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Arizona Bureau of Land Management

BLM Arizona Recreation and Tourism Niches

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Tourism "Niches" are clusters of similar recreational opportunities within regions of the State that have appeal to certain populations. BLM's Recreation 2000 Strategy Update (1995) set forth a recreation marketing plan which encouraged BLM field offices on a national and state level to focus resources, efforts, and partnerships on serving public recreation and tourism interests through promoting tourism or recreation niches.

The 14.2 million acres of public lands managed by BLM Arizona offer a broad range of recreational opportunities which fall into a number of marketing niches. The diverse and unique resources of BLM's management units in Arizona provide an excellent opportunity to match the best of BLM attractions with the interests of practically any outdoor recreation enthusiast. Through niche marketing efforts BLM hopes to match the benefits of special settings, facilities, social interactions, and experiences with the desires and needs of those who recreate on public lands. Each of our field offices was asked "What do you want to be known for in the tourism arena?" The following is a summary of BLM Arizona's tourism niches compiled to give a repesentative sample of the diversity of recreation opportunities on public lands in Arizona by geographic region.

Applicable Arizona Office of Tourism Niche Markets

Adventure

Where the visitor directly participates in activities which require outdoor skills, including camping, climbing, caving, hiking, backpacking, four-wheel driving, mountain biking, fishing, hunting, horseback riding and boating. High, medium or low risk to personal health and safety may be involved.

Cultural/Heritage

Where the visitor seeks specific sites and areas related to Arizona's pre-historic and historic periods, as well as Native American and Hispanic cultures. This is accomplished through guided and self-guided touring and by using various forms of interpretation and education.

Eco-Education or Nature

Where the visitor seeks specific sites and areas related to Arizona's varied ecosystems. The visitor may participate in general science and nature study, viewing scenery and wildlife, geologic study, photography, etc. It is also associated with interpretation and education.

Old West

Where the visitor seeks specific experiences related to Arizona's Old West period. Especially popular with international travelers are cowboy, train and cattle history and opportunities to view or re-live the "Wild West" days.

Family Fun

Where a visitor is seeking safe and healthy sites and activities to share experiences with family members and close friends. This can include the full spectrum of activities available on public lands, but often is facility dependent. Camping, picnicking, fishing, boating, water sports, rockhounding, driving for pleasure and viewing interpretive sites are primary activities.

Arizona Field Offices

Arizona Strip

CuItural/Heritage Tourism: The theme of the Arizona Strip is "Where the West Stays Wild." With a spirit of adventure, Arizona Strip visitors can get a glimpse of the Old West and find places to learn about and experience Native American, pioneer, ranching and mining cultures as they exist today and were in the past.

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Adventure Tourism: Because the Arizona Strip is remote and has vast uninhabited areas, visitors can easily escape the crowding associated with more popular parks and recreation areas. Adventure tourism opportunities include: hiking and mountain
bicycling through vast uninhabited regions; sightseeing and exploring by vehicle the Vermilion Cliffs Highways and vast network of back country roads; hunting trophy deer and other wildlife with rifle or camera; floating the Virgin River; and, sightseeing from remote spectacular vista points on canyon rims.

Kingman

Nature-Based Adventure Tourism: Recreation opportunities exist for short-term visits in natural settings ranging from lower elevation Mojave and Sonoran Desert environments to the higher "mountain island" forest communities. These opportunities are supported by developed campgrounds, picnic areas, interpretive wildlife viewing facilities and a wide choice ofmotorized and non-motorized trails. Primitive dispersed camping and off-trail hiking opportunities also abound. Public lands provide both domestic and international visitors opportunities to: escape the pressures of everyday life; interact with family and friends, pursue health and fitness activities; and discover the challenges of exploring nature.

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Cultural/Heritage Tourism: Scenic driving and interpretive experiences are available along Historic Route 66 as it passes through public lands in Mohave County. A designated BLM Back Country Byway, the highway provides visitors opportunities to experience and understand the trials and tribulations of early American highway travelers. The communities of Kingman, Oatman and Golden Shores provide those traveling "Main Street America" a trip back in time.

Lake Havasu

Family Fun Tourism: Opportunities along the Colorado River in the Parker Strip and on Lake Havasu are heavily focused on water-based recreation. Recreational pursuits are supported by numerous BLM facilities, as well as resort concessions operated by private partners. Boating, water skiing, camping, picnicking and beach related activities are very popular.

Adventure Tourism: As the temperatures begin to cool in winter, the range of recreational activities expands from the Colorado River to the back country. Winter visitors will find excellent weather for boating, fishing, back country exploring, sightseeing and touring, with an emphasis on petroglyph and historic mining sites, wilderness areas and viewing the Sonoran Desert's flora and fauna.

