Scenic Drives

Coronado National Forest, Santa Catalina Ranger District

With an afternoon to kill during a visit to Tucson, my husband and I decide to explore Redington Road (Forest Road 371). A popular destination for hikers and off-highway-vehicle enthusiasts, the former military supply route makes a beautiful half-day drive that offers recreation, ranching and history. The graded dirt road winds its way up from the desert east of Tucson between the Santa Catalina and Rincon mountains and through oak- and juniper-dotted grasslands.

Coronado National Forest, Santa Catalina Ranger District

Tucson is one big city — not as big as Phoenix and nowhere near as big as L.A., but big enough. That’s why it’s so surprising that Mescal Road, a nearly 16-mile stretch of scenic byway, is so close to the city limits. Literally, it’s just over the creek and through the woods.

Coronado National Forest, Douglas Ranger District

On a late-July morning, my husband picks through a basket of local peaches at the Portal Store while I pore over recent bird sightings. Summer entries are sparse, but two signature species are still among them: the elegant trogon and the Mexican chickadee.

Mount Lemmon, Santa Catalina Mountains

As Arizona Highways contributor Craig Childs will tell you, going from the Colorado River to the rim of the Grand Canyon is the ecological equivalent of walking from Mexico to Canada in less than 10 miles. Plants, animals, weather ... they all change dramatically as you gain elevation. There’s no journey like it on Earth. But you can’t do the Canyon in a car.

San Rafael Valley

On screen, the Sonoita-Patagonia area has doubled as Oklahoma (Oklahoma!), Texas (Red River) and ancient Israel (David and Bathsheba).

People claim it looks like Montana, and when you catch glimpses of the vineyards and cypresses, you might reach unconsciously for your Italian phrasebook. But with its pastoral landscapes dotted with pygmy forest and crumbling ghost towns, one thing this region doesn’t resemble is the typical coffee-table images of Arizona.

Tonto National Forest, Globe Ranger District

Crawl. Walk. Run. The evolution of human movement seems simple enough. But it’s a formula that also can be applied to other, non-bipedal modes of getting from one place to another — like driving. Creep. Cruise. Fly.

In the case of this drive, which curls in a loop through the Pinal Mountains near Globe, you’ll be tempted to fly. Instead — thanks to the ruggedness of the road (yes, you need a four-wheel-drive) and the draw of the scenery — you’re better off cruising, even creeping, in parts.

Kaibab National Forest, Williams Ranger District

The Bill Williams Mountain Loop makes a short, easy drive through some of the most beautiful ponderosa pine forest in Northern Arizona, with opportunities to see wildlife and learn a little area history. Beginning in the center of Williams, the drive circles Bill Williams Mountain, which rises to an elevation of 9,170 feet. The 30-mile loop can be completed in an hour or two.

Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki National Monuments

Pick up a course catalog for Northern Arizona University, and you'll find the usual list of electives: history, geology, archaeology. It's not rocket science, but if you want to learn about yesteryear, voclanoes and artifacts, NAU is a great place to start.

Coconino National Forest, Red Rock Ranger District

For people on a mission, the surest route to Flagstaff from Phoenix is a straight shot up Interstate 17. It’s quick, and it’s scenic in its own right, especially as it runs into the cool ponderosa-pine forest. But travelers looking for a quieter route will find Stoneman Lake Road (Forest Road 213) the perfect byway to connect to Forest Highway 3, a back road into Flagstaff.

Navajo Nation

The drive to Canyon de Chelly can be deceptive. When you eyeball the route on a map, you can see it’s off in the distance, but it doesn’t seem that far off. That is, until you start driving. Still, it’s worth the effort. The long trek to this add-it-to-your-bucket-list-now national monument cuts through the heart of red-rock country on the Navajo Nation, and the scenery is spectacular.