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Coronado National Forest/ Montezuma Pass, AZ

One of the most gorgeous places I have visited!

If you’re looking for a beautiful scenic drive this is the place to visit! Want to camp out? Coronado National Forest offers campgrounds from 3,000 to 9,000 feet. Enjoy biking, bird watching, scenic views, and horse riding! There is so much to see and do when visiting the forest. If you are afraid of heights, there are many other things to besides exploring the mountains so don’t let the elevation stop you from going!

Stop by the Visitor Center

In the visitors center they have a cute little bird and wildlife watching room and gift shop. Learn about the history of the forest and the old mines around the area.

Sign your name in the book of park visitors! Yes…it was definitely appropriate to write (it’s to freaking hot) I unfortunately went during the hottest time of the year.

Scaling the winding roads that lead to the peak of Montezuma

Cattle walk freely in the forest

Have a special meet and greet with the free range cattle!

Explore Cave Trails

I visited the park mid-July so I was not up for hiking, the heat was intense! If you decide to conquer the trails during the heat of the summer bring water and stay hydrated!

This breathtaking adventure can be done in a day if your just driving through the forest and to the peak of the mountain. But if you are in it to hike and explore, plan your trip for at least 2 days.

Pets are allowed in most of the areas, but beware of the wildlife and harmful plants! Call or check out the gov website for more information about the park rules. https://www.fs.usda.gov/coronado

Comment down below if you are planning a trip to the forest, or you have already been! I’d love to hear your experiences!

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Our Lady Of The Sierras (Cerro De La Virgen)

Elevation:  5300 feet

Visit the gorgeous shrine if your visiting Hereford, AZ!

If you are afraid of heights (like me) this may not be for you…but if you can work up the nerve to travel up the hill to this beautiful shrine you won’t be disappointed! Not many people visit the shrine throughout the day so you may get the whole place to yourself during your visit. Even if your not into Christianity it still has some gorgeous views to offer!

Enjoy beautiful views of the Huachucan Mountain Range

Chapel of The Lord

Open to the public, walk inside and enjoy the shrine dedicated to Jesus. Beautiful large glass windows with breathtaking views!

Cross

75 foot cross weighing 30 tons! Looking up will leave you weak in the knees!

Statue of Madonna

30 foot hand sculptured statue weighing 25 tons.

Enjoy for the day or just a pit stop through Hereford, AZ.

For more information about the shrine visit: http://www.ourladyofthesierras.org/

Comment below if you have been or plan on visiting!

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Kartchner Caverns State Park, AZ

Elevation: 4,734 ft

Have a fun adventure and explore the mountains and caves of the wonderful Benson, AZ. 
Family fun, kid friendly trip involves hiking trails from beginner to expert, cave tours, cabin camping, gift shops and more! Pets are welcome but restricted in caves and trails due to harmful plants and wildlife. 

Things to know before you visit!

  • Take PLENTY of water! Caves are humid and warm all year round so best to hydrate before entering, no food or drinks allowed! Hiking trails can be harsh during the heat of the summer. Be sure to dress appropriately, wear sunblock, nice hiking shoes, and best to bring a first aid kit. Don’t be like me (someone who does not religiously hike) and think you, your mom, and brother, can tackle the expert trail in 105 degree weather. It’s intense! Pretty sure we all almost died of a heat stroke but we made it and it was absolutely beautiful! 
Point in trail where we thought we may need to call for help 😂 BRING WATER! There is no shade!

At the end of the trail we hit a small creek and it saved us! Beautiful crystal clear cold water! Be sure to ask one of the employees for a trail guide and they can assist you with what trail would fit best for you!

Pure joy after thinking I was going to die of heat stroke!
  •  Bring your camera! The scenery and elevation changes throughout the trails so you can get some pretty amazing photos! No cameras are allowed inside the caves, but you can set up a reservation to take photos in the caves on certain days for a whopping price of $125.
  • Watch for wildlife! Personally we saw nothing on our visit but Arizona has some pretty trippy wildlife. Bears, cats, snakes, spiders, lizards, and potentially deadly insects! Yuck! But do not let this stop you from visiting. It’s pretty rare to see anything during the heat of the day.    
  • Plan your visit to be at least 2 days if you plan on seeing everything Kartchner Caverns has to offer! In 1 full day I completed one cave tour that was about 1 1/2 hours long, visited the gift shop and indoor museum, and the expert trail that took approximately 4 hours. 

Make sure to visit the hummingbird garden and indoor museum!

Kartchner Caverns is one of a kind. It was especially exciting to see one of the last known living caves. It’s a must go when visiting the beautiful copper state! If you have visited the park or plan on visiting let me know in the comments!

Enjoy your visit! For more information about Kartchner Caverns State Park visit https://azstateparks.com/kartchner

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