Arizona: Snowbird's Paradise - RV Parks

Greater Phoenix

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The city of Phoenix is the hub of the Valley of the Sun, a region that buzzes with fun activities and vibrant Southwest culture. The area’s many skyscrapers can’t begin to rival the surrounding mountain peaks, and that’s good news for hikers, cyclists and nature lovers eager to explore. Sports enthusiasts can take in an Arizona Cardinals football game in winter or an Arizona Diamondbacks baseball game in springtime. The mild winter temperatures make it possible to enjoy your own athletic and recreational activities outdoors while much of the nation is shivering in the cold. A large metropolitan area like this offers something for everyone, with entertainment, shopping and museums at every turn.

Northern Arizona

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Spectacular geological wonders give northern Arizona vistas you won’t find anywhere else. Sedona’s stunning red rock formations provide a beautiful backdrop to the shops and museums of this artsy town, and trails beckon adventurous hikers. To the north, the down-to-earth town of Flagstaff sports snowy mountain peaks soaring above towering ponderosa pines. Many small towns flourished along Route 66 as it passed through Arizona, including the town of Williams, which serves as a gateway to the Grand Canyon. Snowbirds can catch the epic vistas of this incomparable national park during the quiet season.

South-Central Arizona

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A black silhouette of a saguaro cactus stands against a fiery-colored sky as the sun sinks below the peaks and ridges of the surrounding mountains. This vista exists only in south-central Arizona, where desert beauty surrounds Arizona’s second-largest city, Tucson. Explore the heritage of this vibrant town by sampling the Mexican cuisine and touring historic adobe architecture. But Tucson isn’t stuck in the past—today’s visitors will find plenty of modern shopping and entertainment options. Then, escape to the quiet, desert landscapes with a visit to cactus-rich Saguaro National Park or the stunning Sabino Canyon.

Western Arizona

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In the heart of the Sonoran Desert, cacti and yucca emerge from the sandy landscape. Off in the distance, you may spot sand dunes and mountain peaks. This landscape seems deserted, but life abounds in the unique plants and wildlife that have adapted to survive here. Civilization can also be found in several small towns located in this region of western Arizona. You’ll find historic sites, ghost towns and recreational areas to explore. The clear waters of Lake Havasu offer a scenic contrast to the dry land, as well as a great place to cool off. Stop by the historic London Bridge and learn how the landmark structure was transported brick by brick to this oasis in the desert.

Fairs and Festivals in Arizona - Go RVing

FAIRS & FESTIVALS 

In Arizona, reasons to celebrate are plentiful. Nearly every day throughout Arizona, you can find fairs and festivals held for cultures, food, arts and crafts, animals, trees, holidays, historical events, and more. Attend to see performances, learn a new skill, munch on food, sip on drinks, and, depending on the occasion: see fire dancers. Who would want to miss that? Search the listings below and pick your passion.  MORE AT https://www.visitarizona.com/events/fairs-and-festivals

AUG 30 - SEP 4

92ND ANNUAL WHITE MOUNTAIN APACHE TRIBAL FAIR & RODEO

All-Indian rodeo, custom car show, volleyball tournament, strong man & women competition, baseball tournament, co-ed softball tournament, basketball tournaments, horseshoe tournament, bull riding challenge, royalty pageants, parade, All Indian Women’s Rodeo, food vendors.

WHITERIVER, AZ

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SEP 1 - SEP 4

68TH ANNUAL COCONINO COUNTY FAIR

[Sep 1-4] The County Fair features traditions like youth livestock shows and auction, carnival rides and games, fair food, exhibitions by community members, live entertainment, pie-eating and watermelon-eating contests, and more.

FLAGSTAFF, AZ

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SEP 1 - SEP 4

SWEET CORN FESTIVAL

Children's & adult rodeos, parade, arts & crafts, BBQ, dance, and of course, sweet corn, hay ride and tour of historical homes.

TAYLOR RODEO ARENA, AZ

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SEP 2

29TH ANNUAL FIESTA SEPTIEMBRE

Activities include: entertainment throughout the day by Mariachi Bands, Folklorico dancers, Latin Band, food, drink, arts/crafts booth, historical pioneer families photo exhibit, kidz zona, margarita, salsa & guacamole contests.

WICKENBURG, AZ

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SEP 2

12TH ANNUAL WOODLAND WILDLIFE AND SCIENCE FESTIVAL

Interactive booths and displays with lots of live wildlife, an archery range and casting pond, is joined this year by a Science Festival with displays, demonstrations and exhibits.

