Day 1
Depart Phoenix 9AM
We’ll pick up you and your fellow adventurers in Phoenix at 9AM. Our first stop takes us to the Verde Valley, which was once thriving with 6,000+ Native Americans of the Sinagua Culture. We’ll explore two major pueblo sites: Montezuma’s Castle, a pristine example of a cliff dwelling, and Tuzigoot National Monument where we will take a self guided trail through a 110 room pueblo. We’ll settle in at nearby Dead Horse Ranch State Park which will serve as our base camp for the next few days.
Day 2
Walnut Canyon, Sunset Crater and Wupatki
We’ll head north today to explore Walnut Canyon, Sunset Crater and Wupatki. Explore the Island and Rim trails which will lead you past 700 year old ruins from the Sinagua people in Walnut Canyon. Next, explore Sunset Crater where you’ll have a chance to ascend a cinder cone on the Lenox Crater Trail. Last, we’ll explore Wupatki and Lomaki Pueblos at Wupatki. Discover the variety of peoples that passed through here and the importance of its location as a major trading outpost. We’ll eat dinner out before returning to our campsite again at Dead Horse Ranch State Park.
Day 3
Red Rock State Park and Sedona
We’ll start our day at Red Rock State Park. Explore the exhibits at the Miller Visiter Center or hike numerous trails through the lush riparian eco system with beautiful red rock vistas. In the afternoon we’ll explore the unique town of Sedona which is full of galleries, unique shops and western fun! We’ll drive to camp at our next destination, Lost Dutchman State Park.
Day 4
Lost Dutchman State Park and Ghost Town
Hike right from our campground on the Treasure Loop Trail or Jacob’s Crosscut Trail at the base of the beautiful Superstition Mountains. In the afternoon we’ll visit Goldfield Ghost Town complete with a saloon, museum, mine tours and of course ice scream and souvenirs! We’ll end the day at Catalina State Park.
Day 5
Saguaro National Park
Today we will explore the Tucson District of Saguaro National Park. Cholla, saguaro, prickly pear, and ocotillo, this park is filled with an abundance of cacti and succulents! This park displays the true beauty of the Sonoran Desert. Tonight we’ll camp at Kartchner Cave State Park.
Day 6
Kartchner Cave State Park
Today we’ll go under ground! Discovered in 1974, Kartchner Caves became public knowledge in 1988 when it became a state park. We’ll see stalactites and stalagmites that have been growing for tens of thousands of years on guided, underground tours. We’ll see such formations as shields, totems, helictites, and rimstone dams and the world’s largest soda straw stalactite!
Day 7
Return to Phoenix by noon.
We’ll drop off those just staying on board for the Arizona portion of the tour and continue on to New Mexico! This travel day will be filled with plenty of red rock scenery.
Day 8
Depart Albuquerque 9AM
We’ll pick you and your fellow adventurers up in Albuquerque. We’ll stop for a picnic lunch and short stroll through volcanic rock at Valley of Fires. In the afternoon we’ll hike some short trails at Three Rivers Petroglyph Site. Camp among cacti and ocotillo under the stars at Oliver Lee Memorial State Park.
Day 9
White Sand Dunes National Monument
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Spend the morning exploring White Sand Dunes National Monument. We’ll travel in the afternoon to Guadalupe Mountains National Park to do some hiking before settling in to camp just outside of Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
Day 10
Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
Spend the morning exploring Carlsbad Caverns on a self guided tour. These caves are more like cathedrals and the formations range from delicate to massively majestic! In the afternoon we’ll head to the Living Desert Zoo and State park to see some javelinas, New Mexico wolves, prairie dogs and rattle snakes… from a safe distance. We’ll continue our journey in the evening to camp outside of Santa Fe.
Day 11
Tent Rocks National Monument, Santa Fe
Spend the morning exploring the unique formations of Tent Rock National Monument. You’ll wonder at how these shapes were ever formed as you wind through a unique slot canyon to a beautiful vista. Spend the afternoon exploring the historical sites, galleries and shops of Old Santa Fe.
Day 12
Bandelier National Monument, San Ildefonso Pueblo
Frijoles Canyon in Bandelier National Monument is home to incredible native ruins including cliff dwellings, kivas, and petroglyphs. Stroll past these unique formations and hike further into the Canyon if you choose. In the afternoon we’ll visit San Ildefonso Pueblo, known for its famous black on black pottery. The San Ildefonso People have lived here since the 1200s AD.
Day 13
Pecos National Historic Site, Petroglyph National Monument
Pecos NHS is home to Pecos Pueblo Ruins, the Santa Fe Trail, and a Civil War Battle site! We’ll get our fill of history before moving on to Petroglyph NM to view original native petroglyphs in Rinconada Canyon. If time allows, and the group is interested, we’ll explore the Old Town area of Albuquerque before settling into our last campsite.
Day 14
Return to Albuquerque by noon.
This 14 day adventure covers all the best of Arizona and New Mexico! Wupatki, Sunset Crater, Saguaro, Tombstone, White Sand Dunes, Carlsbad Caverns, Bandelier, Santa Fe and more!
