Land of sprawling burnt red and orange deserts and other-worldly rock formations that have to be seen to be believed, Arizona is seemingly made for lovers of the great outdoors and scenic road trips. It’s also home to villages dating back thousands of years of history, sacred sites, world-famous protected areas, and endless skies, yep this US state has soul! Here are my favorite best and most beautiful places to visit in wonderful Arizona…
1. The Grand Canyon National Park – one of the best and famously most stunning places to visit in Arizona
I’d have to start my Arizona list with one of the most popular and famous national parks to visit in the country. This beautiful national park is the home to the majestic Grand Canyon which houses layers and layers of red rocks. These divulge in millions of years of geological history.
Some of the popular viewpoints which will give you a stunning and up-close view to the Grand Canyon are Mather Point, Yavapai Observation Station, and also the renowned architect Mary Colter’s Lookout Studio and her Desert View Watchtower as well. Another stellar viewpoint you should not miss would be the Lipan Point, which will give you a direct view of both the canyon and Colorado River. I’d also give you a heads-up on trying to either catch the sunset or sunrise in this beautiful place to visit in Aronizia.
2. Monument Valley – a beautiful and an iconic symbol of the American West
This extraordinary red-sand desert region located on the border of Arizona-Utah is famous for its jaw-dropping and highly photogenic tall and gigantic sandstone buttes. The Monument Valley is located within the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park and is famous for being the shooting locations for several Hollywood movies over the years.
John Ford’s Point is one viewpoint that gives you a sweeping view of the slopped Mittens buttes. There are several stories behind this monument valley and if you are someone who likes to visit a place and know more about its history, then definitely visit this wonderful natural attraction in Arizona!
3. Cathedral Rock – one of the most-photographed sights in Arizona
This incredible natural sandstone butte which soars upwards on the Sedona skyline and has the accolade of being one of the most-photographed sights in Arizona. It also offers one of the most scenic hikes in the US and people flock for miles to hike and climb the wonderful landmark.
The views from the top are just beautiful! Although please be warned the 1.5-mile round trip can steep in some places and requires some climbing along the way. Visit and sunset though and you really won’t be disappointed!
4. Grand Falls Navajo – often known as ‘Chocolate Falls’ due to its unique color
This natural waterfall system is situated 30 miles from the northeast of the town of Flagstaff. The Grand falls are a part of the Painted Desert on the Navajo Nation.
Definitely one of the most stunning places to explore in Arizona, the color of the waterfalls has given it a direct nickname – Chocolate Falls and is said to be taller than the Niagara Falls at a height of 185-feet. The Little Colorado River receives snowmelt or seasonal rain dump from the waterfalls.
5. The San Francisco Peaks – a stunning and scared volcanic mountain range in Arizona
Ths volcanic mountain range is both a beauty spot and a sacred Native American site. Located in north-central Arizona, not too far from the popular city of Flagstaff so this makes a great day trip if you’re staying overnight there.
It’s also home to Arizona’s highest point, Humphreys Peak, stands at a huge 12,633 feet in elevation. A lovely place to visit in Arizona, the beautiful mountain range offers visitors many outdoor activities. There are many hiking trails offering pretty scenery, a few campsites and you can also play golf, go skiing, snowboarding, take the Skyride lift up Mt. Humphreys from Snowbowl, or just go for a scenic drive.
Of course, it’s hard to mention every fantastic place to visit in this incredibly stunning US state, other great places to explore in Arizona include Phoenix the capital and most populous city in Arizona which is known for its year-round sun, Tucson with its thriving cultural scene and stunning natural surroundings, Scottsdale a desert city in Arizona known for its spa resorts and golf cour, the increasingly cool desert city of Flagstaff, and of course sin city itself, Las Vegas!
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