Arizona’s 3 National Parks: Saguaro, Petrified Forest & Grand Canyon

Itinerary At-A-Glance

Location: Arizona
Timeline: Saturday, April 5th – Saturday, April 12th, 2025

I chose the spring season to visit Arizona’s national parks. April is an especially fine time to visit and hike there – sunny, warm and dry but not too hot. There is a bit of driving as part of this NP 3-pack but not a lot, and the road trip is part of the fun. Especially with a good friend, as I had that pleasure with Sandy joining me.

We flew into Phoenix to enjoy a late afternoon hike and a Mexican dinner with margaritas. Then, early the next morning, we drove a few hours to Saguaro NP situated on the east and west sides of Tucson and populated with a broad range of cacti, not just the saguaro.

We then drove 5 hours north through some dramatic terrain to visit the Petrified Forest. This NP is worth no more than a day, but fortunately, it is near the town of Winslow, made famous by the Eagles’ track Take It Easy, and a terrific historic inn, both for accommodations and dining.

Finishing the trip with the best of the three NPs, Grand Canyon, is a great way to end this road trip. Iconic. Visiting all three parks in a week makes for a jam-packed, rewarding adventure.

Carpe diem.

What’s Special At Saguaro NP

Cacti. Lots and lots of cacti. Lots of different cacti, not just the saguaro.

The Heat, that is, dry desert heat. Visiting in early April, after a long New England winter, it was especially nice to enjoy warm sunshine and low, low humidity.

What’s Special At Petrified Forest NP

Rock, the petrified rock. And it is rock, not wood, though once upon a time it was wood before decaying and becoming infused with minerals. Driving the 28-mile park road to witness a few of the sights is enjoyable.

Painted Desert, a sublimely beautiful sight, particularly at daybreak and dusk. Driving the short loop to see the colors of the desert is absolutely worth it.

The foregoing should take half a day, maybe stretched to a full day, but that’s it.

What’s Special At Grand Canyon NP

Well, there is that canyon…You don’t need me to tell you what’s special at such an internationally-known, iconic national park. Let me simply share a few things I found particularly enjoyable.

Sunrise/Sunset Photography: There are numerous vantage points at which to watch and be enthralled by the light, the colors, the majesty of something that happens every day. Don’t stress over which spot is best because they are all spectacular. Just do it.

Walking the Rim: Yes, it will be crowded. Oh well. Try to shoot for early in the day when crowds haven’t yet maxed and it is cooler. The Rim Trail extends for 12.8 miles, and you can access many points along it easily using the shuttle bus system. Walk as little or as much as you like. Choose a section that is less travelled or more popular. Just do it.

Hiking Bright Angel Trail: I highly, highly recommend descending this particular Trail as far as you feel like it, remembering that it’s harder going up than coming down. There are a number of natural turnaround points at the resthouses (with toilet facilities!).

Lodging & Dining Options

Here’s what we enjoyed!

Phoenix: We stayed in Scottsdale at The Resort at the Peak, a Hilton near Piestewa Peak, which we hiked up in the late afternoon. This was a great stretch of the legs after the 6-hour flight from Boston. I also highly recommend a Mexican restaurant in Scottsdale, Call Me Martina.

Tucson/Saguaro NP: Stay in the heart of Tucson to easily access both the east and west districts of Saguaro NP. We stayed downtown at the very reasonable AC Hotel Tucson Downtown. There’s plenty of uninspired Mexican in Tucson, which bills itself as the Mexican cuisine capital of the U.S. We had dinner at one spot that served inspired cuisine, La Indita, recommended to us by a local we met atop Wasson Peak. We took his advice to order his three favorite dishes – Green Chile Cheese Crisp, Carne Seca and Nopalitas – and enjoyed the best dining of the week!

Winslow/Petrified Forest: There are not a lot of interesting options in this part of Arizona, but La Posada Hotel and its very upscale Turquoise Room are an excellent choice. The hotel has a fascinating history that is on full display – don’t miss its museum. Moreover, it is located but a block or two from the all-important street corner in Winslow where you can pose next to the statues of Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey. You might think it kitschy, but if you are a fan of The Eagles, then it is not. For a real taste of the kitschy, take a slow drive along the nearby section of Route 66 in Holbrook. I particularly enjoyed the giant, man-made dinosaurs.

Grand Canyon: Stay at one of the four properties situated on the Rim. There’s nothing better than waking up in the early morning, shuffling out the back door of your lodge to take in the Canyon unfolding before you. I recommend staying at El Tovar, if you can get a reservation; if not, go for Bright Angel Lodge, Kachina Lodge or Thunderbird Lodge in that order of preference. Dining at the Canyon does not offer anything great, but the El Tovar Dining Room is classic and worth it if you navigate the menu with care.

