Slide Rock State Park
Slide Rock State Park Pixabay Public Domain
Slide Rock State Park in Oak Creek Canyon, within the Coconino National Forest, was dedicated officially as a U.S. Forest Service managed the park in 1985. This state park is actually one of the most noted and popular tourist attractions in Arizona, attracting crowds of locals and tourists alike in massive quantities each day. The name, Slide Rock Park, comes from the natural waterslide formed by the slippery bed of Oak Creek. This must-see destination was voted in 2014 as a Top Ten State Park in the United States by Fodor’s Travel and the fifth-best swimming hole in the United States by USA Today. This destination is honestly the perfect place to see the region and also get a chance to cool off on a natural waterslide, excellent swimming holes, and wade through a historic irrigation system still in working condition!
In this lovely park, your group will see the tall red rock formations typical to this region, as well as an impressive and historic 43-acre apple farm, first established in 1912. There are over 30 cabins to tour in the Pendley Homestead Historic District, a Nationally Registered Historic Site. Famous films such as Angel and the Badman, Broken Arrow, Drum Beat, and Gun Fury were filmed here, making it easier to see why 250,000 annual guests flock to this spot. There are three hiking trails, the Pendley Homestead, Slide Rock, and Clifftop Nature trails, all under a half mile each. Take in all the great wildlife, geology, and history here at Slide Rock State Park, and have fun doing it too!
