The One Arizona Town That’s So Perfectly Western

Scottsdale may have the official motto but if there’s any town that deserves the designation as the most Western town, then Wickenburg may be just the candidate to get it. Here are just a few reasons why.

Welcome to Wickenburg! This little town sits about 65 miles northwest of Phoenix and has a population of about 6,600.

One of your first stops should be the Wickenburg visitor center, which sits in an old train depot and has all the information you need about upcoming events and suggestions for where to go in town.

While walking through downtown, you’ll find an array of western-themed shops and restaurants.

While walking the downtown area, you can get a brief history of the town by checking out the train depot and the old jail tree.

There's also plenty of events that go on around here, such as rodeos...

...and the annual Gold Rush Days that's happening this weekend! They welcome the three-day celebration with a parade, rodeo, car show, art show, and more.

Don't forget to visit the Desert Caballeros Western Museum! You'll get a chance to learn more about the town's western heritage.

Exhibits include western art, quilts, artifacts, and some very cool replicas of western settings, like the general store depicted below.

Vulture City and its gold mine are just a short drive away. A quick stop here on Saturdays will give you more insight into the area's mining origins.

Wickenburg is known as the "Dude Ranch Capital of the World," so make sure you book an overnight stay at one to complete your visit to the town.

Want to experience more of the Old West? You can get some incredible ideas for places to visit after you read Experience The Old West In Arizona With These 18 Amazing Places.

Monica Spencer

Monica is a Diné freelance writer and photographer. Born in New Mexico and raised in Arizona, she is a Southwestern girl through and through. You can reach her at [email protected]

The One Arizona Town That’s So Perfectly Western

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