Day Trips from Grace on the River

Sombrero Butte is a magnificent natural wonder located in the neighboring town of Mammoth, approximately 30 minutes away.
To travel to the butte requires a 4 wheel drive vehicle and may take another 2-3 hours.  Indian ruins and petroglyph's and
pictographs are located on the butte.  

Buehman Canyon is yet another natural wonder with high canyon walls of pink granite and year round water flows.  It takes
about 45 minutes to drive to the canyon mouth and another 20 minutes to walk into the canyon.  It is a nice place to picnic,
and hike and swimming.

Aravaipia Canyon is another spectacular canyon with great hiking, picnicking and water flows.  It is on the way to the town of
Globe and takes 30 minutes to reach and then however long you wish to spend hiking in.

The nearby town of Oracle (20 minutes by car) is a Artisian community, with potters, painters and sculptors a plenty.  It is also
home to Oracle State Park with good hiking, biking and horse riding trails.

Mount Lemmon is a summer haven for local Arizona residents due to the cool climate.  Part of the Coronado National Forest it
has plentiful pine and firs trees.  It can be reached either through a dirt back road requiring 4-wheel drive,(approx. 1, 1/2
hours) or by passing through Tucson, with a normal car, (also approx 1, 1/2 hours).  It has long views of the surrounding
lower valleys and the Santa Catalina Mountains.  Mount Lemmon is 9,157 feet and has quaint shops and 2 local restaurants.  
In the winter it attracts local skiers.  

The Salt River located in Payson is approximately four hours away. This is a scenic, impressive canyon with towering cliffs
above and the Salt river below.  It is popular with skilled rafters and kayakers because of the many difficult rapids.  Perfect
scenic drive and places to picnic.

Saguaro National Park located about 1, 1/2 hours away in Tucson is home to the largest population of Saguaro's, which is the
most conspicuous cactus of the Upper Sonoran Desert and the largest in the US.  They can grow to 50 feet and weight ten
tons.  The Saguaro bloom is the state flower.  Gates Pass runs though this National Forest and offers amazing views.  Try to
arrive in time for the unbelievable sunsets.

Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum located in Tucson is a 1,1/2 hours drive.  Plan on allowing at least 3 hours for this 12-acre
combination botanical garden, zoo and museum.  More than 1,200 plant and 200 animal species displayed in a natural desert
setting, including 140 species of cactus.  Daily talks and demonstrations.