The Best Natural Attractions in Arizona
“It’s only a desert. Why would anybody need to go to Arizona?” Many uninformed individuals suppose or say this after they discuss Arizona. They view Arizona as a desert wasteland with solely tumbleweeds, triple-digit warmth, and mud.
Some locations in Arizona are like this. However fortunately, there’s a lot extra to the state.
Arizona is without doubt one of the most numerous and distinctive states in the whole nation. No, it doesn’t have mountain ranges just like the Sierra or Cascades, nevertheless it has turquoise oases, mindblowing rock formations, gorgeous mountaineering, and snowboarding into Might. Not dangerous for a desert wasteland, huh?
So, let’s take just a little journey via the most effective locations to go to in Arizona and exhibit why this state is outstanding! Keep in Arizona eco-lodges to really feel even nearer to nature.
What You Want To Know Earlier than Visiting Arizona
Earlier than embarking on any journey, realizing what you’re stepping into and the way to put together is essential. Under are a couple of need-to-know factors earlier than exploring the most effective locations to go to in Arizona.
Exploring in Arizona Is In contrast to Wherever Else
As you travel throughout Arizona, you’ll see belongings you’ve by no means seen earlier than. That is very true for east coasters. Get pleasure from hundred-year-old saguaro cacti that develop for miles in direction of the horizon, see probably the most well-known canyon in America, gorgeous waterfalls, historic logs turned to rocks, and a lot extra!
Come Ready
If you journey to Arizona, you’re getting into a local weather that’s overseas to many individuals. It’s dry, so it’s essential to continually drink water. It’s rugged, so be ready with the right mountaineering apparel. And it could change in a heartbeat as a result of afternoon monsoons (although that is normally a late summer time concern).
If you recreate or discover Arizona, do your analysis to make sure you are ready so you possibly can have an gratifying time.
What Are The Finest Months To Go to Arizona?
Most individuals will let you know to keep away from Arizona through the summer time. That is 75% legitimate: Many of the state is scorching and no enjoyable throughout summer time. However, should you plan to go to the excessive nation (Flagstaff, Mt. Lemmon, Grand Canyon, Pinetop), you should have a stunning time.
The very best months to go to Arizona are October via April. When over half the nation is shivering of their boots, you possibly can play golf, tan by the pool, hike mid-day, and drink margaritas with your pals.
In the event you plan your journey proper, you possibly can come to Arizona year-round and have the time of your life!
When Ought to You Keep Away?
If you wish to spend time within the desert particularly, don’t go to Arizona from late Might via September. You’ll expertise endless triple-digit warmth and break right into a sweat inside minutes of sitting in your automotive. (I do know from expertise!)
How Many Days Do You Want in Arizona?
Whereas this will depend on your location and what you need to see, 4-7 days are beneficial to see the most effective locations in Arizona. Having an prolonged journey means you don’t have to rush, and you may take your time absorbing the majestic places.
1. Havasupai
Havasuapi is on the Grand Canyon and is an Indian Reservation. It’s a place the place images don’t do it justice. And that’s saying one thing as a result of pictures of Havasuapi are mindblowing. There’s nothing like seeing the waterfalls shut up, climbing down the ladders in direction of Mooney Falls, or experiencing the surprise of hiking contained in the Grand Canyon Nationwide Park, one of many US national parks you should see.
2. Grand Canyon Nationwide Park
One of many world’s seven wonders, one may spend their complete journey exploring the Grand Canyon and depart wanting extra!
Be certain to hike under the rim. Solely a fraction of the vacationers truly hit the paths, and also you get a significantly better understanding of the grandiosity of the canyon partitions as soon as you might be under them. However — and that is necessary — keep inside your means.
3. White Pocket
White Pocket is one in every of my favourite locations to discover in Arizona because it’s rugged, lovely, and far much less crowded than many related, distinctive locations. Whereas solely 90 minutes from Page, AZ, it requires a high-clearance 4×4 car to achieve it. This retains most vacationers away and leaves this pristine panorama for extremely motivated people.
4. Saguaro Nationwide Park
Saguaro Nationwide Park is the one national park in Southern Arizona. It’s break up into two sections. One resides on the western facet of Tucson, whereas the opposite sits on the east. Moreover, they’re broadly completely different, with the west being your traditional desert setting and the japanese space extra mountainous. Each are superb and actually present the range of the Arizona panorama.
5. Arizona Slot Canyons
Whether or not you select to go to Buckskin Gulch or Antelope Canyon, you’re in for an actual deal with. These pure slot canyons end result from thousands and thousands of years of abrasion and exhibit simply how highly effective nature may be.
If you’re in northern Arizona, visiting a slot canyon is a should for any customer!
