Arizona may be best known for the Grand Canyon, but the state has many other unique places worth exploring.
Across Arizona, you’ll find a variety of different landscapes, ranging from arid deserts to alpine forests with snow-capped peaks. This makes it a top destination in the US for scenic views and outdoor adventures.
Beyond the world-famous landscapes, Arizona offers numerous unique towns and off-the-beaten-path gems that you may not have known existed. So here are 15 must-see places that will convince you that Arizona deserves more than just a visit to the Grand Canyon.
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Antelope Canyon
Antelope Canyon is one of the most beautiful and intricately formed slot canyons in the entire world. To visit this canyon, you do have to reserve your spot with a tour.
There are two parts of the canyon open to the public for touring: Upper Antelope Canyon and Lower Antelope Canyon.
The Upper Canyon is formed above the Earth’s surface, while the lower one is beneath it. Both offer stunning views of the canyon walls, but the Upper Canyon is known for beautiful light beams that shine down around midday. Many photographers flock here each day to capture the phenomenon.
The Upper Canyon is also a much shorter and flatter trail, which may be better suited for people with physical limitations or disabilities. The Lower Canyon is a more extended tour with narrow staircases required.
Whichever part of Antelope Canyon you decide to tour, I know it will find a spot in your list of favorite sights in Arizona.
Lost Dutchman State Park
Located just outside of eastern Phoenix, you’ll find the Superstition Mountains. This mountain range is full of hiking opportunities and views you won’t find anywhere else.
Lost Dutchman State Park is an excellent entry point to explore these beautifully unique mountains. The park offers a variety of trails, ranging from easy and flat hikes to more challenging treks suitable for experienced hikers.
Most notably, the park is known for the Flatiron via Siphon Draw Trail, which gains over 2,600 feet to one of the highest peaks in the Superstition Mountains. This is a strenuous 6-mile hike that offers some of the most breathtaking views of the entire Phoenix Valley.
Even if you don’t attempt the infamous Flatiron, you’re sure to be in awe of the beautiful mountain views from just the Visitor Center in the park.
Monument Valley
Monument Valley is located within the Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona, right on the Utah border. It’s known for its unique mesas and sandstone buttes.
If these rock formations look familiar, you’ve probably seen them featured in famous movies such as Forrest Gump, Back to the Future Part III, National Lampoon’s Vacation, and several of John Ford’s classic western films.
When you first arrive at Monument Valley, the Visitor Center is a great place to start to learn more about the land, check out some souvenirs, and take in the sweeping views of the landscape.
If you have your own 4×4 vehicle, you can take the unpaved scenic drive through the Valley for free, where you’ll see all the unique rock formations up close.
If you don’t have an off-roading vehicle, don’t worry. There are a plethora of different tour companies that you can book upon your arrival at the park. It’s definitely worth it to drive through and get the whole experience.
Montezuma Castle National Monument
Arizona is home to several cliff dwellings constructed by various Native American tribes, but one of the most intriguing, by far, is Montezuma Castle.
The Montezuma Castle dwellings are impressively built into a naturally formed cave in a cliff 100 feet above the ground!
You’ll find these dwellings near a small town named Camp Verde, which is about one and a half hours north of Phoenix.
To view the dwellings, take the short, paved walkway from the Visitor Center to the viewpoint. Unfortunately, visitors are no longer allowed into the houses due to irreversible damage that has been done to the structure. However, it’s still amazing to view it from below and imagine what life was like for the people who lived there.
Fossil Creek Falls/ Fossil Springs
Payson is a small mountain town in central Arizona located beneath the Mogollon Rim, where you’ll find dense pine forests and crisp mountain air.
The area is full of beautiful hikes, one of the best being the trail to Fossil Creek Falls. This is an easy 2-mile hike leading you to a crystal clear swimming hole and a beautiful waterfall.
You will need a 4×4 vehicle to get to the trailhead, and permits are required from April 1st to October 1st.
