11 Staggeringly Beautiful Places In Arizona That Will Always Be Waiting For You

We might be a tad biased, but hopefully, you’ll agree with us in saying Arizona is the most beautiful state in the country. From the iconic rock walls of the Grand Canyon to Havasu Falls’ impossibly vibrant blue-green waters, the land we call home boasts some truly incredible natural wonders. No matter how infrequently we visit these 11 places, they’ll always be waiting for us.

Flickr/John Fowler

92,000 acres of Saguaros is perhaps the most Arizona thing we can think of. This vast park consists of two separate areas, both conserving Sonoran Desert landscapes and wildlife. Recreational activities include hiking, bicycling, and horseback riding on 165 miles of trails, sightseeing, and wilderness camping in the Rincon Mountain District.

Flickr/Sandrine Néel

Water erosion over millions of years shaped Antelope Canyon, which is among the most popular outdoor attractions in Arizona. This slot canyon is located in the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation, east of Page, and is split into an upper and lower section. Independent exploration of the canyon is not permitted; you must have a tour guide present.

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A list of beautiful places in Arizona wouldn't be complete without our state's most enchanting, elusive waterfall. Havasu Falls, located within the Havasupai Indian Reservation, is 98 feet tall and gets its blue-green color from a high calcium carbonate concentration in the water. A permit is required to visit the falls, and you can read more about the process here.

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Flickr/airwolfhound

Sharing a border with Utah, Monument Valley Tribal Park is one of the most photographed places on Earth. Sandstone buttes tower up to 1,000 feet high, creating panoramic scenes guaranteed to take your breath away. Explore the lands on your own, or opt for a guided Jeep tour that includes landmarks not usually accessible to the public.

Flickr/Mobilus in Mobili

Part of the Painted Desert, Petrified Forest National Park is known for its colorful badlands and fossilized trees dating as far back as 225 million years. You'll also see dinosaur fossils and archaeological sites such as petroglyphs. Seven maintained hiking trails, ranging in length from 0.5 to nearly three miles, showcase the park from a variety of different perspectives.

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TripAdvisor/Evolution Expeditions

Arizona's greenest water is in the Black Canyon near Emerald Beach. This area of Lake Mead is only accessible by boat, rendering it as secretive as the Land of Oz. A 12-mile kayak trip is all it takes to get there, and you'll spot ducks, birds, bighorn sheep, and a waterfall along the way.

Flickr/Andrés Nieto Porras

Yet another natural wonder near Page, Horseshoe Bend is a highly-trafficked meander of the Colorado River located five miles downstream from the Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. A mere half-mile hike leads to the overlook, which stretches a whopping 4,200 feet above sea level. Time your visit around sunset to catch the rays reflecting on the water in a dazzling manner.

Flickr/Kat Stan

We couldn't pick just one spot in Sedona to feature, so the entire city made the list. From natural bridges to energy vortexes; towering red rocks to awe-inspiring canyon-top chapels, this town is nothing short of magical.

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Flickr/Tony Hisgett

This one goes without saying -- after all, this world wonder is responsible for our state's nickname. Spanning over a million acres, this incredibly special place will always hold a piece of our hearts.

Flickr/Nalan Aeon

Like Antelope Canyon, The Wave is also located on the Arizona-Utah border. Dating to the Jurassic Age, this sandstone rock formation situated on the slopes of the Coyote Buttes in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness of the Colorado Plateau. Its name refers to the undulating ridges reminiscent of an ocean ebbing and flowing, primarily formed by water and wind erosion. Due to the large volume of prospective tourists, a lottery system is used to award permits to visit The Wave. The shortest hike is about 8.3 miles long, and midday is the best time for photographs.

Flickr/Bureau of Land Management

Although much less frequented, White Pocket is located in the same general vicinity as The Wave. This otherworldly landscape features striking white and light grey rock, including domes, hoodoos, gullies, and potholes, and is vastly different from the surrounding area. Visiting this spellbinding place truly feels like traveling to another planet.

Make sure to keep up with the official websites for each of these places before visiting to learn of any changes about their opening status.

How many of these incredible natural wonders have you checked off your bucket list? Did we miss one of your favorite spots? Let us know, and check out our previous article to learn more about Monument Valley: The Sandstone Towers In Arizona’s Monument Valley Look Like Something From Another Planet.

Are there any restaurants, businesses, or other attractions in Arizona you think the world should know about? Head over to our nomination page and give them a shoutout — you just might see your submission featured in an upcoming article!