As mentioned, N. Rim of Grand Canyon is closed until spring.

Petrified Forest is definitely worth it - it's an easy 150 mi. N. of Phoenix and so if time is an issue, you could do the round trip in a long day with an early start - I live in PHX and have done so in the past no problem. Sedona itself is overrun with tourists in season, but things should be quieter now - very scenic and worth a visit as well.

Around PHX: Desert Botanical Garden is always fun. Consider Boyce Thompson Arboretum 45 miles E. of town - nice assortment of native and non-native plants, good scenery. Think of doing some hiking in the Superstition Mtns starting e.g., at Lost Dutchman Park or Peralta Trail.

South of Phoenix (where less chance of snow than in the North if weather turns cold): Saguaro Natl Park, Sabino Canyon (just next to Tucson), Madera Canyon (great for birding altho less so in winter), Parker Canyon Lake, Bisbee, and if you are into this kind of things, tourist traps such as Tomstone.

My No. 1 Sherpa and I are headed for two weeks in Arizona in mid January. Need photo advice from you good people. I have some mobility issues at the moment and (even mild) hiking is out of the question.

We will be spending one week in Phoenix with friends. Any photo suggestions or musts?

I am allotting one day to Petrified Forest N.P. It looks like a drive-thru with stops at designated turnouts and other things that catch my eye. It will be a weekday and there should be no crowds. As of now I have no plans to drive beyond Blue Mesa.

On to Canyon de Chelly. In deference to my Sherpa I am not doing a tour of the Canyon floor with a native guide. She gets enough winter where we live (Pennsylvania). We plan to drive the North Rim in the morning and the South Rim in the afternoon.

Then it's a brief stop in Sedona. I've been there, but hope to get some sunset shots from Airport Mesa which I missed the last time. Any other suggestions, especially for early morning?

Finally, we'll be spending two days at the Grand Canyon, in the Village. Many accessible vantage points. The best for sunset? Sunrise?

My No. 1 Sherpa and I are headed for two weeks in Arizona in mid January. Need photo advice from you good people. I have some mobility issues at the moment and (even mild) hiking is out of the question.

We will be spending one week in Phoenix with friends. Any photo suggestions or musts?

I am allotting one day to Petrified Forest N.P. It looks like a drive-thru with stops at designated turnouts and other things that catch my eye. It will be a weekday and there should be no crowds. As of now I have no plans to drive beyond Blue Mesa.

On to Canyon de Chelly. In deference to my Sherpa I am not doing a tour of the Canyon floor with a native guide. She gets enough winter where we live (Pennsylvania). We plan to drive the North Rim in the morning and the South Rim in the afternoon.


Then it's a brief stop in Sedona. I've been there, but hope to get some sunset shots from Airport Mesa which I missed the last time. Any other suggestions, especially for early morning?

Finally, we'll be spending two days at the Grand Canyon, in the Village. Many accessible vantage points. The best for sunset? Sunrise?

Second this...

They close the N. Rim during winter for a reason: It IS winter up there and you could get caught up in a bad situation, potentially needing to be rescued or worse. It's not worth it for someone who's familiar with the region, much less so for someone who is not. The same daredevil attitude gets people in trouble (including loss of life) when, despite official warnings not to do so, they attempt to cross flooded streams and they, and sometimes their vehicle, are carried away by the water.