Duncan, AZ: 3 Sisters Bakery. A good place to stop on the way to Cliftion, Morenci’ and the Black Hills Back Country Byway.
Tucson Road Trips are our recommendations for the most interesting scenic back roads, ghost towns, destinations, and attractions suitable for a 2-3 day mini-vacation from Tucson.
With three days, these are fairly leisurely round trip drives with lots of interesting stops along the way. Some involve driving on unpaved roads, but except after a recent hard rain, most are passable in a standard sedan, and none require four-wheel drive.
These 2-3 day getaways are especially interesting if you plan ahead and arrange to visit places that have special events during your journey, such as historical re-enactments, guided tours, concerts, and annual festivals. Check our Events Calendar for upcoming events all over Southern Arizona.
February 2013 near the east entrance to Aravaipa Canyon. We had to cross Aravaipa Creek 6 or 8 times, but did not need a 4-wheel drive.
All of our recommended road trips, except Aravaipa Canyon, have decent dining & lodging somewhere along the way. Aravaipa Canyon is a Nature Conservancy Preserve. With a BLM permit, you can hike and camp in the 10-mile long canyon wilderness. On any given day, only 50 people are permitted. You can take your horse. You can’t take your dog.
Wickenburg & Prescott: A Summer of 2022 Adventure
Ms. Karen and I had not been anywhere of note in ages, mostly because of the pandemic, but more recently because of the summer heat and to celebrate Ms. Karen’s birthday. So, we decided to venture up to Northern Arizona, to cooler climates, Wickenburg and Prescott, in August 2022. Why … Continue reading
Tucson To Bisbee To Dragoon – A Scenic, Historic Backroad Adventure
For me, the most interesting backroads are those that traverse scenic countryside, of course. But more so, I look for many points of interest, usually historic sites, along the way. I hate long, monotonous drives. I appreciate local, esoteric histories. This means that I tend to meander, stop and chat with … Continue reading
Road Trip: Huachuca Mountains Loop
Having posted a video of the fall colors in the Huachucas, Jim and I decided to take a drive. After being mostly homebound for several months, our plan to circle the Huachucas seemed daunting. We decided to head to Carr House in Carr Canyon and assess the 6+ hour trip … Continue reading
Road Trip – Day 3- Morning; Clifton, Morenci’, Black Hills Country Byway & the Salsa Trail
On the third and final day of our Southeastern Arizona adventure, we started early. Deborah Mendelsohn, our Simpson Hotel B&B innkeeper in Duncan, had prepared a delicious take-along breakfast for us the night before. Normally, we would have slept in and enjoyed breakfast with her and the other guests, but we had a lot of […]
Continue readingRoad Trip – Day 2 – Evening; Coronado Vineyards & Historic Simpson Hotel
Days One/Recap This is a continuation of my post about our April 2012 three-day tour of Southeast Arizona. On day-one, we visited the ghost towns of Pearce, Courtland, and Gleason east of Tombstone with a short side trip to Rattlesnake Crafts & Rocks. Then we continued south to the Slaughter Ranch east of Douglas, then […]
Continue readingRoad Trip – Day 2/Morning: Faraway Ranch In Chiricahua National Monument
Day One
This is a continuation of my post about our April 2012 tour of Southeast Arizona. On day-one, we visited the ghost towns of Pearce, Courtland, and Gleeson east of Tombstone with a short side trip to Rattlesnake Crafts & Rocks. Then we continued south to the Slaughter Ranch east of Douglas, then north, ending the first day at Portal Peak Lodge in Portal, AZ. Here we eat in the cafe, slept in a small room, and most importantly, acquired a 25¢ map that showed the back road over the mountain.
Road Trip – Day 1; Ghost Towns, Slaughter Ranch, & Portal
Above is the route Ms. Karen & I took on a three-day weekend to Southeastern Arizona. This is a wonderful place for children and adults. Tons of hiking, picnicking, camping, fishing, bird and critter watching. And lots of Native American and Pioneer history.
Continue readingPatagonia Lake State Park
Many folks in Tucson don’t consider a day trip or overnight road trip to Patagonia and Patagonia Lake State Park because they think it’s too far.
Continue readingMuleshoe Ranch Preserve: Great Southern Arizona Bird Watching
Muleshoe Ranch, a preserve of the Nature Conservancy, is one of the five best conservation areas for bird watching in Southern Arizona. Over 200 species of birds either live here year-round or pause here along the streams on their seasonal migration.
Continue readingMore Scenic Drives, Back Roads in Southern Arizona
I was inspired a few weeks back when someone wrote to tell us that she loved our backcountry stories and was trying to save them for when she comes to visit. So I decided to compile another list of great drives we have enjoyed over our years in Southern Arizona. … Continue reading
