Road-Trip to Saguaros and Petrified Forest National Parks, w/moderate hikes

Let's spend the Thanksgiving weekend in the mild warmth and sun of Arizona while covering two cozy national parks - Saguaro National Park and Petrified Forest National Park.

These parks are a must if you want to see some iconic southwestern landscapes. The Petrified Forest National Park that lies within the Painted Desert is one of the wonders of Arizona. In the first two day we will hike Giant Logs, Cristal Forest and other trails with colorful surroundings, and drive a scenic drive.

Then in Saguaro National Park in we will see Saguaros, a supreme symbol of the American Southwest, and a plant with personality )) Arizona is home to the nation's largest cacti. These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are protected by Saguaro National Park. In this park besides hiking cacti forests we may get a chance to see the Bridal Wreath waterfall in the middle of the desert, if water is there. We will also take a look at Old Tucson movie-making site.

November weather in southern Arizona is usually referred as delightful with mild warm days averaging 65 degrees F and cool nights averaging 40 degrees F. The Petrified Forest area is chillier with days averaging 48 degrees F and nights averaging 20 degrees F. See updates weather forecasts at:

Saguaro NP area, https://bit.ly/37xnGVg

Petrified Forest NP area, https://bit.ly/36Kybpc

Trip's summary:

• 5days/4nights trip for a small group of 6 explorers.
• The starting and ending point is Phoenix, AZ.
• Hotel accommodations in Holbrook, AZ, Scottsdale, AZ, and Tucson, AZ All locations in this event follow safety requirements by the state.
• Level of activities: Easy to Intermediate.

Clothes and gear recommended:

• good hiking boots,
• warm jacket for evenings, be ready to layer up,
• hiking poles if you used to them,
• consider hydration bladder for hikes,
• sunglasses,
• sunscreen,
• hat,
• swimming suite, cap, flip-flops for relaxing at hotel's pool,
• for personal protection: mask, carry-on sanitizer, gloves (by your choice.)

Cost $520 (no later than 1 month before the start this cost can be updated, for no more than 10%, based on services price changes, like gas and others.) What is included:

• 5days/4nights stay in 2-people occupancy non-smoking room (two queen beds in room.) Rooms have coffee-making machine, small fridge, free wi-fi.
• Breakfasts at some hotels,
• Transportation by minivan (like Chrysler Pacifica, Dodge Grand or similar) covering approx. 680 mi of road-tripping total,
• Park entrance fees,
• Organized hikes in all days.

What is NOT included:

• Getting to/from Phoenix, AZ,
• Meals, snacks, water.

Sunrise: 7:25am. Sunset: 5:30pm. Every day we want to start off from the hotel at 7:30am, or 8am as the latest.

Eating Options (not included in the cost):

• This trip is focused on activities and exploring places, and the meals are planned the way to not interfere with making most of activities and exploring. So, participants are asked to have packed food and water for lunches that will be eaten either at picnic areas or on the go (if no picnic areas are available or we need to hike.) This will allow saving more daylight time for activities. Driving for grocery shopping can be provided every evening. Open in evenings are usually chain stores like Safeway and Walmart, Whole Foods in some location.
• If the majority of group wants to arrange a restaurant dinner in a nearby location during the trip, it can be done and time can be allotted, driving provided.
• Breakfasts are included by some hotels, and mostly they are basic or on-the-go/packed breakfasts. Typically, hotel rooms have fridge, microwave and coffeemaker, and that is to be specified in the itinerary for each hotel.

Photo-album from the previous trip with a similar itinerary and activities:

https://www.meetup.com/u-s-national-parks-quest-group/photos/31186110/

Please sign up and feel free to contact the organizer with any questions!

If you see that the event is full/no tickets available, do not hesitate to contact the organizer about your interest as spots can become available. Also, please check on the photo-album from our past trips (in About section) and our future trips to U.S. National Parks and National Parks in Europe and Asia for 2024-2025. Thanks!

ATTN. There will be a Zoom meeting on this trip and a WhatsApp group chat will be formed for the group to communicate and prepare for the trip. Please be available to connect by WhatsApp (provide the organizer with your WhatsApp contact info to be included in the chat.) Regular messaging will not work out for this trip, sorry.

ATTN. The $10 payment through Eventbrite is for reserving a spot in this small group event (it counts in toward the whole payment for the trip.) After you reserved your spot, you will be contacted by the organizer about a Zoom meeting with the group and joining a WhatsApp group chat. Meeting your future groupmates in a Zoom and being able to communicate by WhatsApp are mandatory steps to become a part of this trip. If any of these cannot be done/mind changed, the $10 reservation payment will be refunded in full though the initial means of payment, minis fees paid to Eventbrite/third parties. The outline of the trip will be communicated during a Zoom meeting and in WhatsApp group chat. The detailed, hour-by-hour, itinerary will be provided to the confirmed participants of the trip.

Host or Publisher Worlds Apart Trips