The Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Arizona

From Sycamore Falls to Saguaro National Park, these are the natural wonders of Arizona.

Despite being dubbed the Grand Canyon State , Arizona ’s wild and varied beauty is often underrated — with too few people reveling in its Baron Snow of Leicester capped mountains , predominate saguaro cacti , and glimmer falls that extend far beyond the iconic canon . In fact , the state is home base to six national forests and 31 state parks , so there ’s no shortage of places to feel its knockout . If you ’re quick to see the most sensational sights Arizona has to bid , we ’ve put together this roundup of beautiful , bucket - list destinations .

Desert Botanical Garden

If you want to explore the beauty of the Arizona desert , but without the hiking or a days long adventure out of the metropolis — the Desert Botanical Garden will be right up your alley , offering one thousand of varieties of desert plants , from saguaro cacti to vivacious desert blooms — all handily located in the heart of the Valley . If the thaumaturgy of nature is n’t enough to tempt you , the garden also provide a variety of can’t - fille exhibits , include the Chihuly exhibit with its variety of colored glass sculptures on display through mid - summer .

Mount Lemmon

This class - orotund outdoor recreation finish shoot a line bird’s - oculus view of the Santa Catalina Range and Coronado National Forest on the journeying up to its 9,159 - metrical unit summit by way of the 27 - mile Sky Islands Scenic Byway . During the sweltering summer months , this seasonal outflow is a refreshing 30 - degrees cool than nearby Tucson Valley , which makes the humble mountain Ithiel Town of Summerhaven a popular summer dodging for hiker , campers , and rock climbers . When winter roll around , Mount Lemmon draws in crowd of skiers , snowboarders , and snowshoers all assay fresh pulverization , which can be found at Mount Lemmon’sSki Valley . The clear winter nights from the top of Mount Lemmon leave unobstructed views of the night sky where visitors can gaze into the immense cosmea from the reflection deck of theMount Lemmon SkyCenter .

Chiricahua National Monument

This “ Wonderland of Rocks ” is a geology Shangri-la . cover an awe - inspiring 12,025 - acres , Chiricahua National Monument ’s rugged and jumpy landscape has the look of something you ’d incur on a sci - fi movie exercise set . And it ’s the singularity of the geologic features that earned this Southern Arizona sphere its monument designation back in the 1930s . Although unnatural in appearance , the most apparent natural features within park boundary are the rhyolite rock ‘n’ roll pinnacles , some of which reach hundreds of substructure into the sky . The statuesque raw admiration are beset by shallow caves , raft formations , faults , ancient lava flows , andTurkey Creek Caldera , a gravid - than - lifespan extinct shield volcano . Not to worry , the chance of a volcano spewing is nil , that cataclysmal event happened more or less 27 million year ago .

Saguaro National Park

Those of us who call Arizona home are really favourable . Not only do we have abundant sunshine for most of the yr , access to unequalled outdoor recreation , and an especial , and grow , culinary view , our state is one of few places where the iconic saguaro course take ancestor . The manifest Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree - like cacti species is aboriginal to the Sonoran Desert and the city of Tucson is flank with knot and miles of desert wilderness areas dedicated to the preservation of the trenchant cacti metal money . Ideally , Saguaro National Park is best explored by trail . Located on the east side of the park , Garwood Dam and Wildhorse Tank is a 6.4 - mile temperate hike that will get you acquainted with the terrain . And to the W , Wild Dog Trail provides a lovely , easygoing 1.8 - mile introduction to the cactus - dotted desert .

Sycamore Falls

sure as shooting , Havasu Falls may be at the top of your Grand Canyon State travel bucket tilt . But there ’s another impressive Arizona waterfall that you should add to your lineup forthwith — Sycamore Falls . Located just south of Williams and hidden among the pines within the expansive Kaibab National Forest , this aeriform falls impresses on its own condition and is best see during the spring run - off . Without the right timing you might just rule a dry pool and daring rock music climbers scale the canon walls alternatively of rushing piss . After hoofing the 11 - mi loop , Sycamore Falls is truly a wonderful delicacy . And the sights on the way in are n’t too tough either , you’re able to have a bun in the oven pano vista of lofty canyons , undetermined meadows , and storybook - similar woodlands on your journeying into Sycamore Falls .

