Nestled in the precious corner of America’s Southwest, Arizona is a treasure trove of stunning sights and unique experiences.
From the tranquil beauty of the Sonoran Desert and Horseshoe Bend to the dozens of opportunities for hiking and admiring nature’s gifts in Red Rock and elsewhere, Arizona has so much to offer!
In this overview, let’s take a look at the very best that the Grand Canyon State has to offer!
Table of Contents
1. Monument Valley
Of all of the natural wonders in Arizona, this is among those with the highest level of cultural recognition nationwide and beyond.
Monument Valley, with its unique rock formations towering above the otherwise mostly flat desert landscape, has served as the backdrop to many a great classic Western movie.
In fact, legendary director John Ford liked the landscape here so much that he shot the vast majority of his most famous output here. No wonder Monument Valley has become so inextricably linked with the imagery of Old West gunfights, caravans, and sleazy saloons.
2. Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
Incredibly popular with and frequently visited by landscape photographers, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument is a one-of-a-kind example of real Arizona natural beauty.
The colorful, horn-like mazes of red sandstone that form the Cliffs formed through a complex process of erosion over millions of years. The result is a marvelous sight that is hard to believe without seeing it in person.
In photographs, the Cliffs can sometimes look more like sand dunes or painted waves than solid rock.
3. Lava River Cave
The result of a unique volcanic event eons ago, the Lava River Cave spans almost a whole mile from end to end.
Despite the name, you should pack warm clothes for a trip into the cave. The walkable interior of the cave was formed by lava flow slowly receding and stopping over the course of millennia, meaning that today, the Lava River Cave is perfectly still and cold, even approaching freezing temperatures in some places.
The Cave is easily reachable from nearby Flagstaff and remains one of Arizona’s favorite tourist spots.
4. Tonto Natural Bridge
Stretching over 400 feet at a height of almost 200 feet, this unique natural arch near Payson, in Gila County, is a real marvel to behold. Many count it among the most coveted natural attractions in Arizona.
5. Barringer Crater
Arizona’s largest meteor crater is also among the most well-preserved in the world, thanks to the state’s dry desert climate.
Numerous scientific excursions to the site have taken place over the years – including a live experiment conducted to prepare astronauts for the Apollo moon landings – and Barringer Crater continues to serve as one of the biggest standards in meteor crater research.
6. The Petrified Forest
Housed in the large national park of the same name, the Petrified Forest is one of the world’s largest natural collections of fossilized wood remains.
The shimmering barks are not just amazingly pretty to look at; they also help us learn more about Earth’s geological history!
7. The Painted Desert
Covering a large swathe of land including a big chunk of the Petrified Forest National Park, the Painted Desert is a type of badlands with a uniquely beautiful display of color.
From rich, deep reds to soft lavender, the smoothly-contoured rocks of The Painted Desert make for some of the best and most stunningly beautiful scenery in Arizona.
8. Canyon de Chelly National Monument
At the heart of the Four Corners and within traditional Navajo tribal lands, Canyon de Chelly National Monument is a living record of some of North America’s most ancient history.
With its vast ruins, incredible rock formations, and awe-inspiring stretches of desert, it is among the greatest natural wonders in Arizona.
9. Mount Lemmon
Just a short ride from Tucson, Mount Lemmon is a favorite skiing and hiking destination and offers some of the best views in the Southwest.
Because the high altitude only amplifies the advantages of Arizona’s famously clear night skies, it’s no wonder you’ll find one of the region’s most important astronomical observatories right at the summit!
10. Antelope Canyon
Located near the Northern edge of the state, Antelope Canyon is one of the most heavily-visited of the Arizona wonders.
Mostly consisting of gentle Navajo sandstone shaped by centuries of erosion, Antelope Canyon and its narrow crooks and maze-like structures look almost like vertical sand dunes shooting up into the sky.
Like many other natural attractions in Arizona, Antelope Canyon is also heavily frequented by landscape photographers who prize its surreal beauty.
11. Horseshoe Bend
One of the most popular sightseeing spots in the nation – and among the most common source of postcard photographs – Horseshoe Bend is striking to behold.
A nearly perfect case of freshwater erosion fed by the Colorado river resulted in this unique island with a “roundabout” waterway encircling it.
