Gateway Cities & Towns
A list of cities and towns that are near or in National or State Parks.
Arizona     California      New Mexico

ARIZONA
Amado - Nestled in the Santa Cruz River Valley, just a 30 minute scenic drive south of Tucson, following 1-19, Amado is a quaint, rural paradise for birdwatchers, nature-lovers, hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. It is close to Tumacácori National Historic Park, Tubac Presidio State Historic Park, San Xavier del Bac Mission, Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail and Patagonia Lake State Park. Nearby attractions also include Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, Madera Canyon, The Titan Museum and the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory. For details, click here.

 

Yuma - Yuma is nestled in the Yuma and Gila valleys of southern Arizona, offering a climate that blends pleasant desert sunshine with the cool waters of the Colorado River. Yuma is home to the Yuma Crossing State Historic  Park and the Yuma Territorial Prison State Park. It is surrounded by rugged mountains and the Colorado River provides plenty of outdoor activities for visitors. For more details, click here.

 

CALIFORNIA

Julian - This quaint, mountain and gold-mining town in the back-country of San Diego county, California, is situated near William Heise State Park, Cuyamaca State Park and the Anza-Borrego State Park. It is a year round destination offering hiking, shopping, historic re-enactments and sites, a mine tour, the California Wolf Center and wineries, and is famous for it's apple pie. For more information, click here.
 

 

Tuolumne - Tuolumne City is located in the heart of Tuolumne County, near the Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite National Park. It is within a few minutes drive from the historic gold rush towns of Sonora, Jamestown and Columbia. For details, click here.

 

Twentynine Palms - Twentynine Palms is a strong desert community of approximately 27,000 people, that sits between the 800,000  acres Joshua Tree National Park and the largest U.S. Marine Corps base. It is also home to the Oasis of Murals and close to the old movie set town of Pioneertown and to Palm Springs. For more details, click here.

 

 

Visalia - Nestled in the heart of California’s Central Valley, at the base of the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Visalia is home to over 96,000 residents, and boasts a mild, year-round climate with 9 to 10 inches of rain per year. Being located amidst the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and Forests, the outdoor activities are endless boasting of Mount Whitney - the tallest mountain peak in the continental US; the General Sherman Tree - the world’s largest tree; 2 National Parks, the Sequoia National Forest; the deepest canyon in North America, the ‘Trail of 100 Giants’ and the Kaweah Rivers. For details, click here.

NEW MEXICO

Santa Fe - Santa Fe is the oldest capital city in North America and the oldest European community west of the Mississippi. With 320,000 acres of wilderness from mountain streams to alpine lakes, there's adventure at every turn. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy hiking, biking, climbing, and skiing. For details, click here.

 

Silver City -  Located in Grant County, and nestled in the foothills of the Pinos Altos Mountains at an elevation of 6,000 feet, Silver City borders the Continental Divide. Boasting crisp clean air and beautiful sunny days, Silver City offers four gentle seasons to enjoy. You can visit the Catwalk National Scenic Trail, City of Rocks State Park, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, and the Gila National Forest from nearby Silver City. For details, click here.