Daily Itinerary

Day 1: Flying into Phoenix from Boston (Saturday, April 5)

• 9:00 AM EST -12:00 PM PDT: Flight from Boston to Phoenix
• 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Rent a car; drive 15 minutes to Resort at the Peak; have an al fresco lunch there
• 3:00-6:00 PM: Drive 15 minutes to the trailhead of Piestewa Peak and summit it
• Evening: Dinner at Call Her Martina

Day 2: Drive to Saguaro West and Tucson (Sunday, April 6)

• 8:00-11:00 AM: Breakfast and drive to the Saguaro West Tucson Mountain District and stop in at the Visitor Center
• 11:00 AM-4:00 PM: Hike up Wasson Peak via Kings Canyon Trail and back down via Hugh Norris and Esperanza Trails
• 4:30-5:00 PM: Quick stop at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (10 minutes from Wasson Peak trailhead)
• 5:00-6:00 PM: Scenic return drive to downtown Tucson
• Evening: Dinner at La Indita

Day 3: Saguaro East, Catalina Mountains, Mount Lemon (Monday, April 7)

• 8:00-9:00 AM: Breakfast and drive 30 minutes to the Visitor Center at Saguaro East Rincon District
• 9:00 AM-12:00 PM: Hike the Wildhorse Canyon area of trails. Drive the Cactus Forest Loop
• Noon-4:00 PM: Lunch and drive to Sabino/Bear Canyon in the Catalina Mountains. Take the tram ride.
• Evening: Dinner at Amelia’s Mexican Restaurant

Day 4: Scenic Drive to Winslow, AZ and Route 66 (Tuesday, April 8)

• 8:00 AM-2:00 PM: Drive to Winslow via Salt River Canyon. Short hike and scenic views.
• 2:00-6:00 PM: Route 66 kitschy spots; museum at La Posada
• Evening: Dinner at the Turquoise Room of La Posada   

Day 5: The “Corner in Winslow Arizona”, Petrified Forest NP, and Drive to Grand Canyon (Wednesday, April 9)

• 7:00-9:00 AM: Grab breakfast and walk to the street corner commemorating the lyrics of “Take It Easy” by The Eagles’ Glen Frey and Jackson Browne.
• 9:00 AM-2:30 PM: Visit Petrified Forest NP, stop in at the Painted Desert Visitor Center and drive the loop, then drive south down the entire 28-mile park road, stopping at cool sites such as Blue Mesa, The Tepees, Jasper Forest and Giant Logs by the Rainbow Forest Visitor Center.
• 2:30-7:00 PM: Drive to Grand Canyon and arrive directly at the Desert View Watchtower and Navajo Point for sunset photos.
• 7:00-9:00 PM: Check in to Kachina Lodge and have dinner next door at El Tovar’s Cocktail Lounge.

Day 6: Sunrise Photography and the Rim (Thursday, April 10)

• 6:00-9:00 AM: Grab to-go coffee and head over to Powell and Hopi Points for sunrise pics. Visit sites all the way out to Hermit’s Rest.
• 9:00-3:00 PM: Breakfast and bus to Visitor Center at Mather Point. Walk the Rim Trail, taking pics of the canyon at different spots.
• 3:00-5:00 PM: Hang out and relax at the Beer Garden near Kachina Lodge.
• Evening: Dinner at El Tovar Dining Room.

Day 7: Hiking into the Canyon on Bright Angel Trail (Friday, April 11)

• 6:00 AM-12:30 PM: To-go breakfast at Bright Angel Lodge and 6:30 AM sunrise start down the Bright Angel Trail to Havasupai Gardens and back up.
• Afternoon: Lounge around and visit other Mary Colter’s buildings – Hopi House and Lookout Studio — as well as Kolb’s Studio.
• Evening: Dinner at Arizona Steakhouse.

Day 8: Return to Phoenix and Boston (Saturday, April 12)

• 7:30-11:00 AM: Breakfast and return drive to Phoenix Airport to catch noon flight
• 12:00 (PDT)-9:00 PM (EST): Flight back to Boston and home.

Resources

Trail Maps: For day hiking in the national parks, I find the National Geographic’s series of Trails Illustrated Topographic Maps most useful. I always have it with me in my daypack.

General References: The best advice I’ve received for planning trips to national parks has come from two series: Lonely Planet and Moon Guides. I also consult a great resource by Michael Joseph Oswald, Your Guide to the National Parks.