PHOENIX —June is Great Outdoors Month, and Arizona has so many amazing ways to get you started on your next outdoor adventure! Check out the parks in the northern part of the state, where the weather is cooler, or hit the lake and river parks to cool off in the water. Whatever you choose, this is the month to make some memories.

For some great ideas of where to start, check out these tips. Be careful! Once you start, you may want to explore every park.

• Get out on the water: From boating or kayaking to fishing, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the water in an Arizona state park. Try something new and rent a kayak at Cattail Cove State Park. Or head south to Alamo Lake State Park and try your luck bass fishing. 
• Hit the trail: Summer doesn’t mean it’s too hot to go hiking – you just need to head north to cooler temperatures and higher elevations! Check out the trails at Dead Horse Ranch State Park, where you can mountain bike, stroll around the lagoons, or tackle some serious trails near the Verde River. Visit the newest state park, Rockin’ River Ranch, and enjoy the family-friendly trails while keeping an eye out for birds and wildlife. 
• Check out flora and fauna: June is a great time of year to check out Arizona’s official state flower - the saguaro blossom. Saguaros across the Sonoran Desert have been working up to this moment, and the blooms are sensational. It’s a great way to catch sight of birds and insects that use these flowers for food, or maybe to just catch a glimpse of other animals exploring the area. 
• Learn about Arizona’s history: Arizona has a rich past that was shaped by many different things: mining, logging, native cultures, and Spanish explorers. Check out some of the historic parks like Jerome, Riordan Mansion, and Tubac Presidio state historic parks and explore archaeological sites and petroglyphs at Lyman Lake or Homolovi state parks.

Don’t forget the 15 parks with camping reservations available, plus eight parks with comfortable camping cabins (equipped with air-conditioning). You can spend a day or a week exploring the parks and never run out of things to do. Summer is just getting started, so take your adventure outdoors in 2025!