Basecamp: Arizona

Looking to cool off – and do cool things – in the Grand Canyon State this summer? From Patagonia to the pines of Flagstaff, use this diverse lineup of boutique hotels, vintage motels and glamping basecamps to gear up, refuel and crash out.

By  Jessica Dunham & PHOENIX Staff

Basecamp: Trailborn Grand Canyon

Adventure awaits in the Grand Canyon – and this boutique hotel in the gateway town of Williams holds the key.

Booking a room at this boutique hotel is the first step to a stress-free trip to Grand Canyon National Park. The Western-inspired lodge is less than an hour’s drive from the South Rim and partners with seasoned guides to offer one-of-a-kind Canyon experiences like behind-the-scenes tours of Kolb Studio and helicopter tours. And when you return from the Seventh Wonder of the World, Trailborn welcomes you with laid-back charms like bocce ball and bingo, live music and Southwestern eats at Miss Kitty’s Steakhouse. $159-$359/night, 642 E. Route 66, Williams, 928-272-7040, trailborn.com/grand-canyon

3 Excursions from Williams, AZ

Grand Canyon Railway

Ditch the car and hop aboard the Grand Canyon Railway for your national park visit. The historical train departs Williams for the South Rim daily at 9 a.m. and returns at 5:45 p.m. From $70/person round trip, thetrain.com  

Colorado River Rafting

The staff at the Williams Visitor Center can help coordinate guided, single-day rafting trips with only one-day advance reservations. experiencewilliams.com/williams-visitor-center

Helicopter Tour

Trailborn partners with Maverick Helicopters to offer guests private, 45-minute aerial tours of epic natural landmarks: Grand Canyon, Painted Desert, Kaibab National Forest and Marble Canyon. $2,793 total for up to seven guests; book directly with Trailborn.

Basecamp: Mountain Modern Sedona

Stage your red-rock hiking expedition at this new outdoors-centric stayover. 

The mission at Mountain Modern Sedona? Cater to the outdoor traveler. Designed as a hopping-off point for wilderness extracurriculars, the resort features a mountain bike tune-up and washing station; in-room gear walls for hiking poles, helmets and backpacks; complimentary wellness programming such as sound baths, yoga and sunrise ceremonies; pet-friendly perks including a private park, doggie itineraries and dog beds; and Wise Guides, a team of outdoors-focused concierges laden with locals-only tips. Mission: Accepted! From $229/night, 95 Arroyo Pinon Dr., Sedona, 928-282-1414, mountainmodernsedona.com 

Swimming Hole Spotlight: Slide Rock

Definitely not remote, certainly not hushed, Slide Rock is nature’s waterpark, luring the overheated summer crowds with an 80-foot-long sandstone waterslide. Powered by the swift flow of Oak Creek and made slippery by soft algae clinging to the streambed, Slide Rock offers a rousing ride for all ages. And for lazy loungers, there are deep whirlpools perfect for a refreshing soak.
azstateparks.com/slide-rock

Fee: $30/vehicle day-use permit

If You Go: Slide Rock State Park,
6871 AZ-89A, Sedona

3 Sneaky-Good Sedona Hikes

Boynton Canyon Trail

The resort’s West Sedona locale positions it for unfettered access to trailheads, like the 6.6-mile, pine-shaded Boynton Canyon Trail – a short (and traffic-free) drive from the hotel. $5/vehicle day-use permit, fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino

Fay Canyon Trail

A lesser known but just as stunning hike, the 2.3-mile Fay Canyon nestles 5 miles behind the hotel and gifts hikers with all the Sedona goods: cool canyons, red-rock formations and leafy canopies. $5/vehicle day-use permit, fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino

Bear Mountain Trail

Like Fay Canyon, Bear Mountain Trail is 2.3 miles, but the short distance is made strenuous by steep terrain with an 1,800-foot elevation gain. The good news: The strenuous hike is rewarded with a spectacular 360-degree panorama. $5/vehicle day-use permit, fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/recreation/trails/bear-mountain-trail-no-54

Basecamp: High Country Motor Lodge

Savor the Flagstaff outdoors – and get a monster dose of Americana.

