One of the top reasons people love living in and visiting Arizona is nature. She is beautiful, colorful, flawless, and intense here in the Southwest, making this an incredibly unique place to visit. If you want to explore more of what nature has to offer in Arizona, you will definitely want to check out this list:
- Antelope Canyon
Loïc Lagarde/Flickr This northern Arizona slot canyon is a must-visit for hikers, photographers, and the non-claustrophobic. The smooth, curvy walls were formed by water rushing through the canyon over millenia, creating a serene, otherworldly environment.
- Aravaipa Canyon
Bureau of Land Management/Flickr If you’re a regular reader, you may remember it from a couple of previous articles. This pristine canyon is located halfway between Globe and Oracle, and only allows 50 people at a time within the area in order to better preserve the wilderness here. This is perfect for a peaceful multi-day hiking trip.
- Chiricahua National Monument
Alan English CPA/Flickr Seeing the hoodoos and other rock formations at Chiricahua National Monument is just one reason to visit. This area is also rich in history, culture, and wildlife.
- Fossil Creek
Deborah Lee Soltesz/Flickr This picturesque oasis in the pines is the best summer day trip escape! A trail takes you through the woods to this waterfall, perfect for a swim and lounging before heading back home.
- Grand Canyon
Djandywdotcom/Flickr Is there any reason not to visit the Grand Canyon? Nope! There are tons of things to do here: hiking, camping, kayaking, white river rafting, riding mules and helicopters, photography, and so much more.
- Grand Falls
CEBImagery/Flickr Looking something like an overflowing cup of chocolate milk, this seasonal waterfall makes for a great spot to visit and take in nature. Don’t be fooled by the picture above; the waterfall is HUGE and the water roars at its peak after the snowmelt.
- Kartchner Caverns
Robert Shea/Flickr This recent discovery is perfect for amateur and experienced spelunkers alike. The wet cave features still-growing formations, many of which are unique to this one place. It’s a sight that needs to be seen!
- Lake Powell
Ryan Czerwinski/Flickr This major vacation spot on the Arizona-Utah border, this is currently our largest reservoir (Lake Mead’s water levels are kind of low right now). Since its home is Glen Canyon, the area is stunningly beautiful with sandstone and unique rock and land formations. A lot of people come here for boating, but there’s also plenty of hiking options as well.
- Mogollon Rim
Alan Levine/Flickr Living in Arizona, I’ve heard this place pronounced about a half dozen different ways but it is always mentioned with love. The Mogollon Rim is one of the major places for outdoor adventure and you really need to spend a week here to truly appreciate how beautiful and complex the environment is.
- Monument Valley
Joe Jiang/Flickr One of the most iconic scenes in the West, we share this park with Utah. The famous mittens and plenty of other formations are found on the Arizona side (yay!), plus these sights are most beautiful at sunrise or sunset. Get up close to the buttes with hiking or a guided tour.
- Navajo National Monument
Alan English CPA/Flickr Like hiking and seeing ancient ruins? You can get an up-close perspective of centuries old buildings and ancient history by visiting Navajo National Monument, which is home to some of the best preserved cliff dwelling ruins in the country.
- Petrified Forest
leiris202/Flickr This Route 66 favorite has a lot of Southwest landscapes and history contained within one area: petrified wood, fossils, mesas, painted desert badlands, wildlife, petroglyphs, ruins, and so much more!
- Picacho Peak
John Hunnicut II/Flickr Hikers! If you’re looking for a challenging trek, this is one you won’t want to miss. The hike—especially when you get to the spire—is deceptively steep and you’ll feel every muscle in your legs and glutes working to get you up that mountain.
- Pinaleño Mountains
Patrick Alexander/Flickr Home to Mount Graham, Riggs Flat Lake, Hospital Flat, and Mount Graham Observatory, this mountain range is beautiful and doesn’t quite get the recognition it should. Perhaps that’s not a bad thing because it has a fragile, though resilient, ecosystem.
- Red Rock State Park
wbrentprice/Flickr This state park has beautiful red sandstone buttes that are almost an unexpected find in central Arizona. This place has plenty of hiking and camping options, so try out some of the longer, lesser-traveled trails the next time you’re here.
- Salt River Canyon
Phillip Capper/Flickr Located just an hour outside of Phoenix, this canyon and its beauty are seriously underrated. If there’s any place to find rugged desert landscapes mixed with riparian areas, this is it.
- San Francisco Peaks
Michael Wilson/Flickr Located just outside of Flagstaff and visible for miles around, the San Francisco Peaks are home to the tallest summit in Arizona (Humphrey’s Peak) and also the only tundra in Arizona. This area is a popular one year round for hikers, campers, and skiers.
- Superstition Mountains
Scott Taylor/Flickr Here’s another area with some incredibly rugged terrain that also happens to be abundant in beauty. This area is also home to the fabled Lost Dutchman’s gold mine, which has claimed a number of lives.
- Sycamore Canyon
Coconino National Forest/Flickr Here’s another canyon that frequently flies under most peoples’ radar but that makes a trip here extra special. It is the second largest canyon in Arizona and is a good example of our state’s transition zone: a hike through the canyon will take you from desert to pines within a matter of miles!
- Topock Marsh
Arizona Traveler/Flickr Did you know Arizona has wetlands and marshes? Its something we don’t see often anymore—thanks to all the dams that have been installed in the past century—but the rivers all naturally have these riparian areas. It’s a great place for watching wildlife and finding a bit of solace.
- Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
John Fowler/Flickr The final place on our list is also one of the more remote areas that, again, a lot of people don’t know about. Vermilion Cliffs has some spectacular landscapes, including canyons, buttes, and mesas. This includes “The Wave,” a windblown, curvy landscape that looks like it could have been formed by water.
Wow! How many new places will you be adding to your bucket list? If you’re looking for more ideas, check out one of our other bucket list articles, The Ultimate and Definitive Bucket List For Everyone In Arizona.
Loïc Lagarde/Flickr
This northern Arizona slot canyon is a must-visit for hikers, photographers, and the non-claustrophobic. The smooth, curvy walls were formed by water rushing through the canyon over millenia, creating a serene, otherworldly environment.
Bureau of Land Management/Flickr
If you’re a regular reader, you may remember it from a couple of previous articles. This pristine canyon is located halfway between Globe and Oracle, and only allows 50 people at a time within the area in order to better preserve the wilderness here. This is perfect for a peaceful multi-day hiking trip.
Alan English CPA/Flickr
Seeing the hoodoos and other rock formations at Chiricahua National Monument is just one reason to visit. This area is also rich in history, culture, and wildlife.
Deborah Lee Soltesz/Flickr
This picturesque oasis in the pines is the best summer day trip escape! A trail takes you through the woods to this waterfall, perfect for a swim and lounging before heading back home.
Djandywdotcom/Flickr
Is there any reason not to visit the Grand Canyon? Nope! There are tons of things to do here: hiking, camping, kayaking, white river rafting, riding mules and helicopters, photography, and so much more.
CEBImagery/Flickr
Looking something like an overflowing cup of chocolate milk, this seasonal waterfall makes for a great spot to visit and take in nature. Don’t be fooled by the picture above; the waterfall is HUGE and the water roars at its peak after the snowmelt.
Robert Shea/Flickr
This recent discovery is perfect for amateur and experienced spelunkers alike. The wet cave features still-growing formations, many of which are unique to this one place. It’s a sight that needs to be seen!
Ryan Czerwinski/Flickr
This major vacation spot on the Arizona-Utah border, this is currently our largest reservoir (Lake Mead’s water levels are kind of low right now). Since its home is Glen Canyon, the area is stunningly beautiful with sandstone and unique rock and land formations. A lot of people come here for boating, but there’s also plenty of hiking options as well.
Alan Levine/Flickr
Living in Arizona, I’ve heard this place pronounced about a half dozen different ways but it is always mentioned with love. The Mogollon Rim is one of the major places for outdoor adventure and you really need to spend a week here to truly appreciate how beautiful and complex the environment is.
Joe Jiang/Flickr
One of the most iconic scenes in the West, we share this park with Utah. The famous mittens and plenty of other formations are found on the Arizona side (yay!), plus these sights are most beautiful at sunrise or sunset. Get up close to the buttes with hiking or a guided tour.
Like hiking and seeing ancient ruins? You can get an up-close perspective of centuries old buildings and ancient history by visiting Navajo National Monument, which is home to some of the best preserved cliff dwelling ruins in the country.
leiris202/Flickr
This Route 66 favorite has a lot of Southwest landscapes and history contained within one area: petrified wood, fossils, mesas, painted desert badlands, wildlife, petroglyphs, ruins, and so much more!
John Hunnicut II/Flickr
Hikers! If you’re looking for a challenging trek, this is one you won’t want to miss. The hike—especially when you get to the spire—is deceptively steep and you’ll feel every muscle in your legs and glutes working to get you up that mountain.
Patrick Alexander/Flickr
Home to Mount Graham, Riggs Flat Lake, Hospital Flat, and Mount Graham Observatory, this mountain range is beautiful and doesn’t quite get the recognition it should. Perhaps that’s not a bad thing because it has a fragile, though resilient, ecosystem.
wbrentprice/Flickr
This state park has beautiful red sandstone buttes that are almost an unexpected find in central Arizona. This place has plenty of hiking and camping options, so try out some of the longer, lesser-traveled trails the next time you’re here.
Phillip Capper/Flickr
Located just an hour outside of Phoenix, this canyon and its beauty are seriously underrated. If there’s any place to find rugged desert landscapes mixed with riparian areas, this is it.
Michael Wilson/Flickr
Located just outside of Flagstaff and visible for miles around, the San Francisco Peaks are home to the tallest summit in Arizona (Humphrey’s Peak) and also the only tundra in Arizona. This area is a popular one year round for hikers, campers, and skiers.
Scott Taylor/Flickr
Here’s another area with some incredibly rugged terrain that also happens to be abundant in beauty. This area is also home to the fabled Lost Dutchman’s gold mine, which has claimed a number of lives.
Coconino National Forest/Flickr
Here’s another canyon that frequently flies under most peoples’ radar but that makes a trip here extra special. It is the second largest canyon in Arizona and is a good example of our state’s transition zone: a hike through the canyon will take you from desert to pines within a matter of miles!
Arizona Traveler/Flickr
Did you know Arizona has wetlands and marshes? Its something we don’t see often anymore—thanks to all the dams that have been installed in the past century—but the rivers all naturally have these riparian areas. It’s a great place for watching wildlife and finding a bit of solace.
John Fowler/Flickr
The final place on our list is also one of the more remote areas that, again, a lot of people don’t know about. Vermilion Cliffs has some spectacular landscapes, including canyons, buttes, and mesas. This includes “The Wave,” a windblown, curvy landscape that looks like it could have been formed by water.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
