Apache County - 57 Attractions You Must Visit

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About Apache County

Apache County is located in the northeast corner of the U.S. state of Arizona. Most of the county is occupied by part of the federally recognized Navajo Nation and the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, respectively. It also contains part of Petrified Forest National Park. Canyon de Chelly National Monument is entirely within the county and within the boundaries of the Navajo Nation.

Types of Attractions in Apache County

Activities Around

List of Attractions in Apache County

Antelope House Overlook

The Antelope House Overlook is along the North Rim Drive in the Canyon de Chelly National Monument near Chinle, Arizona. Upon reaching the parking area, it is a bit of a walk across sandstone with some steps to reach the fenced overlook. The view from here is marvelous in every direction. The real fun of this spot, though, is the large, mostly flat sandstone cap of the canyon walls that invite exploration.

Apache National Forest

Apache National Forest was established by the U.S. Forest Service in Arizona and New Mexico with 1,302,711 acres from portions of Black Mesa National Forest. In 1974 the entire forest was administratively combined with Sitgreaves National Forest to create Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests.

Becker Lake

Becker Lake

Lake/ River/ Ponds

Becker Lake is a 35 acre lake located in Calumet County. It has a maximum depth of 52.5 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. The lake is stocked with sub-catchable rainbow trout twice a year and many of these fish survive the winter, reaching a good size the following spring. The lake has a boat ramp, dirt parking and barrier-free restroom. The Department has developed two hiking trails through the Wildlife Area.

Big Lake

Big Lake

Lake/ River/ Ponds

A beautiful a White Mountains' fishing lake, with attractive size, productivity and visitor amenities. Situated at 9,000 feet in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, Big Lake is about 26 miles south of Springerville and Eagar. Primary fish species here include rainbow, brook and cutthroat trout, with an occasional Brown trout. It is an iconic location for a picnic and also bathing in allowed here.

Blue Mesa

Blue Mesa

Outdoors- Other

Blue Mesa is a significant landform located on a spur road halfway through Petrified Forest National Park. The trailhead for Blue Mesa Trail is located halfway around the loop road at a sunshelter. The mesa consists of the Blue Mesa and Sonsela Members with petrified wood deposits. Spectacular views of blue, purple, gray, and peach banded badlands.

Buffalo Pass

Buffalo Pass

Mountain Passes

Buffalo Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.610m (8,562ft) above the sea level, located in the Navajo Nation of Apache County, in northeast Arizona, in USA. It’s called Indian Route 13. It’s a great little curvy road with twists and turns in a scenic panorama of sandstone cliffs and tall ponderosa pines.

Butterfly Lodge Museum

The Butterfly Lodge Museum is the historic hunting lodge of Indian adventure author James Willard Schultz and later, the studio-home of his son, Lone Wolf . Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Take a step back in time, you’ll enjoy the original furnishing, artifacts and a gift and book area that include the creative works of both father and son. Open Memorial day weekend through Labor day weekend.

Canyon de Chelly

Canyon de Chelly

National Parks

Canyon de Chelly is unique among National Park service units, as it is comprised entirely of Navajo Tribal Trust Land that remains home to the canyon community. NPS works in partnership with the Navajo Nation to manage park resources and sustain the living Navajo community. it preserves ruins of the indigenous tribes that lived in the area, from the Ancestral Puebloans to the Navajo. The monument covers 83,840 acres.

Canyon de Chelly National Monument

Canyon de Chelly National Monument is within the boundaries of the Navajo Nation and lies in the Four Corners region. Reflecting one of the longest continuously inhabited landscapes of North America, it preserves ruins of the indigenous tribes that lived in the area, from the Ancestral Puebloans to the Navajo. The monument covers 83,840 acres and encompasses the floors and rims of the three major canyons: de Chelly, del Muerto, and Monument.

