By Victoria Ries
Arizona has many sites suitable for field trips. Many of these sites don't have addresses because they are not commercial enterprises. They often cater to the beliefs and ways of ancient peoples whose land these sites still belong. Plan on taking plenty to drink and a cooler packed with sandwiches and snacks as convenience stores are far and few between in these areas. Northern Arizona has miles of space between gasoline stations, so make certain you have a full tank. Visit these fascinating locations and allow your imagination to run wild.
Dinosaur Dance Floor
Referred to as a "dinosaur dance floor" because of the sheer number of dinosaur footprints, this northern Arizona dinosaur hot spot makes an excellent field trip for young and old. These dinosaur prints, once thought to be potholes, are 200 million year-old dinosaur tracks. The once wet area where the tracks are located got muddy one year, leaving deep dinosaur prints in the clay-type mud. There are also rare tail-drag marks--just one site among 24 worldwide where you can view them. The dinosaur prints are at Coyote Buttes North area in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness along the Arizona-Utah border.
Montezuma Well
Montezuma Well was formed by the collapse of a limestone cave. The Sinagua culture built cliff dwellings into the high sandstone cliffs above the well. Visit the ancient 1,000-year-old irrigation ditch in this tranquil and serene part of Arizona, 11 miles from Montezuma Castle. Montezuma Well is home to a cross-section of mammals, amphibians, reptiles and insects, some of which can only be found at this location.
Directions: Follow Interstate 17 to exit 293 (four miles north of the exit for Montezuma Castle). Continue through the towns of McGuireville and Rimrock, following the signs for four miles to the entrance to the well. There is no fee to enter Montezuma Well.
Raven Site Ruin
Raven Site Ruin, also known as Southwest Ranch Pueblo, is a large ancient American Indian settlement near Springerville/St. Johns in the White Mountains of northern Arizona. The site was used by Mogollon and Anasazi Indians, and consisted of more than 300 rooms housing many people. The site overlooks the Little Colorado River, a main vein and an absolutely vital water supply for drinking and growing crops, washing and cooking. Hands-on excavating is permitted and there are guided hikes throughout the day to visit petroglyphs around this enormous site. Walking shoes are recommended. The site is closed in winter.
Raven Indian Ruins
12 miles North of Springerville, Arizona
928-333-5857
About the Author:
Victoria Ries is a freelance writer whose work has been published in print magazines including Guideposts, BackHome and Mother Earth News. Ries enjoys working on diverse topics such as travel, animal rescue, health, how-to and home business.
