Southwest NPS Itinerary & Budget
The planning for this American southwest trip was a little different for us. We had originally planned to be in California during this time. We were going to fly into Vegas and drive over to Death Valley National Park. We were going to visit Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Yosemite and many more NPS sites, before flying home from San Fransisco. However, due to COVID and the wildfires out west, we were forced to change things up at the last minute.
We decided to keep our flight to Vegas and instead head south. We took a drive through Arizona and then ventured east, eventually flying out of El Paso, Texas.
It was an extremley busy trip, but we are so thankful for all of the places that we were able to experience!
Day 1
Fly to LAS
LAS to Cedar Pocket Pass - 1 hr 40 min
Day 2
Cedar Pocket Pass to Grand Canyon NP North Rim - 3 hrs
Day 3
Grand Canyon NP to Wupatki NM - 3 hrs
Day 4
PHX to Hohokam Pima / Casa Grande Ruins - 2 hrs 35 min
Wupatki to Sunset to Walnut to Tuzigoot to Monte to PHX - 3.25 hrs
Casa Grande to Saguaro West THEN East - 1 hr 45 min
Day 5
Saguaro East to Chiricahua to Fort Bowie to Las Cruces - 5.25 hrs
Day 6
Las Cruces to White Sands NP - 1 hr
Day 7
White Sands NP to Carlsbad Caverns NP - 3.5 hrs
Day 8
Carlsbad Caverns NP to Guadalupe Mtns NP - 45 min
Day 9
Guadalupe Peak
Day 10
Guadalupe Mtns NP to Chamizal NM - 2 hrs
Preliminary Plans
Day 11
Fly Home
Free Ranger Programs?
Hikes
Kaibab Plateau (4x4 - 17 miles)
STAMP at Lodge or General Store
Grand Canyon Lodge / Bright Angel Point (.9 mile)
N. Kaibab Trail to Coconino (.75) or Supai (1.7)
Scenic Drive
Point Imperial
Cape Royal Road (Sunset)
Walhalla Glade
Cliff Spring Trail (.5 mile)
Cape Final (4miles)
Transept Trail (3 miles / 1.5 hrs)
Deer Creek Falls
Hikes (2.4 miles / 1 hr 45 min total)
Sunset Crater Volcano NM stamp
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Lenox Crater
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Must leave by 4:30pm
Island Trail (1 mile / 1 hour)
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Main trail (1/3 mile)
(1/3 mile hike)
Montezuma Well (1/3 mile hike) - 15 min drive
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Tues - Sat / 9am-4pm
Valley View Overlook (.8 miles / 30 min)
Scenic Bajada Loop Drive
Desert Discovery
Signal Hill
Kings Canyon Trail (7.1 miles)
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Spud Rock
Freeman Homstead Trail (1 mile)
Cactus Forest Drive (8 mile loop) SUNSET)
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Bonita Canyon Drive (8 miles)
Hiking
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Outdoor VC 9am-5pm
Dunes Drive (16 mile RT / 45 min)
Playa Trail
Dune Life Nature Trail
Alkali Flat Trail (10 miles)
Interdune Boardwalk Trail (600 yards)
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Big Room - 1.25 miles / 1.5 hrs
Natural Entrance - 1.25 miles / 1 hr
Film 17 min
Outdoor VC 8am-4:30pm
Guadalupe Peak Trail (8.5 miles / 6-8 hrs)
Dog Canyon
Indian Meadow Nature Trail (30 min)
McKittrick Canyon / Pratt Cabin
Frijole Ranch
Salt Basin Dunes
Williams Ranch (4x4 vehicle)
Pinery Trail
Smith Spring Trail
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Trails
Final Itinerary
Stops
Grand Canyon NP
Wupatki NM
Sunset Crater Volcano NM
Walnut Canyon NM
Tuzigoot NM
Montezuma Castle NM
Hohokam Pima NM
Casa Grande Ruins NM
Saguaro NP
Chiricahua NM
Fort Bowie NHS
White Sands NP
Carlsbad Caverns NP
Guadalupe Mtns NP
Chamizal NM
Stays
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10/5-10/6
10/6-10/7
10/7-10/8
10/8-10/9
10/9-10/10
10/10-10/11
10/11-10/12
10/12-10/14
10/14-10/15
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Dispersed
Dispersed
Airbnb
Dispersed
Dispersed
Airbnb
Dispersed
Camping
Airbnb
Budget & Expenses
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