Here's to hoodoos.
What are hoodoos?
They're rock formations that stand out for their fantastic shapes and striking stature. At times, they loom mysterious, or even ominous — reflecting other meanings of the word hoodoo, which include "voodoo" and "bad luck."
You'll find hundreds of hoodoo rocks in southeastern Utah and at Arizona sites such as the Superstition Mountains and Chiricahua National Monument.
Closer to home, Hoodoo Vista Point on the Catalina Highway offers a look at a few fanciful formations.
Peer down from the vista point, at Milepost 15 on the highway, and you'll see some clusters of hoodoos that might remind you of totem poles, or perhaps human forms. Towering above you on the opposite side of the road are monoliths and formations standing tall in intriguing form.
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Go hoodoo hunting
After a drive-up introduction to hoodoos along the Catalina Highway, try these trails for a close-up look:
● Peralta Trail in the Superstition Mountains southeast of Phoenix. To reach the trailhead from Tucson, take Arizona 77 to Oracle Junction and then follow Arizona 79 northwest to U.S. 60. Proceed northwest on U.S. 60 to a right turnoff for the trail.
● Echo Canyon Loop Trail at Chiricahua National Monument southeast of Willcox. To reach the monument, take Interstate 10 east to Willcox and exit onto Arizona 186. Follow Arizona 186 southeast about 30 miles to a signed left turnoff for the monument.
Doug Kreutz / Arizona Daily Star Hoodoo rock formations can be found around the Hoodoo Vista Point at Milepost 15 on the Catalina Highway northeast of Tucson.