PINETOP, AZ

The White Mountain Wildlife & Nature Center

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SEP 2

BUSH VALLEY CRAFT CLUB CRAFT FAIR

Club members have been creating all types of beautiful and interesting items for this annual event. In addition to the craft sale, there will also be their much-anticipated bake sale with lots of homemade treats.

ALPINE, AZ

Alpine Community Center

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Camping at Quartzsite, AZ

RVers head to Quartzsite, Arizona, to dry camp during winter, when temperatures are moderate. Large swaths of desert are free to use with very few restrictions. A number of commercial RV parks offer more amenities, but the major attraction of the area is its reputation for very reasonable long-term camping.

Long-Term Visitor Areas

The La Posa Long Term Visitor Area has four sections. As of 2012, campers pay a flat fee for 14-day stays or for up to a seven-month stay from September 15 through April 15. The fee includes a campsite, potable water, a dump station and trash collection. The camping areas parallel Route 95 south of Interstate 10. The La Posa North and West sections are within walking distance of the RV show venue if campers set up close to the road. The South and Tyson Wash sections are farther south on Highway 95.

Free Camping

The Bureau of Land Management operates five free camping areas outside of Quartzsite where stays are limited to 14 days in a 28-day period. After 14 days, campers pack up and move to another area. A few spots that are posted as “No Camping” are off limits. The Plomosa Road area is about 5 1/2 miles south of town. Hi Jolly is about 3 miles north of Quartzsite. Dome Rock Mountain, 6 miles west, is accessed by the Dome Rock exit of I-10. Scaddan Wash, 3 miles east of town, is south of the frontage road, and Road Runner is 5 miles south on Highway 95.

What to Expect

January and February are the busiest times in Quartzsite. Daytime temperatures range from the 40s to the 70s and nighttime temperatures rarely dip below freezing. Campers might find themselves packed in with neighbors on all sides. Generator noise is steady, as is constant dust and, because there aren’t any trees in the region to provide shade, bright sunshine. Even during the busy months there are a few less-crowded, remote areas to camp, but the Hi Jolly area in particular is always crowded. Since there are few roads, traffic is sometimes heavy. The summer is less busy, but the daytime sun and heat make camping less attractive.

Supplies

Campers may not gather firewood at any of the campsites, but it is available in town. There are no restrictions on bringing your own. Be prepared to store your own water if you’re not at the Long Term Visitor Area. Walking shoes or boots, a heavy jacket for cold, windy days and a raincoat are essential. Quartzsite has a dump station, and fuel and food markets, and RV camping supplies are plentiful, especially during the annual RV show.

What to Do

Rock hounds have been visiting Quartzsite since the 1960s, and gem, mineral and fossil vendors, and junk dealers set up around town during winter, creating a vast open-air flea market. In January, the Sports, Vacation and RV Show draws 150,000 visitors who peruse RV gear, have their rigs repaired and listen to live entertainment under a huge tent. The 10-day Rock and Gem Show in January includes close to 400 booths, and in February, a Hobby, Craft and Gem show and a classic car show take over the big tent.

original article here: http://getawaytips.azcentral.com/camping-quartzsite-az-1865.html

RV Camping in Arizona - Quartzsite

RV Camping in Arizona - Quartzsite

Commercial RV Parks

Quartzsite is home to numerous RV parks. The Quartzsite Chamber of Commerce website lists over 20 parks, some of which, such as the B-10, are in the middle of downtown. Others, such as the Tyson's Well seasonal RV park on Kuehn Road, are part of wider businesses, such as the Sellarama, Tyson's Well's flea market. Facilities in Quartzsite range from a patch of gravel with hookups to full-service trailer parks. It's possible to find parks that allow pets and parks that decline them, downtown camping and places off the beaten track, and weekly and monthly rates.

Check out ROSE RV PARK TODAY

HIKING IN & AROUND QUARTZSITE

Information provided by

http://www.quartzsitetourism.com/Explore_Hiking.html

Palm Canyon Trail

Turn right onto Palm Canyon Road. Follow the dirt road east for nine miles toward the large block mountain. Veer right at the entrance for Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, and follow the signs to the parking lot. Palm Canyon Trail is a short hike and takes you near a stand of unique California fan palms, perhaps the only native palm trees in Arizona.