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Phoenix

Nature-Based Adventure Tourism: Areas managed by the Phoenix Field Office provide diverse and year-around recreation opportunities to one of the fastest growing and densely populated urban areas in the nation. Public lands near the metropolitan Phoenix are located in the heart of the Sonoran Desert. These lands offer increasingly valuable open space and remote settings for a wide spectrum of recreational activities including off-highway driving, mountain biking and bicycling, hiking, backpacking, camping, hunting, nature study, wilderness appreciation, commercially guided tours and both motorized and non-motorized racing events. Visitation to these public lands is greatest during the winter months. Resources within the area include: Lake Pleasant and hiking; and, equestrian and multi-use trails located at Harquahala and Vulture Peaks in the Maricopa Wilderness complex and the Black Canyon corridor. Off-highway vehicle opportunities can be found at Lake Pleasant, the Harquahala Mountains, the Barry Goldwater Range (east side) and in the Aqua Caliente area.

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Cultural/Heritage Tourism: Opportunities to explore the rich prehistoric and historic heritage of Arizona are abundant in this area. The public is welcome to visit National Historic Register sites and nationally significant trails such as: Painted Rocks Petroglyph Site; Harquahala Mountains Smithsonian Observatory; Anza National Historic Trail; Southern Overland Route; Butterfield Stage Route; Perry Mesa; and, Red Rock to partake in an "Adventure in the Past."

Yuma

Adventure Tourism: The Lower Colorado River Corridor provides individuals and families water based recreation opportunities in the spring, summer and fall ranging from developed recreation sites to primitive camping combined with extensive boating and fishing opportunities. The BLM, local communities and concessionaires provide most of the support facilities desired by the public. Developed recreation sites are managed to ensure a stable controlled experience, whereas primitive use areas offer more freedom for self determination of recreation experiences.

Primitive long-term camping is provided at the La Posa Recreation Management Area. The area provides visitors extended camping opportunities at a minimal cost. Camping areas serve as a base for geology and cultural resource exploration in the Fall, Winter and Spring. Services and facilities will range from BLM administered permanent facilities to temporary mobile services offered by local businesses. The community of Quartzsite provides services such as a local post office and retail sales.

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La Posa Recreation Management Area, Yuma East, Lower Colorado River Corridor, and the Barry M. Goldwater Resource Management Area provide year-round opportunities for extreme solitude and vehicle based exploration with unsurpassed semi-primitive motorized recreation experiences. Thousands of miles of under-utilized roads and jeep trails crossing contiguous blocks of public land offer unsurpassed semi-primitive recreation opportunities. Services and facilities are limited to signing and public education. Activities include camping, hiking, off-highway vehicle touring, hunting, nature study, bicycling, photography and wildlife viewing.

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Tucson

Nature-based Tourism: Southern Arizona offers year-round recreation opportunities. The San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area has 40 miles of lush riparian vegetation and is known as one of the premier birding areas in the nation with nearly 400 species of birds recorded. Visitors can hike the river corridor, view wildlife, study geology and take photos of lush landscapes. A privately operated excursion train offers a unique means of viewing and learning about the area. Environmental education and interpretive programs are offered throughout the year.

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Not far from the San Pedro, just off of Scenic Highway 83 is the 45,000 acre Empire-Cienega Resource Conservation Area. Tall grasses, oak woodlands and lush riparian areas offer an opportunity to spy on a rare gray hawk and many other colorful birds found in giant cottonwoods along Cienega Creek. Nature-based adventure is abundant in the Silverbell Mountains northwest of Tucson. Hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, wildlife viewing, exploring and photography in this beautiful natural setting are popular public land activities.

Cultural/Heritage Tourism: The San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area is also known for the its cultural resources. Over 250 recorded prehistoric artifacts, dating back approximately 11,000 years, and historic artifacts reflecting the Spanish, Mexican and American periods have been found throughout the San Pedro River Valley. Environmental education and interpretive tours are offered upon request.. The 1 800's Empire Ranch and Ranch House on the Empire-Cienega Resource Conservation Area offer visitors a peek at the recent past, an opportunity to view a working ranch and feel for how life centered around one of Arizona's oldest adobe residents.

Safford

Nature-based Tourism: Across BLM lands near Safford, the public enjoys a variety of nature based activities. Over 100 miles of rivers, streams and shoreline around ponds in wilderness areas and in developed settings are available for exploration. Rafting and fishing on the Gila River, bird watching at the Bonita Creek wildlife viewing platform, camping in Turkey Creek, hiking and back packing in Aravapai Canyon and Redfield Canyon Wilderness Areas, upland bird and waterfowl hunting near ponds in the San Simon Valley, soaking in the hot tubs at Hot Well Dunes, picnicking at the Gila River or driving the Black Hills Back Country Byway await the outdoor enthusiasts.

Cultural/Heritage Tourism: BLM lands around Safford are also rich in cultural heritage. Sites, such as the Serna and Old Lady Gay Cabins, Pueblo Deval and Turkey Creek cliff dwellings are associated with riparian zones. Much has been done to preserve and interpret these sites for the benefit of the cultural/heritage tourist.

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