50 Mesmerizing Attractions in the Southwest
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46. Catwalk National Recreation Area
The Catwalk is an interesting daytrip to consider if you find yourself staying in or traveling near Silver City, New Mexico. The Catwalk Recreation Area is located within the Mogollon Mountains of of Southern New Mexico. The area was established in 1889 when when gold and silver deposits were discovered in the mountains above the creek.
The name Catwalk comes from the original plank walkway placed atop the steel pipe that once brought water to the ore processing plant. The plank is suspended about 12 feet above Whitewater Creek as it winds through a gorgeous canyon. As you look down you’ll see a few small waterfalls. The trail was originally much longer but due to a fire was rebuilt and now stands at an easy 1/2 mile. The creek flows year-round and is a welcome change from the barrenness of the desert. And the drive from Silver City is an attraction in itself -very peaceful & scenic!
Location: Near Glenwood, New Mexico
47. Soldier’s Pass
Soldier’s Pass is one of the most interesting of Sedona hikes due to a rare combination of natural features. On this 2.5 mile out-and-back trail, you will come across a number of unique sights including natural sandstone arches, Sedona’s most active sinkhole, and a series of cascading natural pools known as “7 sacred pools.” The hike is very beautiful with diverse scenery ranging from towering red rock formations to the serene and heavily treed red rock secret wilderness.
Location: Sedona, Arizona
More info on the Soldier’s Pass trail
48. Bear Jaw
The Bear Jaw-Abineau Loop is an incredible high altitude hike in Flagstaff which is outstanding anytime of the year, but even more jaw dropping during the fall season. The road to get to the trailhead is very rough (4WD recommended), however, this hike is worth any hassle. The combined loop is about 7 miles and involves a very steep climb with an elevation gain of nearly 2000 ft.
You will pass beautiful forested canyons intermixed with pines and aspens which turn a brilliant gold in the fall. This is one of the best spots in the Peaks to see black bears. The trail begins at an elevation of 8510 feet, making this one of the hardest trails in town when you consider the distance plus altitude. If you are looking for something a bit easier you can opt to skip the full loop in favor of the 2 mile out-and back trek to Bear Jaw, which will still be pretty difficult, but nothing as strenuous and time consuming as the 4-5 hour full loop.
Location: Flagstaff, Arizona
More info on the Bear Jaw-Abineau Loop
49. West Fork
West Fork is a tranquil trail running along the perennial Oak Creek near Sedona, Arizona. Although this trail is hidden amongst the dense trees, it is very popular with Phoenix locals fleeing the summer heat. In autumn, leaf peepers arrive in droves to view the beautiful traditional fall foliage. Bright hues of gold and red line every inch of the trail. Besides serene views of leafy trees, the trail features amazing red rock views and 13 fun & slightly challenging creek crossings. It’s one of the most popular trails within the Coconino National Forest for good reason.
Despite the crowds and oftentimes insane wait to get in, the trail is incredibly scenic, peaceful, and the perfect shady escape from the heat of the desert. If you visit outside of the summer season, you will enjoy a more natural experience. Winter is basically completely isolated (especially after a snowstorm), however, the water level may limit how far you can go out.
Location: Oak Creek Canyon, in between Flagstaff and Sedona in between milepost 384 and 385
More info on the West Fork trail
50. Red Mountain
Red Mountain is an interesting Flagstaff area hike which takes you to the amphitheater of an ancient volcano which erupted 740,000 years ago. This easy 1.5 mile out-and back hike is conveniently located on Hwy 180, so you can save yourself some time and stop here on the way out to the Grand Canyon. The really cool aspect of this hike is that you get to take a look inside the core of the volcano.
You will see all sorts of interesting hoodoos along the way. The whole trek is especially interesting for anyone interested in geology. The best part of all is that it remains quiet all year as travelers simply skip over it in favor of getting to the Grand Canyon faster.
Location: 30 miles north of Flagstaff, Arizona on Hwy 180