• Difficulty: Easy
• Length: 1 mile (round trip)
• time to allow: 1 hour

Cibola National Wildlife Refuge Nature Trail

The Cibola National Wildlife Refuge Nature Trail is a one-mile loop that will take the visitor through three different native habitats. Halfway around the trail, you can view thousands of Canada geese, snow geese, ducks and sandhill cranes in a 20-acre pond.

• Difficulty: Easy
• Length: 1 mile Loop
• Time to Allow: a little less than an hour

Crystal Hills

South on Highway 95. The turn is 10 miles south of Quartzsite. The road may be rough, but high-clearance vehicles should have no problems. The only site in the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge where you can actually dig for large quartz crystals. Rock hounders can dig and find quartz on the slopes of an ancient volcanic fumarole.

Q Mountain

There is a little hill right near the town of Quartzsite, which is really the only relief to flat horizontal landscape. It's referred to as "Q mountain" because of the huge Q letter and is located several miles to the southeast rising out of broken rock, black and barren. although referred to as a mountain, at 200 feet high It's really just a hill. On an escarpment near its pinnacle, some person, or persons unknown, created a giant letter "Q" in brilliant white. In fact the letter was created by the careful placement of very white quartz rocks. Believe me there is no easy way to get to the letter. Someone went to a lot of trouble to display this symbol of a most unusual town.

La Paz County in Arizona is one of the best areas in the state to hike.

The areas around the towns of Quartzsite and Parker are rich with lakes, wildlife and scenic areas. There are also many hiking trails, which take you through old mine areas and ghost towns.

For those wanting even more there are some amazing and rewarding areas to the north of Bouse and West of Salome. Our aim is to at least introduce these to you as well. 

WHEN TO HIKE

Summer months can be way to hot to consider this. Winter months are better, but prepare for it to be cold on top. Might have a little bit of snow near the summit in the winter. Best hiking months are probably November-April.

HIKING TIPS

Regardless of your plans, here are some common-sense tips you should know ...

1. Avoid poisonous reptiles, amphipians and insects that may hide in vegetation or crevices, Use hiking shoes or boots.

2. The desert air is dry so make sure you have plenty of water.

3. Dress in layers in order to adjust to changing climate conditions.

4. Let someone know your plans, some areas do not have cell-phone service.

5. Respect private property and contact them if requested for permission

Be prepared – enjoy the sights – and happy hiking.

Kofa Mountains - Signal Peak

Lat:33.36893 Lon:-114.06187
This route takes you to the 4,877 foot summit of Signal Peak which is located in the remote Kofa mountains of southwestern Arizona. Do not attempt this hike unless you've developed keen route finding skills and are in relatively good condition. There is a continuous trail all the way to the summit but it is extremely faint in places and difficult to follow - occasionally you may find a cairn marking the trail . From Quartzite, drive south on US 95 for 18.5 miles to the Palm Canyon Road exit. Turn left (east) and travel 3.2 miles on a gravel road to the Kofa Queen Canyon Road turnoff. Turn left (northeast) and follow the road for 7.5 miles to the trailhead. The last 2.7 miles will be in the Kofa Queen Canyon and will require a 4-wheel drive vehicle to make it completely to the trailhead. The trailhead is at the entrance to a large canyon opening, which is the mouth of Indian Canyon. The trailhead may be marked by a large cairn or two steel fence posts, depending on previous flooding conditions. Do not rely on trail markers, follow the prominent wash into the canyon.

Cunningham Mountain

Cunningham Mountain is the highest point in the Dome Rock Mountains, which parallel the Colorado River in southwestern Arizona near the towns of Quartzsite and Ehrenberg. Despite the low elevations of the desert near the Colorado River the mountains this way tend to be very abrupt, rocky ranges with plentiful spires and cliffs. The Dome Rocks lie across the valley from the Kofas and the Castle Domes, with Cunningham's summit coming in at 3,316 feet. Historically, the Dome Rocks were attractive to miners principally. Copper Bottom Mine is located in the valley across the way, and this is a popular place for ATVs.

To get there - work your way to the US-95 junction in the center of town. Proceed south 8 miles to an unmarked dirt road on your right paralleling a power line. Drive west into the range about 7 miles. A fairly obvious y-junction will signify when to leave the main road. Go left and up about 1/2 mile, coming to a gate that is almost certain to be locked. There is room for one or two vehicles, although it's unlikely you'll have company on your hike.