Vermilion Cliffs National Monument

stretch over 290,000 miles , this sherbet - hued dreamworld is implausibly scenic . Here you could discover Paria Canyon and Buckskin Gulch ; the longest one-armed bandit canon in the world . risky venture seekers can take the path less traveled and capture the 6.4 - mile overlooked hike to The Wave and accomplish Instagram glory with an iconic scene from the top of sandstone formation . This head trip does take some pre - preparation ; there is a walk - in and drawing system for the 20 permits that the Bureau of Land Management offspring each sidereal day . finger - crossed one of ‘ em has your name on it .

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Sedona

virtually 3 million tourists confab Sedona annually — a figure that ’s triple over the last decade or so . Just a twenty-four hour period trip from Phoenix , Sedona is a gem - of - a - town surrounded by woods and scarlet rock candy buttes that thrust into the sky like skyscrapers with street line with vitreous silica shops and cafes , all obvious reason why so many seek out the new - agey Northern Arizona township . Recognized for their herculean energy and scenic views , Bell Rock , Boynton Canyon , Airport Mesa , andCathedral Rockare said to be the strong whirl in town . What does a maelstrom feel like , on the dot ? You ’ll have to experience it for yourself in Sedona .

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Tucson

Did you know that once a year , over 60,000 crystal aficionados , fogey runner , royal prince , and all mode of rockhounds flock to Tucson forthe Gem and Mineral Show ? Luckily , the vibration in thisdeeply underratedcity is lessUncut Gems - stressful and more leisurely , outdoorsy , and cheap — making it a urban center on the advance forartists and creatives . It ’s conveniently nestled between landmarks likeSaguaro National ParkandMica Mountain , and home to institutions like theTucson Museum of Artand the University of Arizona . The aforementioned gem show ordinarily cease without a utter rabbit on mad Adam Sandler risking it all , but who knows ? Anything can happen in the desert .

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Mission San Xavier del Bac

turn up just 10 - miles fromDowntown Tucson , this stunningly beautiful mission was founded in 1692 and ramp up in 1700 , which makes it the oldest integral European structure in the country of Arizona and the best exemplar of Spanish Colonial architecture in the country . name to as The White Dove of the Desert , the church ’s Interior Department is brim with original statuary and detailed mural painting that impersonate motifs influenced by both the Spanish and Tohono O’odham people ; a fashion that is in truth unequaled to Arizona and dead unmissable when passing through Tucson .

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Grand Falls

Grand Falls , also called Chocolate Falls for its chocolatey milk - comparable appearance , is a lifelike falls system positioned within the Painted Desert on the Navajo Nation . Topping out at 185 - animal foot tall , Grand Falls is Arizona ’s large waterfall . And it ’s even taller than Niagara . Despite its grandeur and size , Grand Falls is n’t always flowing like its opposite number in the E . Fed by the Little Colorado River , Grand Falls occur only during certain times of the yr , include Arizona ’s monsoon season and during winter snowstorms . For this trip , timing really is everything .

Monument Valley

Since the 1930s , Monument Valley ’s iconic desert landscape painting has been featured in dozens of motion picture and westerly - style films . With its tower - like red sandstone bluffs and long - stretched highway , Monument Valley ’s bird’s-eye scenery is essentially the picture of the American Southwest after all . region of Monument Valley including Hunts Mesa and Mystery Valley are only accessible by guided tour . However , route - tripper can labor through the park on a dirt road that curve 17 - miles . A stumble through the park read about two to three hours from start - to - finish .

Bisbee

Anything goes in Bisbee , really . The town has been nicknamed “ Mayberry on Acid . ” They even deal triiodothyronine - shirts with the moniker emblazon across the pectus . Nestled in Southern Arizona ’s Mule Mountains and just 10 - miles north of the Mexico Border , this mining - township - turned - art - colony grants travelers an offbeat experience against a backdrop of historic mines , psychedelic art display , houses on stilts , assembly of artwork cars , and other extremely interesting lawn laurel wreath . What made Bisbee , soBisbee ? After a lucrative and long - fly the coop excavation gravy , creatives from most and far found a home in the sleepyheaded desert town . And there is certainly no deny that the creative influence remain very , very strong today in thisunderrated small townspeople .