Carnero Lake

Carnero Lake

Lake/ River/ Ponds

Carnero Lake is a high elevation shallow lake in Apache County, Arizona. Built in 1979, the lake quickly became popular with anglers, to the dismay of downstream water users. Because of the dispute, the Arizona Game and Fish discontinued stocking for many years. In 1999, the Arizona Game and Fish has acquired a major share of the water rights, setting the stage for a new and vigorous trout fishery.

Casa Malpais Archaeological Park & Museum

Casa Malpaís is an archaeological site of the Ancestral Puebloans located near the town of Springerville, Arizona. The site is a nationally recognized archaeological site. The site features an ancient staircase, a Great Kiva, a solar calendar, and rock art. The museum features an introductory video with commentary by Zuni and Hopi elders and an interactive guide to artifacts from the site.

Concho Lake

Concho Lake

Lake/ River/ Ponds

Concho Lake is an irrigation reservoir situated in the town of Concho, in the eastern Arizona grasslands at 6,300 feet. It is a small, shallow, weedy lake. It has 60 acres with a maximum depth of 16 feet and an average depth of 6 feet. A small watershed and nearby spring feed the lake. Following current management plans, the Arizona Game and Fish stocks catchable-sized rainbow trout during spring months.

Crescent Lake

Crescent Lake

Lake/ River/ Ponds

Crescent Lake is located approximately 2 miles north of Big Lake. The lake sits at just over 9,000 feet elevation on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, as such the facilities located here are managed by that authority. Access is restricted in the winter when roads are closed due to snow, generally December to early April.

Crystal Forest

The Crystal Forest is a site in Apache County , Arizona , featuring a large concentration of petrified wood . It is protected within the Petrified Forest National Park. It is one of the iconic attraction in this area and is attracted by many tourists.

Drift Fence Lake

Drift Fence Lake

Lake/ River/ Ponds

Drift Fence Lake Campground is definitely a “be self-contained” campground. It’s a long way back if you forget anything here. The 16 acre lake itself is small but beautiful. Surrounded by Ponderosa and aspens. It is one of the iconic location for a trip and also there are so many other opportunities too.

Earl Park Lake

Earl Park Lake

Lake/ River/ Ponds

Earl Park Lake is a lake located in Apache County on the White Mountains Apache Indian Reservation in the White Mountains of Arizona. The lake is a reservoir on Earl Creek formed by Earl Park Dam with a surface area of 47 acres. Fish varieties found include brook, rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout.

Face Rock Overlook

Face Rock Overlook

Outdoors- Other

The Face Rock Overlook is located along the South Rim Drive in the Canyon de Chelly National Monument near Chinle, Arizona. The location is one of seven overlooks that are spread out along the south rim of the monument. There was only one lovely Navajo grandmother selling her wares at the trailhead.

Four Corners Monument

The Four Corners Monument marks the quadripoint in the Southwestern United States where the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah meet. It is the only point in the United States shared by four states, leading to the area being named the Four Corners region. The monument also marks the boundary between two semi-autonomous Native American governments, the Navajo Nation, which maintains the monument as a tourist attraction, and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Reservation.

Greer Lakes

Greer Lakes

Lake/ River/ Ponds

Greer Lakes is a fishing and scenic destination in Arizona. It is an iconic destination for a day trip and also there are so many things to see and feel and also fishing is possible here. There are paths in and around the lakes that would appeal to day hikers, photographers, and mountain bikers.

Hawley Lake

Hawley Lake

Lake/ River/ Ponds

This 260 acre lake is located on the White Mountains Apache Indian Reservation near Pinetop Lakeside in Arizona's White Mountains. It is surrounded by high mountain peaks covered with thick forests of spruce, pine and aspen.Ice fishing is popular in the winter when the lake freezes over. The lake is a remnant of Pliocene volcanism on the Mogollon Rim but it has been artificially extended as a reservoir for downstream irrigation plus trout and ice fishing.

Map of attractions in Apache County

Comments

For more information about Apache County, visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apache_County,_Arizona