Roger Naylor introduces new book ‘Arizona Boots and Burgers’

Acclaimed travel writer and Arizonan Roger Naylor has released a new book, highlighting the best places to dine after a hike titled “Arizona Boots and Burgers: A Guide for Hungry Hikers.” Naylor joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss the book and his top picks for delicious food and trails.

Naylor provides many suggestions, but his top three suggestions for good food and photos are:

1. River Trail and Cliff Dweller’s Lodge, with spectacular scenery and exquisite burgers on the Arizona Strip.

2. Hugh Norris Trail and El Guero Canelo in Tucson, with the ultimate Sonoran hot dog.

3. Wildcat Trail in Monument Valley and Amigo Cafe in Kayenta, with excellent Navajo tacos. 

In 2014, Naylor released a book listing various places to visit, and this new book builds on that list.

“I added 40 new restaurants,” Naylor said, “So there’s a total of 70 restaurants, 70 trails in here.”

Among the spots mentioned in the book is Cliff Dweller’s Lodge, just near the River Trail, which serves the best burgers.

“The River trail is just this beautiful underrated little trail. It goes along the river; you get these beautiful cliffs,” Naylor explained. “And then just a few miles away is Cliff Dweller’s Lodge and Restaurant, and they make a fantastic burger; that’s a wonderful Arizona day.”

The next spot on the list is the Hugh Norris Trail in the Saguaro National Park Western unit, down in Tucson.

“It’s a good climb, I think the best views in Tucson, and one of my very first serious desert hikes, and so I always kinda remember it as being pretty life-changing,” Naylor said. “Instead of a burger, we went with El Guero Canelo’s; he’s sort of the OG of Sonoran hot dogs; this is a special Arizona flavor.”

A common Sonoran hot dog is generally a hot dog wrapped in bacon, tucked in the bun and piled on with various ingredients, including pinto beans, tomatoes, jalapeños and onions. According to Naylor, the establishment had won a James Beard® Foundation Award for its famous hot dogs.