Myths about Arizona

Hatch Expeditions Debunks Some Myths about Arizona

As the leaves are changing color and falling off the trees here in Flagstaff and we’ve already had our first snow, we thought it would be a good time to talk about some myths about Arizona. The Grand Canyon State contains some of the most majestic and awe inspiring landscapes on the planet. Hatch Expeditions loves our home state and wants to share the beauty with anyone and everyone willing to listen. Check out the myths about Arizona that have debunked below.

It’s All Desert

Though the characterization of vast expanses often involves deserts filled with saguaro cacti or red rock desert vistas of the Grand Canyon, Arizona is very diverse geographically. With three specific physiographic regions, Arizona is the perfect state to get the geology studies on. The Colorado Plateau is an elevated region in the Western United States. The southern border of the plateau exists in the Mogollon Rim in central Arizona. It is a cliff that extends 115 miles long. From Sedona over to Payson, this dramatic elevation drops into the desert below. The next region lies just south and west of the Colorado Plateau. It is called the Transition Zone. This is a mountainous and forested area that marks the transition into the next zone called the Basin and Range Province. This region is in the south and western areas of the state. Here find successive mountain ranges separated by large, broad basins. Here lies much of the desert area. These mountain ranges are often called “sky islands” because they are forested, high elevation areas surrounded by low elevation deserts. Bears, deer and other forest creatures live in these areas which shocks not Arizonans to find out.

It’s Hot Everywhere

Actually Flagstaff, AZ (where the Hatch office is located) is one of the highest elevation cities in the United States and consistently ranks in the top snowiest cities in the country averaging 100 inches a year. Also, Flagstaff is one of the metropolitan areas with the most nights below freezing which puts it in close company with Fairbanks, AK and Duluth, MN. That being said, there are many areas ofthe state that get well over 100 degrees in the summer. Flagstaff has never official reached 100 degrees. On most Grand Canyon trips you can expect the stereotypical Arizona weather – hot and dry. The evenings are often in the 70s which provides perfect temperatures for camping.

Woman hiking snow covered Bright Angel Trail

It Does Not Rain

Wrong. Just so wrong. Averages vary throughout the state but considering that the rainy season takes place in the summer, Arizona gets some pretty massive rains. Monsoon rains can bring huge downpours in the summer and many an Arizonan waits all year for this season. The desert after a rain is like nothing else on the planet and everyone should experience it at least once in their life.

The Season Never Changes

Though it is true that many a retiree moves to Arizona to avoid the snow and cold from northern states, it would not be correct to think that there are no seasons. Especially in high elevation, the state goes through a full cycle just as any other states. Over half the state is over 4,500 feet in elevation. We’re at 7,000 feet here in Flagstaff. The leaves even fall off the trees in the fall! Springtime in Arizona provides beauty like nowhere else on the planet. The splendor of a cacti bloom enhanced by the quail calls and coos shows the light side of life in the desert. Snow often falls throughout the state in winter – even in the desert! I think we all know about the summers here so Hatch Expeditions won’t try to overly debunk that one.

Did you believe these myths about Arizona? Come visit our state and see what else surprises you about our incredibly diverse state!