Alternatively, you can check out Fossil Springs, which is reached via an 8-mile trail with no 4×4 or permit required at any time of year. It’s located along a different part of the same creek, also with a waterfall at the end.
Fossil Creek is a wonderful place to cool off in the summer. It’s hard to believe that water this refreshing and beautiful exists in Arizona!
Mount Lemmon Summit
Driving to the summit of Mount Lemmon is an experience that anyone visiting Tucson should add to their list of things to do.
Mount Lemmon is a massive mountain standing at 9,159 feet tall, and the drive to the summit will take you across six distinct climate zones. Beginning in the hot Sonoran desert with abundant Saguaro Cacti, and ending in the cool coniferous forests. This is the equivalent of driving from Mexico to Canada!
It’s incredible to watch the landscape change around you as you ascend thousands of feet in elevation. It’s definitely worth a day trip when you’re in Tucson. Best of all, it is completely free to drive! The road is paved as well, so no 4×4 is needed here.
Lake Havasu’s London Bridge
The London Bridge is a unique find in Arizona. It feels almost out of place, yet it belongs exactly where it is.
This bridge was actually built in London in 1831 over the River Thames. Years later, it began to slowly sink due to the increasing traffic and weight demands as the city grew larger. (Ever heard the nursery rhyme: “London Bridge is Falling?”)
In 1968, the city of London decided to put the historic bridge up for auction instead of demolishing it.
The founder of Lake Havasu City, Robert McCulloch, won the auction, paying nearly $2.5 million for the bridge. He believed having something world-famous like the London Bridge would draw tourists and help put his new city on the map.
The bridge was then carefully dismantled and shipped to Arizona, where it was reconstructed over Lake Havasu, where it stands today.
The London Bridge is a must-see when visiting Lake Havasu City. You can walk across it to take in the views, then check out all the London-themed shops and attractions below.
Chiricahua National Monument
Chiricahua National Monument is one of Arizona’s gems. It’s off the beaten path in the southern part of the state, near the New Mexico border.
The main feature in the park is its unique rock pinnacles/hoodoos, made from volcanic activity and millions of years of erosion. Also within the park boundaries, you may run into a coatimundi, which is a raccoon-like animal. They’re rare to see in Arizona, but they’re frequently spotted in the lower elevations in the park.
When you visit Chiricahua, the best thing to do is take the scenic drive, where you’ll experience expansive views of the unique rock formations. There are also all kinds of hiking trails, ranging from quick and easy walks to more strenuous and long treks.
Sedona
Sedona is a world-famous town in Arizona known for its towering red rock formations and energy vortexes that visitors flock to for spiritual healing.
One of the best things to do in Sedona is to go hiking. There are hundreds of trails to check out, suitable for people of all fitness levels. A few of the top hikes include Cathedral Rock, Devils Bridge, Birthing Cave, Bell Rock, and Soldier Pass Trail.
In addition to hiking, you’ll want to check out the Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, Amitabha Stupa Peace Park, and Sedona’s street, where you’ll find numerous unique shops, restaurants, art galleries, and even psychics.
With the beautiful red rock mountain backdrop, Sedona is also the perfect place to take part in a variety of different health and wellness services. You’ll find everything from sound baths, yoga classes, guided meditations, massages, reiki experiences, hypnotherapists, and so much more.
Petrified Forest National Park
If you want to see hundreds of Triassic fossils, gorgeous badlands, and the world’s most extensive collection of petrified wood, you need to visit Petrified Forest National Park.
Located right on Route 66, this underrated National Park is a must-visit place in Arizona.
Taking the 28-mile scenic drive through the park will give you phenomenal views of the colorful badland mounds, but you’ll want to get out on some trails to view the petrified wood.
Petrified wood is created when ancient trees, buried by sediment, turn to stone in a process that takes millions of years. Today, these pieces of fossilized logs sparkle with vibrant crystallized colors. It’s impossible to walk around and see all the petrified wood scattered across the landscape.
