Roper Lake

Another day, another state park, another pleasant surprise.

In today's world of GPS, Kim and I still like paper maps. We grew up in the pre-internet age; that may have something to do with it. Paper provides a context I somehow just don't get from a screen. Sometimes that fixed, two-dimensional context can be deceiving, though.

The Arizona page in our Rand McNally U.S. atlas made Safford, AZ look rather desolate. There weren't many roads in and out, and the ones that were there seemed a little thinner and grayer than would be prudent for unseasoned travelers such as we. There weren't any interstate highways running through town. Didn't look like there'd be many people there. Didn't look like there'd be much diesel either. So, in the planning stage, Roper Lake was another stop we thought we might feel slightly uncomfortable and a little isolated.

We were wrong.

Safford is a city of 10,000 souls – bigger, in fact, than the town where I grew up – and is the seat of Graham County. There is plenty of commercial activity, an historical town center, multiple gas stations with diesel, and a Tractor Supply, where I bought some DEF fluid. The city web site even has a visitor's page if you're wondering what there is to do. And there is Roper Lake State Park.

Roper Lake has one of those geographies which defies my uninformed picture of what the desert southwest should look like. From our campsite, you could see water, beach, trees, shrubs, mountains (with snow), and, of course, parched-looking desert. In addition to RV spaces and hookups (water and electric), they offer tent camping and cabins. You can walk the trails, swim, fish, attend events, or put your small boat in the lake. As with many state parks we've visited, there's a visitor's center and gift shop. We were enlightened enough by our visit that we bought an Arizona State Park "passport" and had it stamped. We intend to get more stamps from other AZ parks as time passes.

I still like paper maps, but I mustn't dismiss the value of web sites and satellite views for enhancing an image of a place you've never been.

A roomy and well-appointed space.