We don’t want to use the term bougie. But if you require elevated accoutrements after a Northern Arizona playday, then this rehabilitated 1950s-era motel is your jam. Think chic design that blends retro Americana with modern aesthetics. Picture emerald lawns dotted with fire pits and soundtracked by live music. Imagine a Nordic spa complete with sauna, hot tub and polar plunge. Then cap it with a low-lit lounge where the buzzy cocktails keep flowing. From $238/night, 1000 W. Route 66, Flagstaff, 866-928-4265, highcountrymotorlodge.com

3 Flagstaff Excursions

Flagstaff Brewery Trail

Post-hike, -bike or -run, few things hit the spot like a frosty beer. Sample Flagstaff’s bevy of expertly crafted IPAs, lagers and ambers along the city’s brewery trail. craftbeerflg.com

Stargazing

In this International Dark Sky City, you only need to look up to glimpse something wondrous. And on August 12-13, the Perseid meteor shower enjoys near-perfect viewing conditions – sky-gazers will see more than 100 shooting stars an hour. 

Fort Tuthill County Park

Towering pines give cool cover from the summer sun at this 621-acre park where visitors can try their hand at disc golf on a sloping 18-hole course, navigate pump tracks and tech flow lines at the bike park or hike dozens of miles of shaded trails. Free, coconino.az.gov/279/fort-tuthill-county-park

Basecamp: Majestic Mountain Inn

Exploring Rim Country is a snap from the confines of this Payson pensione.

Payson’s premier luxury property exudes cozy cabin vibes at every turn, from pine ceilings and stone fireplaces to the hotel’s floor-to-ceiling A-frame windows. The amenities check the boxes for a flawless summer retreat – outdoor swimming pool, in-room hot tubs, pet-friendly – but it’s the property’s proximity to downtown Payson’s restaurants and grocery stores that make it ideally suited for pre- and post-adventuring needs. From $189/night, 602 Hwy. 260, Payson, 928-474-0185, majesticmountaininn.com

Swimming Hole Spotlight: Fossil Creek

Beneath a canopy of sycamore trees wedged in a deep-set canyon, the Fossil Creek Wild and Scenic River cascades turquoise waters over a travertine streambed, stilling its rush in tranquil pools. Fossil Creek, one of two Wild and Scenic Rivers in Arizona, is fed by an underground spring that pumps 20,000 gallons of water a minute – ensuring a cool 70-degree temperature year-round. fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/recreation/fossil-creek-wild-and-scenic-river

Fee: $6/vehicle day-use permit

If You Go: Located between Camp Verde and Payson. Take I-17 north to SR 260. Drive east for 10 miles to FR 708/Fossil Creek Road, then go south. Between mile markers 228 and 229, drive 14 miles on a dirt road to FR 502 to reach the parking lot. 

High clearance vehicle recommended.

3 Rim Country Excursions

Cracker Jack Mine Trail

Off-roaders love this 12.6-mile trail for its scenic transitions from pines to desert scrub, thrilling river crossing and moderately difficult technical tracks. Free, alltrails.com

Diamond Point

Twenty miles northeast of town on FR 65, rockhounds hunt for Herkimer diamonds, ancient quartz crystals billions of years in the making. You’re guaranteed a treasure, as these sparkling gems seemingly burst from the earth. Free, fs.usda.gov/r03/tonto/natural-resources/geology/diamond-point

Tonto Natural Bridge State Park

This family-friendly park shows off the world’s largest natural travertine bridge, looming 183 feet high over a 400-foot-long tunnel. Multiple viewpoints offer sightlines to the bridge, but visitors can also hike one of four trails, each no longer than a half-mile. $10/person, azstateparks.com/tonto 

Basecamp: The Strawberry Inn

Plunge into the Tonto National Forest – and a swimming hole or two – from nearby Pine-Strawberry.

In addition to single rooms in the meticulous, New England-inspired main inn, Amber and Carson Eilers’s alpine sanctuary has expanded to include adorable Airstreams, dog-friendly tiny cottages and larger cabins. The porch swings set throughout the rolling property add a touch of romance. Don’t miss on-site Windmill Coffee, set in a Dutch-style windmill outside the main lodge – perfect for pre-hike fuel-ups.  5073 AZ-87, Strawberry, 928-202-7790, thestrawberryinn.com 

Swimming Hole Spotlight: West Clear Creek

Finally: a swimming hole built for cliff-diving. The 30-mile West Clear Creek slices through the sandstone walls under the Mogollon Rim. Intrepid – and swimsuit-clad – hikers should get an early start for the 11-mile round-trip journey along the waterway. Early on, four stream crossings whet the appetite for the big reveal: Bull Pen, a storybook-esque pool nearly 10 feet deep and hemmed in by red-hued cliffs whose perches beg for a free-spirited dive into the water below. Nap in the shade of the cottonwood trees before the saunter back to the car. fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/recreation/trails/west-clear-creek-trail-no-17

Fee: None

If You Go: Located near Camp Verde. Take I-17 north to SR 260. Drive east on SR 260 for 8 miles to FR 618. Turn left and follow FR 618 for 2.2 miles to FR 215. Turn right. Drive 3 miles to Bull Pen Ranch trailhead. 

