As we drove from New Mexico into Arizona, we were thrilled to start seeing mountains! Both of us couldn’t help but exclaim how much we had missed seeing real mountains. While these towering peaks weren’t as green as Vermont’s, we were still captivated as we seemed to drive straight toward them.

Roper Lake State Park was our first stop in Arizona. We had reserved spots at four different state parks across the state, as we love staying in the state park system. Although we don’t always have full hookups, many of the parks on our list offer electricity and water, which is perfect for our needs. Roper Lake was exactly what I had hoped for. My favorite scenery combines mountains and water (just take a look at our logo!), and this park delivered on that front. The lake isn’t large, but locals and fellow campers rave about the great fishing spots. We also had the chance to use our inflatable kayak for the first time on this trip. Roper Lake was extra special because I chose to celebrate my 60th birthday there, surrounded by the beauty of Mount Graham. It was the perfect place to mark such a milestone.

On my actual birthday, we took a day trip to Chiricahua National Monument, another item on our bucket list. Chiricahua (pronounced “cheer a cow a”) feels like it should be a National Park, though I’m glad it’s not—it would probably be too crowded. The rock formations there were like nothing we’d seen before. The needle formations in Custer State Park come close, but the Chiricahua formations stretch for miles, visible from all directions. We’ve looked through all our photos and videos, but nothing captures the true beauty of the area. If you can, we highly recommend a visit! That said, it’s quite remote. The drive from Roper took about an hour through the backcountry, where we spotted deer, cows, and our first Javelinas.

We brought Annie along on this trip because of the long drive, and leaving her in the camper for that length of time wasn’t an option for us. While she wasn’t allowed on most of the trails, we did take the 8-mile scenic drive, which offered incredible views. The top of the mountains stands at about 6,800 feet, and after spending over a month in flat landscapes, it felt amazing to breathe the cool, crisp mountain air. It was also a nice surprise to see and smell pine trees again for the first time since leaving home.

We also stopped at Fort Bowie, a National Historic Site, which took us even further off the beaten path down a rough road. There, I met a National Park Restoration Specialist and a volunteer who were applying mud coats to the historic structures to protect them from weathering. I recorded a video and found their work fascinating.

Back at Roper Lake, we spent time kayaking, and Annie got to enjoy her first swim in the lake. She was such a happy pup!

We stayed at Roper Lake for four nights, and though I wished we could stay longer, we always keep moving. I made a promise to myself that I’d return to see Mount Graham again, but for now, it’s on to Catalina State Park—another gem in Arizona.