It is possible to walk all the way around the bend from up above. Or, if you’re especially daring, the actual Bend below is also accessible to small boats.
12. Sedona
Many an Arizonan’s favorite day trip getaway, Sedona is full of beautiful sights and things to do!
The vibrant town of Sedona is a hot spot for new-agers, musicians, art lovers, and many local subcultures.
For the real natural wonders, head to the wider Sedona countryside with its hundreds of hiking trails among the distinctive red sandstone mountains, creeks, and valleys dotting the area!
13. Lake Powell
Green waters coupled with amazingly vibrant, red sandstone rock formations make for a landscape that looks very literally out of this world.
The stunning geography of Lake Powell and its surroundings isn’t just pretty to look at, however. Visitors can also enjoy plenty of adventure activities ranging from spotting exotic wildlife to river tubing and water skiing.
14. San Francisco Peaks
A localized range of volcanic mountains, the snow-capped San Francisco Peaks tower over the Arizonan landscape not far from Flagstaff.
Containing the highest point in the state at over 12,630 feet, or 3,850 meters, the San Francisco Peaks have developed into a favorite hiking and skiing destination and are recognized as one of the best examples of Arizona’s natural beauty.
15. Fossil Creek
If you thought Arizona was all just dry desert, think again! A piece of Eden tucked away near the community of Camp Verde, Fossil Creek charms visitors with its perennial waterfalls and lush forest atmosphere.
Kayaking, snorkeling, and other watersports are especially popular in the Creek due to the warm, gentle waters.
Photographers, wildlife enthusiasts, and hikers also flock to Fossil Creek and the headwater of Fossil Springs for their fix of real Arizona wonders.
16. Saguaro National Park
In the Southwest of Arizona, not far from Tucson, lies Saguaro National Park, a living, breathing exhibit of some of the state’s most distinctive flora.
Giant saguaro cacti dominate the Park, which stretches on for thousands of hectares and features hundreds of miles’ worth of hiking trails. It is definitely a humbling experience to explore this desert ecosystem on foot, marveling at the scale of it all.
If you’re lucky, you might also be able to spot some of the animal species native to the saguaro forest, such as the javelina, a boar-like mammal.
17. Lake Mead
One of the nation’s principal destinations for holiday boating, water skiing, fishing, and swimming, Lake Mead was created artificially by means of restricting the Colorado River’s flow through the Hoover Dam.
Featuring some of the best scenery in Arizona, Lake Mead is a feast for the eyes and a perfect place for families and couples to unwind and enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature’s wonders.
18. Chiricahua National Monument
Not only is it Arizona’s greatest tongue twister, but Chiricahua National Monument is also one of its most impressive natural wonders.
Part of a mountain range of the same name in the neighborhood of Wilcox, Cochise County, Chiricahua contains one of the world’s highest concentrations of balancing rocks and hoodoos – those enigmatic formations that seem to break the laws of physics with their curious proportions.
It’s definitely got an otherworldly vibe to it, and that makes for one of the most interesting hikes you can get!
19. Superstition Mountain
Befitting its name, Superstition Mountain is shrouded in mysteries and folk tales. Many claim that somewhere hidden beneath this rock lies the Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine, presumably still filled to the brim with treasure.
While prospecting around Superstition Mountain remains a popular pastime, what is less frequently acknowledged is just how amazing the views are from the summit. Definitely worth the day trip from Phoenix!
20. The Grand Canyon
Of course, no list of natural wonders in Arizona could ever be complete without mentioning the Grand Canyon.
The Grand Canyon is a majestic natural monument so iconic, it’s defined what a ‘canyon’ even is to generations of millions from the world over.
The Grand Canyon has become many things over the years: A favorite hiking and hunting spot to Teddy Roosevelt (which is what thankfully led to its preservation in the first place!). A holy site to numerous ancient Native American civilizations. A record-breaking model for postcards.
It’s been the destination of many a school and honeymoon trip, and it remains a real testament to millions, perhaps even billions of years of geological history.
In short, the Grand Canyon is not just the most stunningly beautiful, important, famous, and amazing natural wonder in Arizona. It might very well be among the greatest wonders of the world, period!
What other examples of Arizona’s natural beauty can you think of? Let us know in the comment section below!