6. Petrified Forest Nationwide Park
I’ll be trustworthy: this isn’t probably the most placing nationwide park, however its historical past and uniqueness set it aside. Whereas some might even see a bland desert, it’s stuffed with “rocks” which are truly petrified wooden — that’s, wooden that has been changed into rock over thousands and thousands of years.
All you want is a half day right here to see pure wonders not simply discovered wherever else within the US.
7. Superstition Mountains
An hour east of Phoenix, the Superstitions supply the most effective mountaineering choices for locals. With Misplaced Dutchman State Park and the Tonto Nationwide Forest, lots of of miles of trails fulfill day hikers, backpackers, and photographers.
It’s actually a pure playground, and any Phoenix customer ought to test it out.
8. The Wave
There’s no different method to say it: This location is iconic. It is without doubt one of the most gorgeous locations and one of many hardest to entry. They permit lower than 50 individuals per day to go to The Wave, and a few individuals have utilized 100 occasions and by no means gained the “Wave lottery.”
If in case you have the possibility to go, don’t go it up. It’s a place you’ll always remember.
9. Kofa Nationwide Wildlife Refuge
Kofa is without doubt one of the locations you probably haven’t heard of earlier than. It resides close to the AZ/CA border, and through spring, magical wildflowers bloom right here. It additionally has virtually zero crowds. With unbelievable mountaineering, wildlife, and an absence of holiday makers, it’s an important place to go tenting and revel in time in nature.
10. Fossil Creek
This location is an Arizona summer time favourite for a lot of locals. Who can go up swimming in turquoise waters underneath a waterfall? Like many locations, Fossil Creek noticed an explosion in tourism due to social media. Due to this, a allow is now required to entry it with a purpose to preserve visitation underneath management.
I strongly advocate planning a weekend adventure right here. The surroundings is beautiful, and few different locations with this degree of magnificence are simply accessible within the state.
11. Canyon De Chelly Nationwide Monument
That is on the japanese finish of the state, and there’s not a lot else out right here to discover. However should you’re getting back from Colorado or seeking to go to a hidden gem in Arizona, Canyon De Chelly is ideal. It’s a properly carried out nationwide monument with loads of pull-offs to view the canyon under. You can too ebook a tour to the underside to see its grandeur.
It’s on tribal land, so observe the depart no hint rules; the land is sacred to many.
12. Mount Baldy
One other space in east Arizona, about 40 minutes from Pinetop, is Mount Baldy. Surprisingly, few individuals know that Mount Baldy rises over 11,500 ft and is a superb place to spend cool summer time days whereas Phoenix bakes. The mountain has a improbable 17-mile loop, good for an introduction to backpacking or an extended day hike.
It’s additionally residence to the Dawn Ski Resort, which affords glorious snowboarding and snowboarding if you wish to keep away from visiting Flagstaff.
13. Organ Pipe Nationwide Monument
On the US/Mexican border and southwest of Phoenix is the house of the Organ Pipe Cactus, plenty of mountaineering, and stellar views. Organ Pipe Nationwide Monument is on the prime of the checklist of least visited locations in Arizona, although it instructions a lot consideration.
In the event you’re in search of darkish evening skies and unbelievable sunsets, that is your spot.
14. Sedona
Sedona is pink rock nation! Gone are the times when you could possibly go to right here with out being swarmed with vacationers. But, it’s nonetheless a magical location that folks should go to of their lifetime.
Whereas the mountaineering and surroundings put it on one other degree, it’s stuffed with native and non secular tradition. It has actions for individuals of all expertise, ages, and skills.
One suggestion is to go to through the week; keep away from it on the weekends when it’s overrun by vacationers and locals.
15. Monument Valley
Final however certainly not least is Monument Valley, the beautiful pure surprise on the Arizona/Utah border. Spend two nights right here on the campground or lodge to get a very good really feel for the place.
I additionally counsel taking the backcountry tour to see its hidden gems and be taught extra in regards to the Navajo tradition and historical past. I took the tour in 2019, which was the most effective factor I did at Monument Valley.
Many Nice Locations To Go to in Arizona
A lot for a desert wasteland, proper? After studying this, you’ll certainly understand that Arizona is filled with magnificence and awe. However keep in mind, these locations to go to in Arizona are solely pretty much as good as we deal with them. So, as you journey and discover new locations, please Go away No Hint and permit the following guests to expertise the identical factor you probably did!
This text initially appeared on Wealth of Geeks.
Alec Sills-Trausch
Alec is an adventure photographer and travel writer with a love of exploring hidden and exhausting to achieve locations to point out off our good planet. His work has appeared in Backpacker, Adorama, and quite a few state tourism boards. He’s additionally a two-time most cancers and a bone marrow transplant survivor, hoping to point out that there is usually a future from this lethal illness.
