La Paz County, Arizona

This dramatic view is the first glimpse I had of La Paz County, Arizona, March 28, 2009. It was my final Arizona county, and the 2,916th county overall, in my quest to visit each of the 3,142 counties or their equivilents in the United States. The view is from Mohave County, looking across Bill Williams River into La Paz County, along Arizona Highway 95, near Parker Dam.

La Paz County is one of the newest counties in the United States. It was established in 1983, being formed from the northern half of Yuma County. La Paz is the first and only new county created in Arizona since the territory gained statehood in 1912. Soon after the formation of La Paz County, Arizona laws were changed to make splitting other existing counties much more difficult.

I had first visited Yuna County way back in 1968, while living in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but I had not been in the part of the county that broke off to be come La Paz. The county is named for an old settlement - now a ghost town - along the Colorado River. Parker, Arizona, just across the Colorado River from California, is the county seat.

Tucson, Arizona

Tucson is a metropolis of 800,000 people on the edge of the Sonoran Desert in south-central Arizona. It was settled in 1775 by the Spanish as a presidio; acquired by the United States in the Gadsen Purchase in 1853, and incorporated as a city in 1877.

Tucson has been ranked the #9 best city in America for fitness and walking, the #8 best medium sized city for doing business, the #7 best city as a place for Hispanics to live, and the #1 city in America for spas and resorts. It is also a favorite retirement destination for older Americans and there are numerous retirement communities in the area for seniors aged 55 and over. Karen's mother moved from Kentucky to live in Tucson when she retired. Attractions include a relatively low cost-of-living and great weather. Winters are mild, with an average temperature of 60F, and Tucson gets only about 11 inches of rainfall per year. Summers are very hot, with 100F temperatures not uncommon. However, the low humidity makes even the hottest days more bearable.

Tucson and environs has numerous visitor attractions including: Biosphere 2, Kitt Peak Observatory, Arizona State Museum, Titan Missile Museum, Tucson Botanical Gardens, Saguaro National Park, San Xavier Mission, and much more.

Tucson is home to several colleges and universities, including the University of Arizona. The best thing we like about Tucson is not the city itself so much as its proximity to many state and national parks, historic sites, and outdoor recreational opportunities.

Tumacacori National Historical Park, Arizona

Tumacacori National Historical Park, formerly Tumacacori National Monument, preserves the site of the oldest Spanish mission in Arizona, dating back to 1691. But even before there was a mission here, there was an O'odham Indian village located just across the Santa Cruz River called Tumacacori. Father Eusebio Francisco Kino, a Jesuit missionary called the place Cajetan (or Cayetano in Spanish). Though we often associate "church" with "mission," Tumacacori did not have an actual church building until 1751.

At that time the community was moved to its present site on the east side of the Santa Cruz River and the name was changed to San Jose de Tumacacori. Visitors here will relive a bygone era which goes back to the time of the earliest contact of Europeans with the indigeneous peoples of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.

Although the Tumacacori Mission was established in 1691, the first church was not built until 1751. At that time the community was moved to its present site on this side of the Santa Cruz River to be near the newly established Tubac Presidio. The present church was built by the Franciscans between 1800 and 1822.

Father Liberos, a peninsular-born Spaniard, was sent back to Spain in 1828, after Mexico gained independence, and Tumacacori never again had a resident priest. Although the O'odham Indians continued to live here for twenty more years, a hard winter, continuing Apache attacks, and the Mexican-American War forced the mission's abandonment in 1848.

Theodore Roosevelt Lake, Arizona

When it was built, between 1905 and 1911, the Roosevelt Dam was the largest cyclopean- masonry dam in the world. Since then it has been enlarged and the dam now impounds a lake 22 miles long and having 128 miles of shoreline. It is a multi-purpose lake, built to help control the erratic flow of the Salt River and also for water storage, agricultural irrigation, electric power generation and recreation. It provides water for six cities in the Salt River Valley.

The Theodore Roosevelt Lake is the largest reservoir in Arizona, except for those on the Colorado River. Boating, camping and fishing are among the activities offered the visitor to the lake.

Sabino Canyon, Arizona

Sabino Canyon, one of the permier natural areas in southeastern Arizona, is located within the Santa Catalina Ranger District of the Coronado National Forest. It is on the eastern edge of suburban Tucson, yet wild enough to harbor mountain lions and other elusive creatures.

The scenery at Sabino Canyon, Arizona, is outstanding: steep rock cliffs, unique desert vegetation, colorful mountains, and a river running through it. This is a popular place, drawing an estimated 1.25 visitors a year who come to hike, jog, bicycle, study nature, view wildlife, and take photographs. The canyon is closed to private vehicles, however shuttle tours are available for a fee. Karen and I, along with her mother and daughter, Jennifer, took the tram on the 3.8 mile narrated tour to the top of the canyon, then walked back down. There are port-a-potty stops along the way, and also 9 tram stops. We could have caught a ride back down at any of them, but the hike was too much fun.

Signs warn of mountain lions, and even quicksand. You will also find picnic areas, and some of the most awesome scenery one could hope for. Sabino Canyon is definitely on the list of places to which we want to return and explore more thoroughly.