High clearance vehicle recommended.

3 Pine-Strawberry Must-Visits 

THAT Brewery

This environmentally conscious brewery utilizes recycled products and donates 5 percent of proceeds from its Arizona Trail Ale to the Arizona Trail Association. A lengthy food menu complements THAT’s 14 craft brews. thatbrewery.com

Pine Creek Canyon Lavender Farm

Pine’s high altitude and mountain spring water make for a primo plot for growing lavender. Pop by the farm store to buy lavender products for cooking, bathing or aromatherapy. pinelavenderfarm.com

Old County Burger 

Our vote for best high-country Arizona burger? It might go to chef-owner Michael Dahling’s smashburger, which achieves that golden ratio of crispy halo to cheesy patty that Bad Jimmy’s fans so love. His fries are stupendous, too – super crisp and cooked in beef tallow. @oldcountyburger   

Basecamp: The Tavern Hotel

Make this boutique charmer in Old Town Cottonwood your basecamp for exploring the exploding Verde Valley arts-and-culture scene.

Cottonwood serial entrepreneurs Eric and Michelle Jurisin gave their prized property a revamp in early 2018, expanding the hotel to 41 “retro rustic” rooms with tile and wooden floors. A warm front lobby with Edison lightbulbs, vertical “hanging gardens” and a cool upstairs lounge with goldenrod Adirondack chairs encourage guests to linger. Upon arrival, they’ll also enjoy a complimentary cocktail next door at The Tavern Grille and a continental breakfast with house-made pastries and gelato at Crema Craft Kitchen + Bar. thetavernhotel.com

Swimming Hole Spotlight: Parsons Spring

Cloistered, quiet and winding 20 miles, Sycamore Canyon shelters a lush, shaggy jungle whose greenery is given life by Sycamore Creek. It’s this slender waterway that also feeds the mirror-like swimming holes that appear on the 4-mile Parsons Trail No. 144 to the pièce de résistance: Parsons Spring, a secluded, lake-like pool. After a 200-foot scramble down the canyon wall, the trail offers mostly level footing, although tree debris from recent fires make for rough terrain in spots. fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/recreation/trails/parsons-trail-no-144 

Fee: None

If You Go: Near Clarkdale.  Head north on I-17, take exit 287 for SR 260, then go west for 14 miles to Cottonwood. Drive through town, following signs for Tuzigoot National Monument. Turn right on the signed route to Tuzigoot. Take the first left on FR 131. Follow this for 11 miles to the trailhead. 

High-clearance vehicle recommended.

3 VV Must-Visits

Merkin Vineyards Hilltop Winery & Trattoria

Strikingly encircled by rows of terraced grapevines, this hilltop winery/restaurant/tasting room/greenhouse (there’s also a gelato stand!) from winemaker Maynard James Keenan has arguably turned Old Town Cottonwood into the premier wining and dining destination in Arizona. Don’t miss the Le Verdure vegetable platter – a dirt-treat revelation that even carnivores will love. merkintrattoria.com

Woodchute Trail No. 102

Before exploring the hillside artist colony of Jerome, with its sundry wineries, galleries and shops, view it from above with the help of the area’s premier trail – a 7.2-mile round-trip hike that culminates at the Jerome Overlook. From the State Route 89/89A junction in Chino Valley, follow 89A for 18.8 miles to the Mingus Summit, turn left onto Forest Road 106 and continue 1 mile to the trailhead at the Forest Road 106D junction. fs.usda.gov/recarea/prescott 

Tuzigoot National Monument

Between Cottonwood, Jerome, Clarkdale and Cornville, there are more than 25 wineries and tasting rooms. Somewhere between all that sipping, find time for this stunning 800-year-old Tonto Apache pueblo – arguably Arizona’s premier archeological treasure. nps.gov/tuzi

Basecamp: The Tuxon Hotel

From this refurbished boutique motor lodge, the many-splendored delights of the Old Pueblo are just a stroll, bike ride or Uber away.

