Everyone who visits Arizona always recommends the Grand Canyon and their next recommendation is usually the city of Sedona AZ to see the picturesque red mountains surrounding the town. Many travelers use some form of an electronic map on their cellular phone or the built-in mapping system in their vehicle providing the most economical way to travel an arrive safely.
One aspect the map exclude is the most scenic drive towards your destination.
For me, during my attendance at the 2018 Overlanding Expo West, I was fortunate to experience traveling along Route 89A from Flagstaff AZ towards Sedona.
When I left Flagstaff AZ which is situated at over 7000-feet to begin my journey south along route 89A it was after I navigate a traffic circle at the entrance of Flagstaff’s Fort Tuthill County Park my scenic drive started. The first item of beauty my eyes gazed upon was the thousands of Pine trees on both sides of the roadway appearing as a postcard.
The road narrowed just before some dramatic twist and turns downward into Oak Creek Canyon. But I would suggest you stop at the Oak Creek Canyon Overlook where you can visually see your future scenic travels, obtain maps and information about the area at the visitors center along with viewing and or purchase Native American items such as jewelry, artwork, and clothing.
After viewing your future travels from above its time to fasten your seatbelts and enjoy the leisurely ride around the twisty turns down into the canyon to observe the towering mountain spheres reaching towards the sky and layers of Pine forest covering the sides of the mountain slopes with rock formations interspersed adding to the spectacle of your sights.
After clearing one of the most incredibly scenic drives in America, you will come upon several federal and state campgrounds and picnic areas to enjoy the beauty of your surroundings with burbling waters passing your campsite.
The dense pines trees will shade your campsite to enjoy a meal before continuing on to the city called Sedona. But if camping isn’t your idea of a good time, there’s The Butterfly Garden Inn, Wind Rock Lodge, and Junpine Resort to name a few all surrounded by the Pine trees.
One of the famous locations along this scenic drive is Slide Rock State Park which gives you access to cool off in the creek during a warm day.
The two-lane scenic road is 23-miles south of Flagstaff AZ and is in the top ten of my favorite scenic drive in the US behind The Blue Ridge Parkway and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Click the links to plan your next scenic drive near you are an Arizona scenic drive.