Tonto National Forest, Arizona

At 2,969,602 acres, Tonto is by far the largest of the six national forests in Arizona, and has the most interesting, diverse scenery. The forest terrain and elevation ranges from the Sonoran Desert (1,400 feet) to the Mogollon Rim (7,400 feet). Besides desert and mountains it contains lakes - mostly artificially created, fertile river valleys, rocky canyons and flat plains.

The lower elevations are not a forest in the normal sense, being covered by cacti. The well known giant saguaro is the most obvious, but there are also dozens of smaller species. In addition to cactus there are also bushes, chaparral and grasslands above 4,000 feet. The the higher hills and cooler mountains support woodland habitats with juniper, mixed fir and ponderosa pine. Tonto contains eight separate wilderness areas, all of which have quite limited access as the land is generally steep and rough, without many trails Weather in the area is harsh for most of the year. However, Tonto is still one of the most visited National Forests in America. Taking a drive along one the highways that disect the forest offers many scenic and awe inspiring vistas.

The Thing, Dragoon, Cochise County, Arizona

You may not want to drive hundreds of miles out of your way to see The Thing?, but if you ever find yourself traveling along I-10 in southeastern Arizona, you would be remiss not to stop and take a look. This is roadside America at it's kinky best. I can't tell you what "The Thing?" is or that would spoil some of the fun.

Don't worry about finding "The Thing?" There are scores of billboards pointing the way. You really CAN'T miss it. For those who still need directions, take Exit 318, the Johnson Road enterchange, at the Dairy Queen, between Benson and Wilcox. There is a very small admission charge and plenty of free parking.

Superstition Mountains & Wilderness, Arizona

The Superstition Wilderness Area, crowned by Superstition Mountain stands a dividing line between metropolitan Phoenix and rural Arizona. The area has long been the source of stories and tales about lost gold. Legends of the Dutchman's Lost Gold Mine, Jesuit treasure, Peralta gold and numerous other lost gold mine stories still attract men and women from far and near alike to this rugged mountain range.

The mountain's lore also includes many indian stories and legends, some of them centuries old. The Pima' Indians called Superstition Mountain Ka-Katak-Tami meaning "The Crooked Top Mountain." This giant monolith rises to the height of 6,265 feet above sea level, or 3,000 feet above the surrounding desert floor. The Superstition Wilderness Area, of which Superstition Mountain is part, contains some 242 square miles or 159,780 acres of Arizona's rugged desert mountain terrain.

The region includes a wide-range of plants and animals that are native to the Sonoran Desert life zone. Plants range from the giant Saguaro cactus to the stately Ponderosa pine. Mule deer, javelinas, mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, a variety of birds, reptiles and amphibians live in this fragile desert eco-system. It is truly a living desert.

A network of 180 miles of hiking trails lead into and through the Superstition Wilderness. Click on the web site below for a listing of trails and other helpful information.

San Xavier Del Bac Mission, Arizona

Called the "White Dove of the Desert," San Xavier Del Bac Mission was built in 1783 and is located in the center of a Papago Indian settlement along the banks of the Santa Cruz River, in the very scenic Santa Cruz Valley of southern Arizona.

The mission is listed as a National Historical Landmark and is open daily for self-guided tours. A continuous video tape tells the story of the mission, and there is also a gift shop. This is an active mission and Mass is still held here regularly.

Tonto National Park, Arizona

The focal point of Tonto National Monument, on the slopes of Arizona's Salt River Valley, is a series of well-preserved cliff dwellings which were occupied by the Salado culture between 1150 and 1450 AD. The people farmed in the Salt River Valley and supplemented their diet by hunting and gathering native wildlife and plants. The Salado were fine craftsmen, producing some of the most exquisite polychrome pottery and intricately woven textiles to be found in the Southwest.

Tonto National Monument was established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1907, and was one of the first National Monuments to be proclaimed under the new Antiquities Act of 1906. It is well off the beaten path, 30 miles northeast of Globe and 50 miles south of Payson. It is surrounded by the Tonto National Forest, and overlooks Theodore Roosevelt Lake.

Sunset, Lost Dutchan State Park, Arizona

When I was a kid my dad subscribed to Arizona Highways magazine and every issue seemed to have at least one full color photo of a Saguaro cactus silhouetted against a spectacular sunset.

When Karen and I ended our afternoon of hiking at Lost Dutchman Park and got into our car to leave I looked at the clock on the dashboard and suddenly realized that the sun would be setting in less than an hour. I re-parked the car, grabbed my camera, and headed back up a hiking trail where we had seen numerous saguaro cacti. It was almost time for sunset before I found just the right cactus that threw a silhouette across the sky, and then found a position from which I could photograph it against the setting sun.

Okay, I'll admit that my pictures aren't quite the quality of those in Arizona Highways, but they are mine and I'm glad I took the extra hour to get them.

Lester Moore Grave Marker, Tombstone, Arizona

Lester Moore was a station agent for the Wells Fargo Company in the border town of Naco. Hank Dustin showed up to claim a package one afternoon. He received it, but the package was thoroughly mangled. An argument ensued; both Moore and Dustin reached for their six-shooters. When the smoke cleared, Lester Moore lay dead with four .44 slugs in his chest. Dustin also lay dying, a hole blasted through his ribs by a single shot.

There is no record of where Dustin was buried. Lester Moore was given space in the Boothill Graveyard, and an epitaph (pictured) which made him famous.