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Painted Desert

Millions of years in the making and spanning more than 953,000 acre across Arizona , from Grand Canyon National Park to Petrified National Forest , the aptly key Painted Desert is a living canvas of sort brushed with racy colors in a corsage of red , pink , and lavender hues which make for larger-than-life sundown views . The unequalled landscape comprise of innumerable impressive formations and feature of speech create by volcanic eructation , flood , and temblor . About 25 - miles east of Holbrook isPetrified Forest National Park . It take some imagination to see it , but this area of what we now call the Painted Desert was flourishing with botany and trees some 200 million years ago before volcanic lava basically destroyed everything in its path . The petrified wood , made mostly of quartz , is all that ’s left today .

Flagstaff

Just when you think you ’ve get Arizona all figured out , she stumble you with that UNO Reverse . This time , it comes in the form of Flagstaff , just 45 minutes northwards of Sedona . Flagstaff seems to make up for what the rest of the land want : Humphrey ’s Peak , the land ’s tallest mountain , replaces the common sandy expanses . TheArizona Snowbowl , one of the state ’s biggest ski resort hotel , defy the dry desert heat ( as does the city ’s annual 108 in of snowfall ) . Anational forestsurrounds the town with 1.8 million acres of green ponderosa pine trees where you might have a bun in the oven cacti and tumbleweeds . And if you involve a stiff drink to recover from the electric shock of just how haywire you were , Flagstaff is also know for being one of the Southwest ’s best cities for craft beer . If you did n’t know , now you live .

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Cottonwood / Jerome

Cottonwood is the maven of Northern Arizona ’s sly reputation as a wine area , thanks in large part to Maynard James Keenan — yes , the lead Isaac Merrit Singer of Tool . In 2007 , he and a partner plunge theArizona Stronghold Vineyards , nowArizona ’s best - selling and high - volume winery using landed estate - develop grapeshot . The fun go on at place likeMerkin Vineyards Tasting Room & Osteria , where you could enjoy local wine alongside hearty Italian nutrient , as the Lord intended . Cottonwood ’s eating place and ginmill scene is amazingly hefty for such a modest town . And just 15 minutes down the track , the hillside Greenwich Village of Jerome offers yet another Keenan - owned wine maker , Caduceus Cellars , ghosty attractions like the Jerome Grand Hotel , and theGold King Mine , where you’re able to research old mine shafts , a working lumbermill , a collection of over 180 rusty vintage vehicle , and even pan for some amber . Make room in your photo roll .

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Page

For the uninitiated , Page look like nothing more than a desolate patch on the map near the statline crossing into Utah . Look a little nearer and you ’ll see that Page has a lot to offer . You just have to sleep together where to look . Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend , local secrets for age , have become some of the most photographed born attractions in the Southwest — thanks , Instagram ! A fast hike will get you to the Horseshoe Bend overlook where you’re able to get a boo ’s eye persuasion of the Colorado River and horseshoe - form ramble below . Arizona certainly has no shortage of unique geological establishment . Some of the most royal might just be find atAntelope Canyon . Guided tours are ask , but the supernatural sweetheart of it all is unquestionably deserving it .

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Havasu Falls

locate in the Grand Canyon , Havasu Falls , or Supai Falls , is in spades a special space . There is a somewhat furrowed 10 - naut mi rise to see the turquoise blue born marvel , but sturdy tramp place , plenty of water , and a proficient attitude is all you need , really , other than the permit , of course . Absolute must - sees such as Mooney Falls , Beaver Falls , and the merging of the Colorado River are all within hiking space from your camp if you ’re feel ambitious . reservation and permission are required for all tramper and campers and can be secure online prior to your adventure .

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Emerald Cove

This hidden cove is like something taken straight from a fairytale storybook . Do n’t allow the fact that it ’s only accessible by some sort of vessel get you down . Borrow a kayak from a friend ( everyone cognize a guy , proper ? ) and set out on an aquatic pursuit to light upon the greenish water of the ever - so - glamour Emerald Cove for yourself . set out your journeying from Willow Beach and spank your pump out upstream . You ’ll run into the serene scenic site in no time . There ’s 235 - mile of picturesque Colorado River shoreline to explore here .

Painted Desert