Camp Verde, Arizona

We are now in Arizona.  To be more specific we have spent the last month in Camp Verde which is roughly halfway between Phoenix and Flagstaff.  The park we are at (Zane Grey RV Park) is one of the best ones visited so far.  It is nestled in a low area adjacent to a flowing creek and just inside a national forest.  It has been a very restful and peaceful place to use in between our roaming to explore the area.

We knew we were going to like the area when we saw the landscape.  As we left Phoenix from our overnight stop, we immediately began climbing in elevation.  As we did the desert gave way to more mountainous type terrain and much greener views of trees and grass.  We eventually got to 4,000 feet before descending into Verde Valley (3,000 feet) where the Verde River flows and is nestled in between higher elevations.  It is easy to locate the river as it is the darker green ribbon of trees lining its banks as it winds its way through the valley.

I, for one, was tired of drab brown, dry desert air and cacti.  I am very happy amongst the cottonwood and sycamore trees that abound in the valley.  And we have met wonderful people in the park.  Besides those that come and go, there is a couple that is our next door neighbor that have been delightful to meet and get to know better.  Besides that, he cooks a ‘mean’ prime rib and is gracious enough to share with ‘their tongues hanging out Texas friends.'

One of our first excursions was to the historic town of Clarkdale to board the Verde Canyon Railroad for a train adventure back in time.  It encompasses a 20 mile train ride to Perkinsville cattle ranch then back to the Clarkdale station.  There are enclosed air conditioned passenger cars and open air viewing cars available to view the vistas presented by the national forests and wilderness areas.  We saw an eagle’s nest and an eagle nearby as we passed.  This in addition to the soaring canyon walls, red rock formations, bridges, a tunnel and the river flowing undisturbed through it all.  This was a great introduction to the area.

That's RR track on the left next to vertical red rock wall.

Red Tailed Hawk putting on a show for us

Towering canyon walls

Notice what looks like figures at middle top playing leap frog?

Not all rocks are red, see train in upper left?

Beautiful sights to behold.

The area was a natural place for ancient Indians who were hunters and gatherers to roam.  They principally farmed and supplemented their staple crops by hunting and gathering.  The tribes belonging to the Southern Sinagua Indians inhabited the area between 700 and 900.  Two sites have been preserved as part of the National Monuments managed by the National Park Service.  Montezuma’s Castle and Tuzigoot (pronounced “two-z-gute”).

The castle is a five-story 20 room dwelling in a cliff recess 100 feet above the valley.  Early explorers found the structure and were amazed by the structure.  They assumed it was Aztec in origin and called it Montezuma’s Castle which is now known to be a misnomer.  But the name stuck and is now protected from deterioration by the park service.  Down the road a bit are the remnants of a village built on a summit of a ridge rising 120 feet above the Verde Valley.  This is the Tuzigoot (Apache for “crooked water”) site.  The original pueblo type rooms were two stories high in places with about 87 ground-floor rooms.  There were few exterior doors and entry was by ladders through roof openings.

Montezuma's Castle

A closer look

Tuzigoot from atop the ruins.

Now looking up the hill at Tuzigoot proper.

Close to Clarkdale is the town of Jerome.  An old mining town built high up on a mountain.  The elevation is 5,000 plus feet and was a booming copper mining town at one time.  When the ore played out, it became a ‘ghost’ town with only about 100 residents.  It has since regained some status as a tourist, artsy, retail type town.  It is pretty unique with its winding narrow streets, houses and buildings built on the side of the hill (usually with one side hanging out over air) and located on the road between Cottonwood and Prescott.  There is a great eatery in town known as the ‘Haunted Hamburger’ and has some of the best tasting onion rings, fries and burgers found anywhere.

Not to be outdone is the town of Winslow.  Once a bustling town located on old Route 66, it has fallen on hard times due to the construction of I-40 with its wide lanes and non-stop traffic that replaced the old narrow roads that wound slowly through the towns of yesteryear along the ‘mother road’ otherwise known as Route 66.  Its chief claim to fame is the immortalization provided in the song, “Take It Easy” recorded by the Eagles as a single and on their debut album.  The line in the song “Well, I’m standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona…” followed by “It’s a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford slowin’ down to take a look at me..” is the reason for the visit.  There is a corner in Winslow commemorating the event with a statue and a mural on a wall that reflects the girl in a red flatbed Ford in a store window behind the statue.  Of course, we had to take our picture(s) on the site.

The corner and girl in red truck's reflection in window.

Largest guitar I ever tried to play.

A visit to this part of Arizona summons one to view the red rocks of Sedona.  Having no clue where to go, how to get the best views or even what was in Sedona, we stopped at the local chamber of commerce and tourism spot.  A volunteer provided us a map and gave us driving directions to some of the best known viewing sites for red rock formations.  Armed with our map, cameras and curiosity off we went to find these treasures.  What a marvelous sight to behold.  The reds, greens, and browns contrasted with the azure blue sky dotted with white clouds is something that no picture can capture.  I have often said if someone could find a way to capture (like in a photo) what the human eye sees they would become instantly wealthy.

Sedona on valley floor

Slightly different perspective 

It is good to have photos (even with their shortcomings) to trigger the recollections stored in our brains from viewing these magnificent sights.  We are so thankful we have a chance to explore, experience and record in our memories such things.

The Courthouse

Courthouse and Bell Tower

A different formation behind the Bell Tower

Close up of Bell Tower

Revisited Sedona landscape that afternoon with rain showers in background

Chapel of the Cross, built into the rock

From Sedona at 4,500 feet you can head through Oak Creek Canyon climbing to over 7,000 feet through a series of switchbacks while traveling to Flagstaff.  As you do, you are treated to many beautiful vistas as the landscape begins to change.  Around Flagstaff there is a lot more pine trees, grasses and cooler temperatures.  Once you arrive in Flagstaff, there are several things to see and do.  We chose to go up to Snow Bowl, a ski area, on Humphrey’s Peak (12,600 feet) that is used for hiking during summer months to look around.  It has snow on top even though 150 miles south in Phoenix the temperatures are reaching 115 degrees.

View of road from Sedona to Flagstaff, see cars on the road?

Humprey's Peak looking up the slope at ski run and ski lift

While in Flagstaff, we visited Salsa Brava.  This is a Mexican restaurant featured on “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.”  All agreed this is some of the best, if not the best, Mexican food we have eaten.  It is not Tex-Mex but it is so flavorful and fresh that my mouth waters as I write about it.

As usual all good things must eventually come to an end or left behind in our case.  We are moving after a month in Camp Verde to begin our canyons tour.  More to come about the tour in our next post.