AZ Road Trip June 08
 

My wife and have a three week road trip planned in June to celebrate our 25th wedding aniversary.
We fly into Phoenix, pick up a car and have 13 days to get to Taos NM.
We will arrive in Taos on a Monday.
No accomodation is booked for AZ as we want to be able to "follow our noses".
Interests are: Old Frontier history, Native American history (esp. Apache), natural history
( esp. birds and cacti), and of course the spectacular scenery.

First thoughts are to head out to Organ Pipe National Monument, stay a night in Ajo, then head into S.E. AZ before heading north on 191.
Must see Monument Valley. Would like to take a hot air balloon flight here.
Should we detour to Sedona?
Bearing in mind we haven't booked ahead and don't really want a stict itinery, what is the best way to see the Grand Canyon, or should we miss it out and head elsewhere?
Which routes, must see's do you guys suggest?

Regards,
Fellsider in the UK

Organ Pipe will be very hot in June, with no flowers (it's at its best Feb - March), so skip that.

I'd spend most of my June-in-Az times in the higher country, say above at least 4,000 ft elevation, to avoid the heat, which will likely be well over 100 F in the lower deserts by then.

So Sedona, Flagstaff, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Canyon de Chelly, White Mountains etc would all be better than southern Az in June.

you could visit Tombstone, Bisbee, Chiricahua Nat Mon., Ft. Huachuca in southern AZ. They are located at elevation and so aren't quite as hot as Phoenix. Several have Apache connections.

You need reservations for Grand Canyon. You can read about it at www.nps.gov.

If you don't get reservations, chances are you will not even be able to stay in Tusayan, just outside the park. You would probably end up backtracking an hour to Williams.

when you're in Page, Arizona, don't forget to book yourself a tour to the Slot Canyon(s). They are spectacular. Try for a tour that will be at the canyon at noon time.

Don't miss the Grand Canyon!! It is well worth booking this one part of your trip, and then letting all else be discovered as you go.

Book 2 nights minimum; if you are flexible on dates you should be able to find something inside the park and maybe right on the rim:

www.grandcanyonlodges.com