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Old 09-30-2007, 09:54 PM
 
Location: Denver, CO
5,610 posts, read 23,301,938 times
Reputation: 5447

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What do you guys and gals recommend for scenic drives, getaways, towns, hiking spots, desert parks, lakes, etc, that are no more than a one hour drive from the core of the Phoenix area? I've been on several excursions in the past few weekends, one to Sedona, one to Tucson, and driving that far just to get away from town for the day (2 hr, 30 min, including a pit stop , and 1 hr, 45 min, respectively), with horrendous and dangerous traffic on I-17 and I-10 is just too much for me-- and it takes away from the fun of "getting away." What are your favorite places? I live in Tempe, BTW, so if you could suggest something that's one hour or less from here, that would be awesome!
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Old 09-30-2007, 10:27 PM
 
14 posts, read 49,037 times
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Exclamation nothing is here...

Quote:
Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim View Post
What do you guys and gals recommend for scenic drives, getaways, towns, hiking spots, desert parks, lakes, etc, that are no more than a one hour drive from the core of the Phoenix area? I've been on several excursions in the past few weekends, one to Sedona, one to Tucson, and driving that far just to get away from town for the day (2 hr, 30 min, including a pit stop , and 1 hr, 45 min, respectively), with horrendous and dangerous traffic on I-17 and I-10 is just too much for me-- and it takes away from the fun of "getting away." What are your favorite places? I live in Tempe, BTW, so if you could suggest something that's one hour or less from here, that would be awesome!

within one hour.. NONE!! only DIRT!!
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Old 09-30-2007, 10:49 PM
 
Location: Scottsdale - Phoenix
12 posts, read 84,493 times
Reputation: 21
I always think it's pretty to check out the homes and scenery driving through the Carefree area. It's a neat little town as well. Definitely shorter than 1 hour.
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Old 10-01-2007, 04:41 AM
 
Location: 5 miles from the center of the universe-The Superstition Mountains
1,084 posts, read 5,788,293 times
Reputation: 606
Maybe a combination of both of the above. A large dirt house:
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument (U.S. National Park Service)

It's an easy drive down Arizona Ave (SR87) through Chandler. Hang a left at the 87/587 split just past the Last Chance bar. Stay on 87 until the traffic light at SR287. You'll see it on your right before the intersection. Turn right on 287 and you're there.

Take a drive to Canyon Lake and Tortilla Flat. SR88 is a fun drive. The scenic overview of the lake is at milepost 208. You could stop at the Acacia or Boulder picnic areas or go to the Marina restaurant (entrance at mp211). Take a tour of the lake on the "Dolly Steamboat". I think you'll need reservations. Or have lunch at Tortilla Flat, mp213. If you don't want to make the drive all the way up, there's the Superstition Mtn Museum on SR 88 at Mountain View Road(before mp200), just outside the Apache Junction city limits. A short distance beyond that is the Mining Camp restaurant which opens Oct. 1st I believe and one more mile up the road is the Goldfield Ghost Town, a recreation of an old mining town.

For hiking, there is the First Water trailhead, (mp202) or stop at the Ranger station at the entrance to Lost Dutchman Campground for more information, mp201.
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Old 10-01-2007, 07:13 AM
 
Location: Sonoran Desert
39,073 posts, read 51,199,205 times
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If you have not done the Apace Trail trip described above, JUST DO IT.


Other ideas:

Montezuma Castle on I-17. Horrendous traffic is subjective, but I-17 is not dangerous except maybe around Black Canyon, but it can be slow when everyone is trying to get out of town for the weekends. Anyway, Montezuma castle is exit 289 about 100 miles from Phx. Also nearby Montezuma:

- Crown King. Exit Bubble Bee. 20 odd miles of dirt road to a historic mining camp, restaurant/bar and the cool pines.
- Tuzigoot National Monument
- Fort Verde State Park at Camp Verde - best preserved Indian fort in AZ
- Cliff Castle Casino - one of the best in AZ.

Also

Sonoran Desert National Monument. Very nice desert vistas. I-10 to Maricopa. Follow the state route (I don't know number) signs in the direction of Gila Bend. You'll see monument signs. You can drive a regular vehicle on dirt roads well back into the area. Stop for a hike/picnic along the historic Butterfield stage coach route.

Lake Pleasant. I-17 to Carefree highway. Go left.
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Old 10-01-2007, 09:00 AM
 
3,632 posts, read 16,161,525 times
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With the horrendous traffic (better believe it!) on the 17, it has really discouraged me to go anywhere now, not even Anthem for the outlets. I can understand. I see the traffic up here daily and it boggles my mind at times.
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Old 10-01-2007, 09:57 AM
 
Location: Sonoran Desert
39,073 posts, read 51,199,205 times
Reputation: 28314
Quote:
Originally Posted by sablebaby View Post
With the horrendous traffic (better believe it!) on the 17, it has really discouraged me to go anywhere now, not even Anthem for the outlets. I can understand. I see the traffic up here daily and it boggles my mind at times.
I drive up north a lot lately. I have found, paradoxically, that the traffic on I-17 is better with the construction. We went to the mountains on Labor Day weekend and the traffic was bumper-to-bumper to Cordes Junction. But I timed it, and it added all of 20 minutes to my usual time getting there.

I hate traffic and congestion and sit on my ass at home a lot because I don't want to deal with it. But I may have to rethink that. Is 10-20 minutes more in traffic worth a whole lost weekend of pissing and moaning about boredom and heat? I see all those people in the jam heading north for the weekend and I think "What fools." But those people are out having fun and making memories with their families while I sit here discussing scorpions on the forum all weekend. Who's the fool? I definitely need to think this over.

Last edited by Ponderosa; 10-01-2007 at 10:05 AM..
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Old 10-01-2007, 01:44 PM
 
Location: Glendale AZ
57 posts, read 167,517 times
Reputation: 44
Payson is nice to go to,there's lots of trials to hike,and its awesome weather there to,
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Old 10-01-2007, 02:44 PM
 
Location: Red Rock, Arizona
683 posts, read 2,650,441 times
Reputation: 513
Check out this place, it used to be one of my favorite, out of the way, close to home, getaways.

Fountain Hills | Attractions | Needle Rock
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Old 10-01-2007, 03:23 PM
 
Location: 5 miles from the center of the universe-The Superstition Mountains
1,084 posts, read 5,788,293 times
Reputation: 606
Vegaspilgrim,

I didn't mention this because it goes over your time-line considerably, but if you want to make a day of it, complete the circuit on SR88 by driving up to Roosevelt Lake, then come home by way of US60 on the west side of Globe. There's too much more to list for you to see so I'll let you do your own research if it interests you. It's worth reading the history of the road and the area even if you don't go. A word of warning though. The highway turns to dirt at mile post 220 and if heights scare you, end your drive at the Fish Creek Hill overlook. After that, it's a downhill drive on a one lane dirt road to Fish Creek. There are a few wide spots for cars to pass each other and you'll be up against the mountainside (rather than on the edge of a 1000+ foot cliff) coming from AJ. It is a beautiful drive!

If you take this trip, along the way imagine driving from AJ to Roosevelt Dam "code three"-lights and siren- in a police car and as fast as possible. Those were the days I would have worked for free!!!

Have fun!
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