagstaff’s San Francisco Peaks and Sedona’s massive red-rock formations as you descend Cleopatra Hill, and continue through Cottonwood on Hwy 89A. Arizona map used by permission. Arizona Road & Recreation Atlas. ©2003 Benchmark Maps. www.benchmarkmaps.com GRAND CANYON LOOP Travel north on Hwy 89A through spectacular Oak Creek Canyon, continue north through Flagstaff to Hwy 180, which heads northwest through the Kaibab National Forest. This scenic route circles the base of the majestic San before connecting with Hwy 89 at Cameron. Turn south and enjoy another startling view of the San Francisco Peaks as you travel past Wupatki, Sunset Crater Volcano and Walnut Canyon national monuments. After passing through downtown Flagstaff and heading south on I-17, exit onto Hwy 89A and descend the switchbacks through Oak Creek Canyon into Sedona. FLAGSTAFF LOOP The highlight of this day tour is the winding and wonderfully scenic trip up Oak Creek Canyon. Every rock-bordered curve, every tree-formed tunnel, every climbing turn of this road features more natural beauty than the one before. The canyon also abounds with historic landmarks — like Midgely Bridge; Indian Gardens, where early settlers farmed; the former site of Mayhew Lodge, which attracted presidents and movie stars; and an old lodge where Zane Grey wrote “Call of the Canyon.” As you approach Flagstaff, note Northern Arizona University on your right as you continue along the former Route 66 into the city’s historic downtown area, abundant with charming shops and restaurants. Consider a visit to Lowell Observatory (where Pluto was discovered), Riordan Mansion State Historic Park, and Arizona Snowbowl ski resort atop the San Francisco Peaks, where Mount Humphreys reaches the state’s highest elevation of 12,000 feet. Stop at the chamber of commerce office in downtown for complete information. On your way back to Sedona, stay on I-17 as you drive south through the Coconino National Forest; exit west on Hwy 179 (exit 298) and travel north through Village of Oakcreek. Grand Canyon National Park 26 Experience Sedona 2008 26 Experience Sedona 2008 VisitSedona.com VisitSedona.com SedonaChamber.com SedonaChamber.com SedonaFilmOffice.com SedonaFilmOffice.com Photo by Tom Johnson Francisco Peaks, which are snow-covered during late fall, winter and early spring. In early fall, the peaks present a visual symphony of color when large aspen groves turn from green to gold. After intersecting with Hwy 64, continue north to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Follow Hwy 64 east along the rim, passing the historic lookout tower at Desert View http://VisitSedona.com http://SedonaChamber.com http://SedonaFilmOffice.com
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