Striking desert landscapes are the staples of Arizona. So much that, in fact, The Grand Canyon State is the only state in the USA that houses four entirely different desert regions. Each with its own distinctive scenery, fauna, and flora. If you’re currently plotting a trip to Arizona, chances are you’re extremely excited to experience a true adventure in the desert. With so many incredible places to choose from, though, I bet you’re having a pretty tough time deciding where to go! If you’re a first-timer to travel in Arizona or you’ve visited but haven’t seen much outside the cities, here are some of the best places in Arizona to visit for all things desert magic.
Places in Arizona You’ve Got to Visit for Desert Magic
1. Monument Valley
Shared between Utah and Arizona, Monument Valley is an icon of American Southwest Scenery.
Made up of towering sandstone formations, striking mesas, and captivating buttes. The desert landscape you’ll find at Monument Valley is so incredibly beautiful that it has been the setting of countless movies, including 2001: Space Odyssey, Stagecoach, The Lone Star Ranger, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, and Forrest Gump (to name just a few!)
The most popular way to explore the landscape of Monument Valley is by driving the 17-mile scenic road that winds through the area. But if you want to explore further afield, you can also choose to hike a few of the trails in the park. If you’re keen to go deeper, you can also book a guided tour of Monument Valley. Where a Navajo will take you beyond marked areas.
2. Saguaro National Park
Set close to Tucson, Saguaro National Park is a sea of gorgeous desert scenery towered by enormous saguaro
Saguaro cacti are commonly nicknamed “the kings of the Sonoran Desert”. Known to grow as tall as 50 feet, these desert giants can live up to 200 years. And Saguaro National Park is one of the very few places in the world where you can see them in their natural habitat.
Besides the gorgeous desert scenery that blankets the park, Saguaro National Park also homes mountains and pine forests. Which pretty much guarantees you’ll have plenty of options when it comes to choosing what to see and what adventures to take on!
As if that weren’t reason enough to visit, Saguaro is also known for being the home to unique desert wildlife. Be it on a hike or during a scenic drive. Encounters with animals like deer, coyotes, javelinas, and desert tortoises are quite common!
3. Canyon De Chelly National Monument
Looking for a lesser-crowded alternative to the Grand Canyon? Canyon De Chelly is a wonderful choice!
Set in northwestern Arizona, Canyon De Chelly is a humongous canyon that sits in the heart of the Navajo Indian Reserve. During your visit, you won’t only get to see striking landscapes and unique geology. But you’ll also get the chance to get close and personal with Native American culture.
What makes Canyon De Chelly so unique is the fact that the canyon and the area around it have been continually inhabited for thousands of years and up to the present. Today, this national monument continues to be the home to Navajo people. Which will give you the chance to learn more about them. As well as see and explore ruins from the canyon’s first inhabitants, the Anazaki and Puebloans.
4. Sedona
Sedona may just be the most sought-after destination for Arizona desert magic. Thanks to the town’s location
Think sweeping river canyons, maze-like rock formations, desert spires piercing the sky, and a landscape of red rock to get a pretty good picture of what the scenery around Sedona is all about. Among the most popular things to do here include hiking in the desert, checking out vortex sites. Driving in search of unique landmarks, and even checking out a cathedral located atop red rocks!
5. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Tucked away in the middle of the striking Sonoran Desert, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is the only
Organ pipe cactus look quite similar to saguaros. But instead of consisting of one trunk, organ pipes have several, making them look even more impressive!
Aside from its glorious landscape dotted with organ pipes, the park is also home to several archeological sites. As well as unique desert flora and wildlife, including Gila monsters and rattlesnakes.
6. Bandelier National Monument
Way back in time, what we know today as Bandolier National Monument was the home to Ancestral Puebloans before they moved to the Rio Grande Valley. For that reason, the area that makes up this national monument is considered sacred. And is protected in order to preserve the wonderful history of the Pueblo people.
The park is made up of sweeping canyons and glorious desert mesas. As you explore them, you’ll also come across ancient petroglyphs and cliff dwellings. Which will give you the chance to glimpse into what life 10,000 years ago at Bandelier was like!
Are you currently planning a trip to explore Arizona’s deserts? If so, which of these destinations are you looking forward to visiting the most? Let me know in the comment section below!
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