HARQUAHALA MOUNTAIN

Lat/Lon: 33.81280°N / 113.3489°W

Harquahala Mountain hold both the distinctions of being South Western Arizona’s highest peak and La Paz County’s highest summit. This mountain rises about 3,360 feet from the desert floor. On a good day the views can be extraordinary. From Salome, turn right onto Highway 60. The dirt road to the trail head is located on the south side of Highway 60 between mileposts 70 and 71.  This is a high clearance road only.

HARCUVAR PEAK

Lat/Lon: 33.91640°N / 113.6408°W

Harcuvar Peak is a major summit located in the Harcuvar Mountains of western Arizona, overlooking the towns of Wenden and Salome along US-60 in the McMullen Valley. The peak has an obvious anvil shape to it, its summit ridge appearing as a flattened top as viewed from below. It is one of two highly-prominent mountains in the Harcuvar Range. One must contend with rough desert tracks and steep, rocky slopes to attain this summit. However, the climbing is short and straight-forward, and the effort is well worth it. Start in Wenden, Turn north onto Alamo Road, and zero the odometer at the railroad tracks. Go north 1.4 mile, then ease left (west) diagonally onto a road that soon fronts a canal. This road would be on the 71 1/2-alignment, but it is unmarked. On the topographical map, it is shown opposite a well at BM-1916.

Quartzsite Arizona Camping

Quartzsite Arizona Camping

During the summer, when temperatures frequently rise above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, Quartzsite, Arizona is a virtual ghost town. It's in winter that this city grows beyond all imagination as thousands of RVing snowbirds flock here. The city hosts an unending parade of rock, craft and travel shows from December through March. A Long Term Visitor Area (LVTA), free Bureau of Land management areas and commercial campgrounds offer camping options at all levels of comfort.

http://www.quartzsiteroservpark.com/

LTVA Options

The BLM runs several LTVAs around Quartzsite, but only one, La Posa LTVA (blm.gov/az), is close to the city. This 11,400-acre area has four entrance huts with volunteer attendants: La Posa South, La Posa North, La Posa West and Tyson's Wash. Reach it via U.S. Highway 95 south of Quartzsite. Only one of these four quarters has water and a dump station, but all have dumpsters and vault toilets. The setting is a rocky, but more or less flat, area with dusty side roads, cacti and stunted trees. Before the season really takes off, it's possible to catch glimpses of wildlife, including kangaroo rats and coyotes. As the LTVA fills, though, these creatures become much more scarce.

LTVA Basics

The winter season runs from September 15 to April 15 and new arrivals register at either the Yuma, Arizona, or El Centro, California, BLM offices, or at the LTVA entrance station. As of 2011, a season pass cost $180 and gives holders the right to stay at any of several nearby LTVAs---one in Quartzsite, two in Blythe, California and two in Yuma. If you just want to get their feet wet you can pay $40 for two weeks; you may renew at will during the seven-month season. Tent camping is allowed here, but you must camp in the vicinity of a vault toilet.

Commercial RV Parks

Quartzsite is home to numerous RV parks. The Quartzsite Chamber of Commerce website lists over 20 parks, some of which, such as the B-10, are in the middle of downtown. Others, such as the Tyson's Well seasonal RV park on Kuehn Road, are part of wider businesses, such as the Sellarama, Tyson's Well's flea market. Facilities in Quartzsite range from a patch of gravel with hookups to full-service trailer parks. It's possible to find parks that allow pets and parks that decline them, downtown camping and places off the beaten track, and weekly and monthly rates.

Visit Us TODAY at ROSE RV PARK

RV Camp in Quartzsite Arizona - Propane and Dumping

RV Camp in Quartzsite Arizona - Propane and Dumping

Rose RV Park

A Full Service RVPark

• Short Walk to the shows
• Easy In, Easy Out

We are friendly to pets and ATV’s

Features:

Full Hookups

Dry Camping

Propane

Water stations

Dump stations

Walking distance to main events

RV’ers Haven
Quartzsite RV Park
Book Early

If you are cruising the great southwest come and spend some time in Quartszite, AZ at Rose RV Park. Rose RV Park is located at 600 E. Kuehn St. We have just installed brand new RV pads with full hook-ups, we also have acres and acres for RV dry camping and tent camping. Here at Rose RV Park we have installed 4 full service waste dump stations 16 filtered water stations, and a propane fill station. It’s everything you need in one quiet spot.