One hospitality trend we’ll never, ever get enough of: rehabilitated mid-century motels. As it happens, Tucson is blessed with one Arizona’s finest specimens in this boutique, 112-room hipster playground right off the I-10. From the nighttime, DJ-boosted pool parties to the all-day Latin-inflected fare in the lobby-adjacent Shady Cactus Swim Club (on-point rojo pork street tacos, awesome chile verde egg scramble), the ’60s-era motor lodge has been showing visitors a fine time since its 2020 makeover by Tucson natives Vishal and Sunny Patel. Pro tip: Come on a Wednesday. That’s vinyl night by the pool. thetuxonhotel.com

Swimming Hole Spotlight: Seven Falls

Hidden among the sculptural rock formations of Sabino Canyon, a string of aquamarine pools reflects the saguaro-studded landscape, beckoning hikers on Bear Canyon Trail No. 29 to swim, splash, float and dunk. The trail itself threads Sabino Creek, crossing the stream seven times and bearing witness to roaring falls that tumble down box canyons and spill over rock shelves. Visit Seven Falls after a
summer monsoon – the creek is fed by rainwater and snowmelt. sabinocanyon.com

Fee: $8/vehicle day-use permit

If You Go: Sabino Canyon Visitor Center, 5700 N. Sabino Canyon Rd., Tucson From the visitor center, take the Bear Canyon shuttle ($15/person) to Bear Canyon Trailhead, then follow Bear Canyon Trail No. 29 for 4 miles back to the visitor center. 

3 Urban Excursions in Tucson

Tumamoc Hill Hiking Trail

Lousy with fitness-minded Tucsonans every day of the week, it’s a half-paved, non-technical urban quad-burner located not 3 miles from the Tuxon. What the university-managed trail might lack in wildlife and seclusion, it more than makes up for in breathtaking panoramas, affording views both of the city (to the east) and Saguaro National Park (to the west) from the top of “A” Mountain. desertlaboratory.arizona.edu

Mercado District 

Start your day with breakfast and shopping at the Mercado District, located a half-mile north of The Tuxon. A mixed-use catacomb of businesses, residences, shops and eateries, the district encompasses such shopping magnets as Mercado San Agustín (craft goods and gifts, specialty foods) and MSA Annex (food trucks, bars, counterculture fun). Grab a latte from Presta Coffee Roasters and pan dulce from La Estrella Bakery before browsing art boutique MAST. mercadodistrict.com

Los Milics Vineyards Downtown Tucson 

No wine experience in Arizona beats a visit to Pavle Milic’s estate winery in Elgin, but if that extra hour’s drive is a deal-breaker, the winemaker has a new tasting room and restaurant in the city’s historical theater district. Savor a flight of his firm, Rhône-style wines while nibbling on boquerones or flatiron with roasted carrots (pictured) from the compact, farm-to-table menu. losmilicsvineyards.com

Basecamp: The Gravel House

Explore Southern Arizona on two wheels at this bike-themed Patagonia guest ranch.

The rustic yet stylishly appointed units at this high-desert property sit just steps from some of the top gravel cycling and trail systems in the state, namely the Patagonia 50, a moderate 50-mile loop that ribbons through the bucolic beauty of the San Rafael Valley. Book either the Straw Bale House or Raven’s Nest; both offer full kitchens, quaint patios and bike maintenance and cleaning stations. $170-240/night, 316 Naugle Ave., Patagonia, 406-370-4573, thegravelhouse.com

3 Patagonia Excursions

Arizona National Scenic Trail

Casa Blanca Canyon Trailhead is your gateway to the Arizona Trail’s Passage 4, a 21-mile sweep through Sky Islands ecosystems like grasslands, oak savannah and pine forest. Free, aztrail.org  

Patagonia Lake State Park

Cool off in this 250-acre lake or ply its placid surface in a pontoon, canoe or paddleboat (prices vary per watercraft) available to rent at Patagonia Lake Marina. $20/vehicle day-use permit, azstateparks.com/patagonia-lake 

Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve

At this wildlife-rife preserve managed by The Nature Conservancy, a 2.1-mile hiking loop follows a converted railroad line along Sonoita Creek, past sun-drenched meadows and through a riparian corridor of flitting birds and butterflies. $8/person,  santacruzheritage.org/patagonia-sonoita-creek