Here Are The 13 Most Incredible Natural Wonders In Arizona
In all honesty, I personally think the Grand Canyon State is one huge natural wonder; it’s difficult to travel through the state and think any part of the landscape doesn’t have some breathtaking beauty. Some of these places are easily considered to be natural wonders in Arizona. Here are some of our favorite locations that would be a part of any highlight reel of our state’s amazing landscape.
Starting off our list is one of the most popular areas for photographers. The northern Arizona slot canyon was created through water erosion of the sandstone, which is partly why the formation has its smooth flowing shape. Since water still flows and floods in the canyon, it's only accessible by guided tours.
Learn more about Antelope Canyon.
Three major canyons are combined into one national monument here: Canyon de Chelly, Canyon del Muerto, and Monument Canyon. Together they form a beautiful landscaped that is a rare treat for those not from Arizona. The park’s most distinctive feature? Spider Rock, a 750-foot spire that is home to Spider Woman in the Navajo culture.
Learn more about Canyon de Chelly National Monument.
The first time I saw pictures of this location, I didn’t think it was anywhere in Arizona. But the unique and large collection of hoodoos (the tall rock spires that seem to emerge from the ground) are located less than one hour from Willcox.
Learn more about Chiricahua National Monument.
The Grand Canyon’s presence on this list is a given. It's home to a number of other wonders, including Havasu Falls and Horseshoe Bend, and a vast amount of wildlife.
Learn more about the Grand Canyon.
Located within the Grand Canyon, Havasu Falls drops 100 feet into beautiful turquoise blue pools. What's not to love about this place?
Learn more about Havasu Falls.
These caves were a recent find for geologists and not only serves as a major bat nesting area but it also has plenty of incredible cave formations. This includes some beautiful but strangely named formations like soda straws and cave bacon which, unfortunately, is not edible.
Learn more about Kartchner Caverns.
Short but unique, the lava river cave is a tube-shaped cave formed by a volcanic vent more than 650,000 years ago. Interestingly, this cave stays cold throughout the year and ice can be found on the rocks inside even in summer.
Learn more about the Lava River Cave.
Also known as Barringer Crater, this is the best preserved meteor crater known thanks to our dry climate creating a slow erosion process.
Learn more about the Meteor Crater.
While a portion of Monument Valley sits in Utah, many of the red clusters of sandstone can be found in Arizona. Western movie aficionados know portions of the area well from John Ford’s films, particularly the popular mitten formations that seem to appear in nearly every film.
Learn more about Monument Valley.
Finding large deposits of petrified wood is the major draw to this national park but the area has plenty of other beautiful attractions, such as the striped badlands of the Painted Desert. The park also has a collection of well-preserved ruins, petroglyphs, and even fossils.
Learn more about Petrified Forest National Park.
Northern Arizona is definitely red rock country and the Sedona area is no exception. Red Rock State Park is picturesque and the riparian areas along Oak Creek run through the park.
Learn more about Red Rock State Park.
This natural arch is also considered the largest travertine bridge in the world and is an absolutely stunning sight.
Learn more about the Tonto Natural Bridge.
This stunning sandstone formation is a popular location for both hikers and photographers because of the curvy shapes similar to Antelope Canyon. The formations were created through wind erosion and since the sandstone can be easily damaged, access is limited to just 20 day permits each day through a lottery. If you want to increase your chances of getting in, try visiting in fall or winter when there tends to be fewer visitors.
Learn more about The Wave.
How many of these locations have you visited? Let us know which is your favorite location that you think we should highlight by visiting our nomination page. You can also check out our incredible Arizona Natural Wonders Road Trip for the perfect route to visit some of these spots.
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Address: Antelope Canyon, Arizona 86040, USA
Address: Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Chinle, AZ, USA
Address: Chiricahua National Monument, 12856 East Rhyolite Creek Road, Willcox, AZ 85643, USA
Address: Grand Canyon, Arizona 86052, USA
Address: Havasu Falls, Arizona 86435, USA
Address: Kartchner Caverns State Park, 2980 AZ-90, Benson, AZ 85602, USA
Address: Lava River Cave, 171B Forest Rd, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA
Address: Meteor Crater Natural Landmark, Interstate 40, Exit, 233, Winslow, AZ 86047, USA
Address: Oljato-Monument Valley, AZ 84536, USA
Address: Petrified Forest National Park, AZ 86028, USA
Address: Red Rock State Park, 4050 Red Rock Loop Rd, Sedona, AZ 86336, USA
Address: Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, Nf-583A, Pine, AZ 85544, USA
Address: The Wave Trail, Kanab, AZ 84741, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Natural Wonders In Arizona
July 16, 2020
Leah
What are the best outdoor adventures in Arizona?
There are many ways to have an outdoor adventure in Arizona. If you've already visited all the well-known wonders, take a look at some other spots like Cataract Canyon. The Glen Canyon National Recreation Area encompasses over one million acres of beautiful landscape, including gorgeous winding, deep blue waterways through uniquely shaped canyons. It makes for an excellent boating spot. For a more extreme adventure, Rappel Arizona offers all sorts of high-up rope activities like obstacle courses or actual rappelling down rocky cliffs. There are activities for beginners and experienced thrillseekers alike.
Which hidden gems in Arizona should I visit?
The most beautiful places in Arizona aren't always the most well-known. While spots like the Grand Canyon is absolutely stunning, it's also pretty busy. For a lesser-known spot without as much foot traffic but equally worthy views to marvel over, try visiting the Aspen Nature Loop near Flagstaff. While Arizona is stereotypically considered a desert-filled state, this aspen grove proves otherwise. The trail is 2.5 miles long and it's especially worth visiting in the fall when the tree leaves become a golden color. Keyhole Sink, located near Williams, is another great example of a hidden gem. While the canyons here aren't quite as high as others in the state, the picturesque waterfall, history, and more make it worth a visit.
What are the coolest attractions in Arizona?
Explore the many things to see in Arizona by visiting some of the coolest attractions in the state. For a literal cool - as in cooling - thing to do during summer, a trip tubing down the Salt River is certainly a great idea. To experience some of the architectural beauty of Arizona, take a look at the Biosphere 2 in Oracle or the unique cliff-side Chapel of the Holy Cross in Sedona. You can say you've been to the highest heights of Arizona by climbing Humphrey's Peak in Flagstaff, the state's highest peak.
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Monica is a Diné (Navajo) freelance writer and photographer based in the Southwest. Born in Gallup and raised in Phoenix, she is Tódich'ii'nii (Bitter Water People) and Tsi'naajinii (Black Streak Wood People). Monica is a staff writer for Only In Your State, photo editor for The Mesa Legend, and previously a staff writer for The Navajo Post. You can reach her at monica.d.spencer@gmail.com.
