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AZA destination photo

RAPAZA

Our Recommendation
8.8

Right Side of the Plane

The right side offers superior views of the Black Hills during departure, the heart of the Rocky Mountains, and the dramatic drop-off of the Mogollon Rim before landing in the Valley of the Sun.

Right Side Highlights
8.8
⛰️

The Black Hills

Immediately after takeoff, see the forested granite peaks including the area surrounding Mount Rushmore and Custer State Park.

❄️

Rocky Mountain National Park

High-altitude views of the Continental Divide, snow-capped peaks, and alpine tundra in northern Colorado.

⛷️

San Juan Mountains

Some of the most rugged and scenic peaks in the Rockies, including the area around Telluride and Silverton.

🏜️

Four Corners & Shiprock

The arid beauty of the Navajo Nation, featuring the massive volcanic rock formation known as Shiprock.

🌄

Mogollon Rim

The spectacular 2,000-foot geological drop-off that marks the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau.

🌵

Superstition Mountains

The iconic, jagged volcanic peaks that dominate the horizon just north of Mesa during the final approach.

Choose the right side for the most dramatic geological transitions. You will have a front-row seat to the highest peaks of the Rockies and the iconic red rock landscape of the Southwest. For sunset flights, this side provides breathtaking views of the 'Golden Hour' over the desert, though glare can be intense. Look for the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff mid-flight.

Left Side Highlights
7.4
🏜️

Badlands Fringe

Visible shortly after takeoff, look for the jagged, light-colored erosional formations of the South Dakota Badlands to the east.

🏙️

Denver & Front Range

A great view of the Colorado capital and the transition where the Great Plains meet the soaring wall of the Rockies.

🏔️

Sangre de Cristo Mountains

Dramatic, narrow mountain range extending from southern Colorado into northern New Mexico.

☄️

Meteor Crater

A massive, perfectly circular impact crater visible in the high desert of northern Arizona near Winslow.

🌲

Tonto National Forest

The rugged canyons and ponderosa pine forests that characterize the mountainous transition into the Phoenix basin.

Sit on the left for morning flights to avoid direct glare and see the sun illuminating the face of the Rockies. This side is also better for spotting the Denver metro area and the southern reaches of the Rio Grande Valley. Keep an eye out for the distinctive peak of Mount Sneffels in the distance as you cross the Colorado border.

Top Activities in Mesa
Route Information

Distance: 1,406 km (874 miles)

Approximate Flight Time: 1 hr 52 min

Departure: RAP (44.0452995300293, -103.05699920654295)

Arrival: AZA (33.30780029, -111.6549988)

Route Type: Domestic

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