Arizona
Where to get the best views of Arizona’s fall colors
PHOENIX — The rainfall is certainly here in the Valley and the fall colors seen most prominently in the trees are not too far behind.
To help Arizonans witness the coming array of fall foliage, Arizona State Parks & Trails compiled a list of the top five parks to visit throughout the state.
Best parks in Arizona to view fall colors
Red Rock State Park (Sedona)
The Sedona-based park is home to a 5-mile trail that showcases views of the northern Arizona’s red rock and other green scenery of the surrounding Oak Creek.
It is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and has tickets available for $5 (ages 7 to 13) and $10 (ages 14 and older). Children ages 6 and under get in free.
Besides an earlier start time in June, there are daily guided hikes at 10 a.m.
Slide Rock State Park (Sedona)
A trio of trails under a mile in length (two are 0.25 and one 0.3 miles) are available for the public to enjoy in Oak Creek Canyon.
Pets are welcome at the park following a heat-related ban from May 1 to Sept. 30.
Tickets are sold on a per vehicle basis, with one to four people getting in for $20 from October to April.
The park sits on 43 acres of a historic apple farm that was first planted in 1912 and is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. It will be closed Oct. 21-22, however.
Dead Horse Ranch State Park (Cottonwood)
Located roughly smack in the middle of Sedona and Prescott, this park features more than 20 miles of trails for biking, hiking and horseback riding.
The Lime Kiln Trail, which connects Dead Horse Ranch and Red Rock state parks, is among the most popular there. It won Critic’s Choice Award for Best Bike Ride in 2012.
In the fall, the park is open daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and individual tickets (biking or hiking) are available for $5.
Tonto Natural Bridge State Park (Pine)
The park located southeast of Sedona isn’t pet-friendly due to the severity of all the trails, but is home to what is believed to be the “largest natural travertine bridge in the world,” according to Arizona State Parks & Trails. The bridge is 183 feet tall and 400 feet long, while measuring 150 feet at its widest point.
Guests can also check out the historic Tonto Lodge for more information about the bridge and previous native peoples on the nearby land.
Ticket prices are the same across the board as at Red Rock State Park and the park is open daily throughout the year from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Rockin’ River Ranch State Park (Camp Verde)
Along the Verde River south of Sedona is a park that exhibits more desert and green fauna and is more temperature neutral than recreational areas north and south of its location.
It offers six trails ranging from 0.2 to 1.7 miles in length and sits upon 209 acres of ranging land that showcases birds and other wildlife such as javelina, deer and beavers.
The park is closed to the public on Tuesdays and Wednesdays but in open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursdays through Mondays.
Tickets are sold per vehicle, with one person in a vehicle going for $10 and two to four in a vehicle for $20. Bikers get in for $5.
Arizona
Drowning happens in seconds, Arizona safety experts warn as triple-digit temperatures arrive this week
GILBERT, AZ — As temperatures climb across Arizona, safety experts and parents say so does the risk around water.
“You brought them here for a reason, and you want them to keep safe at all times, and it’s the most precious things you have. Why, why would you not pay attention to them?” Ernesto Agüero said.
Agüero’s warning comes as families across the Valley head to pools and splash pads to beat the heat.
Experts say drowning can happen silently and within seconds.
“Drowning is silent. A lot of times it goes unnoticed, but it just takes seconds,” Jay Arthur, president of the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona, said.
The Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona says while child drowning deaths are down compared to recent years, the danger is far from over as summer begins. It comes as the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona (DPCA) hosted its annual “Tapping Into Water Safety” event. The event brought together organizations like the Salt River Project (SRP) and the Phoenix Fire Department.
“You have to watch the kids with your eyes. Eye-to-eye contact is critical. You can’t be on your phone. You can’t be talking to your friend,” Arthur said.
Advocates say one of the biggest misconceptions is thinking you’ll hear someone struggling in the water. Instead, they say prevention starts before a child even gets near the pool.
“Always appoint a water watcher when you have a group of people around water, and that would be an adult that’s responsible for watching the water and they’re not on their phone,” Tanya Hughes, SRP Community Activation Strategist, said.
Families say the reminders are especially important heading into another Arizona summer.
“You want them to be safe. You want them to know how to behave when they’re in the water,” Agüero said.
Experts say designated water watchers, pool barriers and swim lessons can make the difference. They also warn that distractions like phones or conversations can quickly become dangerous.
“Seconds matter; it is really important because a child can drown in just a matter of seconds,” Arthur said.
With more families potentially spending time in the water this weekend, advocates say now is the time to prepare.
“We’re telling you, we’re trying to stop this from happening,” Arthur said.
Arizona
Where to watch New York Mets vs Arizona Diamondbacks: TV channel, start time, streaming for May 9
What to know about MLB’s ABS robot umpire strike zone system
MLB launches ABS challenge system as players test robot umpire calls in a groundbreaking season.
Baseball is back and finding what channel your favorite team is playing on has become a little bit more confusing since MLB announced plans to produce and distribute broadcasts for nearly a third of the league.
We’re here to help. Here’s everything you need to know Saturday as the New York Mets visit the Arizona Diamondbacks.
See USA TODAY’s sortable MLB schedule to filter by team or division.
What time is New York Mets vs Arizona Diamondbacks?
First pitch between the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Mets is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, May 9.
How to watch New York Mets vs Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday
All times Eastern and accurate as of Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 6:32 a.m.
- Matchup: NYM at ARI
- Date: Saturday, May 9
- Time: 7:15 p.m. (ET)
- Venue: Chase Field
- Location: Phoenix, Arizona
- TV: FOX
- Streaming: MLB.TV on Fubo
Watch MLB all season long with Fubo
MLB regional blackout restrictions apply
MLB scores, results
MLB scores for May 9 games are available on usatoday.com . Here’s how to access today’s results:
See scores, results for all of today’s games.
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