Best Tent Camping: Arizona. Kirstin Olmon Phillips
and then checking in when we arrive home.
• SIGN IN AND OUT OF ANY TRAIL REGISTERS PROVIDED. Leave notes on trail conditions if space allows—that’s your opportunity to alert others to any problems you encounter.
• DON’T ASSUME THAT YOUR PHONE WILL WORK ON THE TRAIL. Reception may be spotty or nonexistent, especially on a trail embraced by towering trees.
• ALWAYS CARRY FOOD AND WATER, EVEN FOR A SHORT HIKE. We recommend a minimum of 3 liters of water per person, per day. If you’re used to depending on water from lakes or streams, remember that most of Arizona’s few water sources are ephemeral and, when present, are frequently shared with livestock. Always treat so-called found water by boiling, filtering, or chemically treating it before drinking.
• ASK QUESTIONS. Public-land employees are on hand to help.
• STAY ON DESIGNATED TRAILS. If you become disoriented, assess your current direction, and then retrace your steps to the point where you went astray. Using a map, compass, and/or GPS unit, and keeping in mind what you’ve passed thus far, reorient yourself and trust your judgment on which way to continue. If you become absolutely unsure of how to continue, return to your vehicle the way you came in. Should you become completely lost, remaining in place and waiting for help is most often the best option for adults and always the best option for children.
• CARRY A WHISTLE. It could save your life if you get lost or injured.
• BE ESPECIALLY CAREFUL WHEN CROSSING STREAMS. Whether you’re fording a stream or crossing on a log, make every step count. If you have any doubt about maintaining your balance on a log, ford the stream instead: use a trekking pole or stout stick for balance and face upstream as you cross. If a stream seems too deep to ford, turn back.
• BE CAREFUL AT OVERLOOKS. While these areas provide spectacular views, they’re also potentially hazardous. Stay back from the edge of outcrops, and be absolutely sure of your footing.
• STANDING DEAD TREES AND STORM-DAMAGED LIVING TREES CAN POSE A REAL HAZARD TO TENT CAMPERS. These trees may have loose or broken limbs that could fall at any time. When choosing a campsite or just a spot to rest during a hike, look up—this is an especially important precaution in Arizona’s many fire-damaged areas.
• KNOW THE SYMPTOMS OF ABNORMALLY HIGH BODY TEMPERATURE, OR HYPERTHERMIA. Lightheadedness and weakness are the first two indicators. If you feel these symptoms, find some shade, drink some water, remove as many layers of clothing as practical, and stay put until you cool down. Marching through heat exhaustion leads to heatstroke—which can be fatal. If you should be sweating and you’re not, that’s the signature warning sign. If you or a hiking partner is experiencing heatstroke, do whatever you can to get cool and find help.
• LIKEWISE, KNOW THE SYMPTOMS OF SUBNORMAL BODY TEMPERATURE, OR HYPOTHERMIA. Shivering and forgetfulness are the two most common indicators. Hypothermia can occur at any elevation, even in the summer—especially if you’re wearing lightweight cotton clothing. If symptoms develop, get to shelter, hot liquids, and dry clothes as soon as possible.
• MOST IMPORTANT, TAKE ALONG YOUR BRAIN. Think before you act. Watch your step. Plan ahead.
Now that your windshield is decked out in passes and your head is full of facts, take this handy book and get out there. The best tent camping in Arizona is waiting for you!
NORTHERN ARIZONA
An iconic vista of Monument Valley from The View Campground (campground 9)
1
Canyon View Campground
Beauty
KEY INFORMATION
CONTACT: 928-672-2700, nps.gov/nava
OPEN: April–September
SITES: 14
EACH SITE HAS: Picnic table, upright grill
ASSIGNMENT: First-come, first-served; reservations not required except for groups of 10 or more (contact the campground for details)
REGISTRATION: Not required
AMENITIES: Vault toilets, group sites
PARKING: At campsites
FEE: None; donations accepted
ELEVATION: 7,300'
RESTRICTIONS:
PETS: On leash only; not allowed on trails
FIRES: No wood fires
ALCOHOL: Prohibited
VEHICLES: 28-foot length limit
QUIET HOURS: 10 p.m.–6 a.m.
OTHER: 7-day stay limit/calendar year; firearms prohibited
Navajo National Monument is home to some of the best-preserved cliff dwellings in the country.
Looking east toward Tsegi Canyon
The Navajo Nation is best known for the austere beauty of the Painted Desert, with its rough, red mountains and color-striped mineral badlands, and the stark magnificence of Monument Valley. Between the two, a surprise awaits in the pinyon-brushed hills near Kayenta—the lovely gem of Navajo National Monument. Established in 1909 and managed by the National Park Service, it protects three Ancestral Puebloan ruins—Betatakin, Keet Seel, and Inscription House. Built in the 13th century by the Hisatsinom, ancient ancestors of today’s Hopi clans, these are among the best-preserved cliff dwellings in the country, and remain culturally important for the Hopi, Zuni, Paiute, and Diné (Navajo) peoples.
When you first enter the park, stop at the visitor center to chat with the rangers, many of whom are Diné, and see the interpretive displays and ancient pottery. Artisans frequently demonstrate traditional crafts such as rug weaving, and next door you’ll find a gift shop specializing in silver Navajo jewelry. The visitor center also offers flush toilets, drinking fountains, and a picnic area. You can crawl into the nearby sweathouse and imagine what it was like to bathe without water and dry off with sand. Stand in the hogan, an example of traditional Navajo housing, then head out to pitch your own tent.
With two no-fee campgrounds at the monument, you can choose the amenities that best suit you. Sunset View Campground provides paved roads and parking tabs, wheelchair-accessible spots, flush toilets, a service sink and gray water disposal, and, of course, views of the setting sun. We recommend Canyon View, designed for tent campers who