Ecotourism in America: New Mexico and Arizona eco-itinerary

In the eighth installment of a series that highlights the natural beauty and wildlife viewing opportunities available within the U.S., our focus turns to Southwest, where in the last year, New Mexico has made a concerted effort to promote its specialized ecotourism events, activities, and lodgings. Not to be outdone, Arizona has also advanced its ecotourism marketing including links for volunteering at Grand Canyon National Park. With plenty of opportunities for birding, whitewater rafting, hiking, mountain biking, or just taking in the breathtaking scenery, the Southwest is a sure-hit for all eco-minded travelers.

Getting there:

Amtrak's Southwest Chief route runs between Chicago and Los Angeles with ample stops in New Mexico and Arizona. With its sleeping, dining, and private bathroom accommodations, it may offer a fun alternative to driving the Interstate. Once at your destination, you could rent a hybrid car or take a bicycle tour through the region. Tours include lodging, dining, local sightseeing, national forest visits, luggage transfer, small group sizes and all the nature you can take in along the way.

Suggested itinerary:

1. Santa Fe National Forest - with four major wilderness regions including the Chama River Canyon Wilderness area, the Santa Fe National Forest is home to black bear, deer, elk, big horn sheep, turkeys and grouse. Hike, fish or go horseback riding on the Hart Trail or the Continental Divide Trial.
2. Gila National Forest in New Mexico is also adjacent to the Apache National Forest - whether it's biking along the canyon, mountain, meadow and semi-desert paths or swimming in the hot springs, you will marvel at the bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and the red-tailed hawks soaring overhead. Also, the Apache National Forest offers Kids in the Woods conservation and education programs throughout the summer.
3. In addition to visiting the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona (which is well covered by fellow Examiners Stacey Wittig: Grand Canyon Hiking Examiner and Linda Updike: Grand Canyon National Park Examiner), the Tonto National Forest is habitat for many endangered and sensitive species including the Pygmy Owl, Desert Pupfish, and Peregrine Falcon. As part of your stay, you could choose to volunteer, hike through a desert cave, bike one of the thousands of trails, or even whitewater raft down the Salt River.

Suggested Lodging:

1. Hacienda Las Barrancas is 20 minutes outside Santa Fe - with special discounts for hybrid car drivers, this 4 guest room, environmentally aware property utilized reclaimed building materials for its construction, uses renewable and high quality natural furnishings, sources its breakfast ingredients locally, and applies xeric gardening practices.
2. The Annabel Inn is 20 minutes outside Sedona - among other environmentally conscious practices, this 3 guest room Inn has its own fruit and vegetable garden and employs gray water recycling methods. The keeper caters breakfast to your specific needs whether you want a locally sourced raw and organic breakfast or its signature caviar breakfast for two. There are also shuttle services available from Flagstaff and Phoenix directly to where the Inn is located.

If you enjoyed this article, be sure to read others in the Ecotourism in America series including eco-itineraries for:

• New England
• New York
• Virginia
• North Carolina
• Georgia and Florida
• Colorado and Wyoming
• Minnesota and Wisconsin

Part 8 of this series continues with a profile on ecotourism in California.

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