This makes the Petrified Forest an exceptional place to learn about Earth’s history. Not only do you witness the preserved remains of 200-million-year-old trees, but also how each layer of color on the badland mounds represents a different period in time. This park is like a natural record keeper of Earth’s history, and it’s remarkable.
Bisbee
Bisbee is probably the cutest mountain town you’ll find in Arizona. It’s located in the far southern portion of the state, close to the Mexican border.
Bisbee started as a booming mining town. It was actually one of the world’s mining sites for producing billions of pounds of minerals such as copper and gold.
The town saw a significant decrease in population in 1974 when the mines closed down due to depleted resources. Drawn by affordable real estate and the charm of this historic town, new generations of artists and “hippies” moved in years later. This had a considerable impact on the art community we see here today. You’ll find your art galleries on every corner in town.
As you walk down Bisbee’s street, you can explore all the colorful Victorian-style buildings, which are now filled with vintage shops and cozy cafes. This is just part of what gives this town so much character.
Saguaro Lake
In the outskirts of Phoenix, deep in the Superstition Mountains, you’ll find a massive reservoir that makes for a fantastic place to cool off in the summer or a nice place to hike in the winter.
Saguaro Lake is a desert oasis offering scenic views, however you choose to visit. In addition to various water activities and hiking, you can take a ride on the Desert Belle, a unique sightseeing cruise boat available on Saguaro Lake.
This lake is the perfect place to spot some Sonoran Desert wildlife, such as wild horses, bighorn sheep, coyotes, or javelinas. You’ll see the plentiful Saguaro Cacti all along the shore of the lake.
The contrast of rugged desert and the refreshing cool water creates a one-of-a-kind landscape that you won’t want to miss on your trip to Arizona.
Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
Outside of Payson in a tiny town named Pine, you’ll find the world’s natural travertine bridge: Tonto Natural Bridge.
There are several overlooks in the park where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the bridge from above. You can also take a few staircases down to the bottom, where you’ll see the entirety of this massive bridge in all its glory. It’s an impressive sight to see, and it’s fantastic that it’s accessible to visitors.
For the more adventurous, you can actually hike through and under the bridge. This can get pretty sketchy, though. Especially since the rock is usually slick from the waterfalls, you’ll hear trickling down the walls of the bridge.
However you choose to view the natural bridge, you won’t be disappointed.
Horseshoe Bend
Viewing the Colorado River from the Grand Canyon is cool, but viewing it from the Horseshoe Bend Viewpoint is an entirely different and jaw-dropping experience.
Horseshoe Bend is a gorgeous spot in northern Arizona where the mighty Colorado River meets the scenic red rock desert. Fittingly, Horseshoe Bend is named after the dramatic curve of the river around a massive sandstone formation, creating the shape of a horseshoe.
Getting to the viewpoint requires only a 1.5-mile walk, which is flat and paved. So admiring this natural wonder is doable for all. You don’t want to miss Horseshoe Bend when you’re in the area.
Homolovi State Park
Homolovi State Park is another hidden gem in Arizona. At first glance, this park may not seem like it has much, but it’s one of the only public places in the state where you’re sure to find remains of Native American pottery.
The pottery shards are scattered throughout the park and can be found on most of the walking trails. You shouldn’t be off the trail, but you can easily spot some pottery fragments on the sides of the pathways. You’re free to pick up the pieces and admire them, but it is against the law to take them.
In addition to searching for pottery shards, the park also features petroglyphs and pueblo dwellings worth exploring. Homolovi is a great place to learn about the history of the Hopi tribe and how they thrived in this harsh environment.
Conclusion
Arizona is a perfect place to visit in the US if you’re looking for unforgettable landscapes and unique destinations. I hope learning a little about these 15 places has inspired you to explore some lesser-known gems in this beautiful state.