Natural Wonders of Arizona

It’s hard to imagine a trip to Arizona that doesn’t involve at least a visit to Grand Canyon National Park. This massive gorge isn’t just a geological marvel, it’s a symbol of Western adventure and American spirit. Visible from space, the canyon is close to 300 miles long and, at points, over a mile deep. One look over the edge and it’s easy to see why it’s considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World.

Every year, thousands of tourists make the 11-mile hike to see the waterfalls of Havasu Canyon on the Havasupai Reservation. The blue-green water gets its color from limestone deposits known as travertine, and the falls make up a world-renowned site that, when first glanced, defy logic. The brilliant azure of Havasu Canyon is breathtaking.

Arizona averages less than eight inches of rainfall a year. That’s bad news if you want to go splash in puddles, but if you’re into checking out the stars this state can’t be beat. For a great show, time a trip with the annual Orionid meteor shower in October.

Walking through one of Arizona’s slot canyons is the closest thing a tourist can get to visiting another planet. The deep narrow trenches are formed by water that, over millennia, cuts through soft rock formations, usually sandstone or limestone. Because the paths are so narrow, they often channel narrow beams of ethereal light. While many of the canyons hide just off northern Arizona highways, some are on the Navajo Reservation and are inaccessible to the general public. Antelope Canyon is the state’s most popular. Schedule a tour to visit the canyon.

The red buttes protruding from the painted sand of Monument Valley look like memorials sculpted by a mythical goddess. The view of the three most iconic rock formations, seen above, is for many the visual definition of the American West. Monument Valley is part of the Four Corners region, where Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico meet — a semi-autonomous region of the Navajo, Hopi, Ute and Zuni reservations.

The saguaro cactus is practically synonymous with Arizona deserts. Large and slow growing, saguaros can reach up to 70 feet tall and may not sprout an arm until they’re a 100 years old. Many birds make their nests inside their tree-like trunks, and their fruits have been prized over the centuries by indigenous peoples. These cacti can be seen in one-of-a-kind Saguaro National Park.

Its red-rock mountains and cold creeks alone make Sedona a special place, but there’s something else at work… Nailing down exactly what a vortex is in this context can be pretty difficult. It’s an abstract concept you might tell yourself you "get" before you do, much in the same way you might tell yourself you "feel" it before you do. A vortex is simply a place where natural Earth energies are strong. Many believe Sedona’s vortexes have healing or spiritually activating powers that help with everything from health to general problem-solving abilities and clear-mindedness.

Sandwiched between Utah and the Grand Canyon, the Arizona Strip is one of the state’s most remote regions. It’s hard to get to, but its natural wonders are well worth the trip. Home to a small population of California condors, the Arizona Strip is also famous for the Vermilion Cliffs, which appear like giant stairs leading up the Colorado Plateau.

Take one look at the purples and oranges of an Arizona sunset, and little else can compare.