5 Must See Places in Northern Arizona
Here are some must see places in northern Arizona that will make your time in this beautiful state even better! A few of these places may sound familiar but there are two hidden gems that I highly suggest adding to your trip!
Planning a trip is always exciting and if you're anything like me, you are doing a ton of research to find some amazing spots to see while you are there. As someone who is traveling full time, I have the privilege of experiencing many different locations. I am giving you my top 5 must see places in northern Arizona to make your time here truly amazing!
You may recognize some of these spots, but they are well known for a reason! You will also learn about a couple new spots that are not so well known but definitely worth adding to your list.
After reading this, you are going to be well prepared with a good list of spots to explore and should be extremely excited to see these places in person!
This post is all about the must see places in northern Arizona that everyone should visit.
1. Grand Canyon
Let's be honest, it wouldn't be an Arizona must-see list without the Grand Canyon. There is a reason this location is on everyone's list, it is a truly remarkable sight to see in person. It's almost impossible to describe what it feels like to stand on the rim of the Grand Canyon overlooking the vastness of this place.
If you don't have a lot of time here, I would highly suggest stopping at as many view points as you can. This allows you to still see it from multiple different points of view without spending the time hiking. If you do have the time, do as many hikes as you can! There are a ton of options and this will allow you to go down into the canyon and see it up close.
If you're up for a really cool experience, you can take a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon which allows you to truly take it all in, more so then you ever would be able to from the ground.
You could spend weeks exploring all that the Grand Canyon has to offer!
Pro Tip: Whether you are there for one day or multiple, try to see it at different times of the day. Depending on what time of day it is, the sun will drastically effect the whole experience. You'll also find that the size of the crowds vary, greatly. To my surprise, it was much less crowded at sunset, than it was during the day.
2. Sedona
Sedona is a huge tourist spot in Arizona, but again there are multiple reasons for that. It is one of the most beautiful cities I've ever been to! I will never forget driving into Sedona on 89A and just being blown away by the beauty that surrounds this city.
There is seriously so much to do here! One of the main selling points for me is the crazy amounts of hikes in the area with the most breathtaking views. Just to name a few, there is the Chapel Trail, the Birthing Cave, Cathedral Rock Trail, and so many more. I highly suggest downloading the AllTrails app before you go which will give you a ton of good information on the hikes you would like to do.
If you aren't into hiking, there are a ton of places where you can rent ATV's and explore many trails to still see the red rocks up close.
Once you are done exploring for the day, there are many good restaurants in town you can enjoy. And of course, a lot of hotels and Airbnb's to stay at.
If you're up for a really amazing experience while here, you can take a hot air balloon ride and see Sedona from above! How cool is that?
Pro Tip: If you are camping on your trip, there is a ton of FREE camping just outside of town on BLM land (public land that allows you to stay for up to 14 days for free)! You can find these spots using an app called iOverlander.
3. Horseshoe Bend
Horseshoe Bend is in Page, Arizona. It is not as famous as the Grand Canyon but still very well known. It is a natural rock formation that literally looks like a horseshoe, hence the name.
It is about a 10-15 minute walk from the parking lot to the overlook. No intense hiking or anything like that so it is very accessible to everyone which is awesome! There is no shade though so it can get very hot depending on what time of day you go, either way make sure to bring some water just in case!
You can spend as little or as much time here as you want, so whether you are hanging out in Page for a few days or just passing through, I highly suggest making the stop here. It is a truly a beautiful sight to see and totally worth it.
If you'd like to experience it in more ways than from just the overlook, you can take a helicopter tour or you can even take a rafting trip on the Colorado River and experience Horseshoe Bend from below!
Pro Tip: Not far from here there is Antelope Canyon, amazing slot canyons that you can walk through. If you have the time, you should book a tour through here, you won't regret it!
4. Cottonwood
The historic town of Cottonwood is not far from Sedona or Jerome but much less touristy. I am considering this one of my hidden gems because not a lot of people talk about this small city.
The main attraction of this place is Verde Vally, the only wine region in northern Arizona. There are seven wine tasting spots in just a couple blocks on Main Street! There are a ton of cute little shops and restaurants in this area as well.
Dead Horse Ranch State Park is here and offers many beautiful easy hikes and great views of the Verde River.
Right next to Cottonwood, there is an even smaller town called Clarkdale, here you will find the Tuzigoot National Monument!
Pro Tip: If you are camping on your trip, there is a ton of FREE camping on BLM land (public land that allows you to stay for up to 14 days for free), and it is gorgeous and much less crowded than the spots outside of Sedona. You can find these spots using an app called iOverlander.
5. Grand Falls
Grand Falls, also known as Chocolate Falls due to its color from the muddy water, is the all time hidden gem of northern Arizona! It sits on Navajo Nation land northeast of Flagstaff.
At 181 feet this waterfall is actually taller than Niagara Falls! Pictures can't do it justice.It's hard to believe that this amazing place is not more well known, but I have a feeling that it is because this waterfall actually only flows at certain times of the year from the snow melting or for a short time during monsoon season. The best time to see the falls are during March and April.
You do not need a 4x4 but be aware that the road to get to it was a very long and rough washboard road, definitely worth it in my opinion but keep that in mind! There are two different roads that will lead you there, I recommend taking the 6910 over 6920.
There are picnic tables so feel free to bring breakfast or lunch and enjoy it at this desert oasis. As I mentioned, this incredible waterfall is on Navajo Nation land so please remember to be respectful and leave no trace!
Pro Tip: Go as early in the morning as you can, it will get "crowded" throughout the day. Not nearly as many people as the other locations on this list but if you go early you may have the whole place to yourself for a while, which is truly amazing and so peaceful.
