Most of America’s famous and recognizable scenery is in Mesa, Arizona. The city has enormous numbers of tourist attractions annually despite the season. From outdoors, to education, and culture, Mesa has enchanting national parks and monuments. These parks preserve and protect plenty of breathtaking nature, archaeological locations, and settlements left behind by the Ancestral Puebloans. Here are some of the best national parks in Mesa.
Grand Canyon National Park
Located approximately 215 miles, Grand Canyon is the most extensive canyon in the world, standing at 277 miles long. The Colorado River divided the terrain into sheer rock walls a million years ago, exposing many-layered colors that identify contrasting geologic eras. The size of the vertical rock walls is not only an outstanding record of time but also awe-inspiring. Exploring this canyon feels like intensely staring into the earth’s secrets. The famous Grand Canyon, with its size, scale, and beauty, poses some of the most fantastic earth scenery. Stretching over a vast northwestern Arizona cover, Grand Canyon is protected and preserved as a national park, thus drawing millions of tourists year-round. This national park is most popular with wildlife as it harbors thousands of scarce species (from little brown bats to bighorn sheep). It is also a perfect destination to sight the California Condors, which were once close to extinction. Through vigilant wildlife management, these giant birds are gradually returning. Statics shows that, in 2018, this canyon was a nesting place for six pairs of birds. You can spot them flying on the South Rim over Lookout Studio and Yavapai points.
Saguaro National Park
Located roughly 127 miles from Mesa, Saguaro National Park, established in 1933 by President Herbert Hoover, is considered a desert symbol worldwide. This magnificent park features the Rincon and Tucson mountain ranges passing through it and also preserves and protects the Sonoran Desert environment spreading through the southwestern part of the state. Saguaro cacti growing in the desert have a 150-life span and are as tall as 15 meters with prolonged growth. Divided into two sections that lie on either side of Tucson city, Saguaro National Park is among the most stunning national parks in Arizona. On the east lies the Rincon Mountain District, which consists of the historic Cactus Forest Loop, while on the west (Tucson Mountain District) features scenic views from the Valley View Overlook Trail and opaque saguaro stands. The park provides the American Southwest classical image with breathtaking views and outstanding trails to bike, hike, or horseback ride.
Petrified Forest National Park
Roughly 3 hours and 11 minutes from Mesa lies the Petrified Forest National Park. The antediluvian tree trunks, sunk in a riverbed (over 200 million years) and preserved by the minerals they sucked up after immersion, attract many tourists. These tree trunks have transformed into solid over time and are utterly a field of vision with bubbly quartz in rainbow colors; the red-brown of jasper, yellow of citrine, and purple of amethyst. Just like its name, the principal attraction at Petrified Forest National Park is the 225 million year’s old petrified trees. In addition to fossilized trees, this mineral-colored topography also features streaked canyons and colorful deserts. At Blue Mesa (pale-hued badlands), you can hike on the tarmacked trail that circles the blue-white rock. Jasper Forest Trail, a longer hike, offers fascinating landscape views.
Conclusion
Arizona is the only state in the United States of America that has the highest number of national parks and monuments. The above-mentioned national parks are the only parks found near Mesa boasting the historic Grand Canyon, the vast Canyon de Chelly, and the marvelous Monument Valley. Mesa has a dreamy desert landscape with fascinating mountains and rocky canyons to explore.
