Pinal Pioneer Parkway

Since driving the Interstate is very frustrating for me, particularly when on vacations, I'm always looking for at least some diversion that may be of interest. The Pinal Pioneer Parkway (AZ 79) between Phoenix and Tucson is one such diversion. It's a two lane road that was, in the 1960's, the main route between the two cities. When the state created it, they bought 1000 feet of right-of-way on each side to keep it scenic, thus the area feels unspoiled. The route is known for its desert wild flower display in the Spring, though by mid-June that was no longer in bloom. But, the cacti were interesting, the mountain backdrop dramatic, and the lack of heavy traffic a relief. Getting to the road on the Phoenix end was not a hassle, but the Tucson end requires many miles of driving through heavy suburban traffic -- though still worth doing.

One thing that may not be obvious from this and adjacent pictures is how high the cacti are. The very tall cactus in this picture (saguaro) is probably about 15' tall.