Arizona is a state brimming with history, culture, and breathtaking natural beauty. With over 20 National Parks, Monuments, Recreation Areas, Historic Sites, and Trails, it offers countless opportunities for adventure and exploration. Whether you’re drawn to the rugged desert landscapes, ancient ruins, or picturesque canyons, there’s something for everyone to discover in the Grand Canyon State.
Pro Tip: Arizona doesn’t observe Daylight Savings Time, so keep that in mind when planning your trip.
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Arizona’s National Parks
Visiting Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, and Saguaro National Parks is a great way to see much of the state and knocks off 3 National Parks from your bucket list.
Grand Canyon: Arizona’s nickname is the “Grand Canyon State” for its most popular national park. The beauty here is honestly” take your breath away” amazing! Come armed with a plan for visiting the most popular points as you may get sidetracked if you don’t. There are many ways to see the canyon: drive Desert View Drive, hiking, biking or taking one of the many tours. You can easily spend a day here and if you want even more time there are two park lodges, or you can camp in designated camp sites. We’ve been here twice and still haven’t seen everything we want to see!
Pro Tip: Although each park is managed by the National Park Service, each has its own admission fees and policies. Consider getting a National Parks Pass, such as the America the Beautiful Pass, which will give the bearer access to any NPS site. Check the site to see which pass is most beneficial to you.
Saguaro National Park: This park is near Tucson and is famous for its beautiful giant Saguaro cactus. There are two districts in this park, Rincon Mountain District and the Tucson Mountain District. You can do either or both districts by car, bike or hiking. No matter how you spend your time here you will be amazed at not only the magnificent Saguaro but all the natural beauty in this park. I love the desert, and the Saguaro cactus is one my favorite sights in the desert. They are so majestic. I rate this as a must-see!
Petrified Forest National Park: This park is best-known for its rock formations and Triassic fossils. Visitors can hike, take a scenic drive, and explore the park’s paleo lab. Visit Puerco Pueblo and walk amidst the remains of a hundred room pueblo, occupied by the ancestral Puebloan people over 600 years ago. Petroglyphs can be viewed along the south end of the trail. Next, take a short hike along the Painted Desert Rim Trail and lastly visit the Petrified logs that the park is famous for. We haven’t made it here yet but mention native ruins and I’m ready to head out. This is on our bucket list.
Arizona’s National Monuments
Arizona has over 12 National Monuments to discover and explore. We’ll talk about 12 of them here. National monuments are areas reserved because they contain objects of historical, prehistoric, or scientific interest. Most of Arizona’s National Monuments have visitors’ centers or interpretive centers where guests can get their National Parks Passports stamped. Check the monuments websites for activities available as each park is different.
Aqua Fria National Monument The monument encompasses two mesas and the canyon of the Agua Fria River. Elevations range from 2,150 feet above sea level along the Agua Fria Canyon to about 4,600 feet in the northern hills. Enjoy hiking, camping and visiting over 100 archeological sites. Another park on my bucket list. I can’t get enough of visiting native archeological sites so this will be on top of our must sees.
Canyon de Chelly National Monument This canyon is home to Dine’ families who raise livestock, farmlands and live here. People have lived in these canyons for nearly 5,000 years, which is longer than anyone has lived continuously on the Colorado Plateau. The Navajo not only live here but run the tours, lodge, gift shop and restaurant here. This is one of my favorite places to visit! For more information about Canyon de Chelly read our blog.
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument Here you will find Ancestral Sonoran Desert People’s farming community and “Great House” that are preserved at Casa Grande Ruins. Not only can you see these ruins but learn the history of this land. You can take a tour of the area, then visit the bookstore to learn all about this amazing place. Another place on my bucket list.
Chiricahua National Monument A Wonderland of Rocks. Explore the pinnacles, spires, and balanced rocks that originated 27 million years ago by a massive volcanic eruption. Discover the history of this area while you hike, camp and do some birding in this fascinating monument. You can also tour the historic Faraway Ranch House on the property.
Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument This monument has a long human history spanning more than 11,000 years, and an equally rich geologic history spanning almost two billion years. Explore sweeping landscapes and engaging scenery on the edge of one of the most beautiful places on earth, the Grand Canyon. There are many things to do including seeing petroglyphs, visiting an old mining site and exploring the ranch house. Not to mention reveling in all that nature has to offer here. There are no paved roads here and it is very primitive, so plan ahead and be prepared. We haven’t been here yet, but I have been wanting to go back to the Grand Canyon, so we’ll have to make sure we include this monument while we are exploring the area.
Ironwood Forest National Monument This monument in the Sonoran Desert protects the many Ironwood trees along with many Saguaro cacti. The most known is an amazing 80-armed Saguaro. Like many of the other monuments, besides admiring the beautiful landscapes you can do some hiking, mountain biking or bird watching. When we lived in Tucson, we did a quick ride here and it was pretty amazing to see the Ironwood trees. We definitely need to do this monument again and give ourselves more time to explore and see all the Saguaro and do more exploring.
Montezuma Castle National Monument Established December 8, 1906; Montezuma Castle is the third National Monument dedicated to preserving Native American culture. This 20-room high-rise apartment is nestled into a towering limestone cliff. While you’re there visit Montezuma Well which is a sub-unit of Montezuma Castle. It is located about 15-20 minutes to the North of the Castle.
Navajo National Monument Navajo National Monument represents a long cultural history. The monument was first created in 1909 to protect the remains of three large pueblos dating to the 13th century C.E.: Keet Seel, Betatakin, and Inscription House. You can take self-guided or ranger-led tours here. Camping is also available. This is definitely on the top of our bucket list!
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument The sights and sounds of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, an International Biosphere Reserve, reveal a thriving community of plants and animals. There are many ways to enjoy this monument from hiking, horseback riding, biking or taking one of the many scenic drives.
Pipe Spring National Monument The rich history of Pipe Spring and its flowing water comes alive as you explore the traditions of the Kaibab Paiute and the Mormon settlers through the museum, historic fort, cabins, and garden. Hike the Ridge Trail to enjoy geologic wonders, plants, and wildlife.
Sonoran Desert National Monument The monument contains three distinct mountain ranges, the Maricopa, Sand Tank and Table Top mountains. The monument also contains three congressionally designated wilderness areas, archaeological and historic sites, and remnants of several important historic trails, including the Anza Trail.
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument The lava flow lies on the land like a wonderland of rock at this monument. A thousand years ago the ground was torn open and lava erupted, forever changing the landscape. People visit the lava flow to see and remember the most recent volcanic eruption in Arizona.
Tonto National Monument Located within the northern range of the Sonoran Desert lie two cliff dwellings that were occupied from 1300-1450 CE (common era). There are two trails you can hike: The Lower Cliff Dwelling Trail starts in the visitor center and winds up a steep path, ending in the Lower Cliff Dwelling where visitors can walk through portions of the structure and see expansive views of the basin below. The Lower Cliff Dwelling Trail is a moderate hike on a paved trail and is fully exposed with no shade. The Upper Cliff Dwelling Trail is by guided tour only. It is a 3-mile moderate/difficult hike on an unpaved area. Tours must be booked in advance.
Tuzigoot National Monument Tuzigoot National Monument is a remnant of a Sinaguan village built above the Verde Valley about 1,000 years ago. Tuzigoot, an Apache word meaning “crooked water,” is a two- to three-story pueblo ruin on the summit of a limestone and sandstone ridge. A self-guided, 1/3 mile loop trail leads you around and through the Tuzigoot pueblo, a 110-room village built around a thousand years ago. The pueblo trail also offers outstanding views of the Verde River and Tavasci Marsh. Another 1/2 mile trail (1 mile round trip), takes you to an overlook of Tavasci Marsh.
Vermilion Cliffs National Monument The monument contains many diverse landscapes, including the Paria Plateau, Vermilion Cliffs, Coyote Buttes, and Paria Canyon. The monument borders Kaibab National Forest to the west and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area to the east. The monument includes the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness. The monument is also home to a growing number of endangered California condors. In order to see some of the more interesting rock formations, be prepared for strenuous hikes. Please do some research before heading here. This one may be a little too much for our aging bones.
Walnut Canyon National Monument Here you will find remarkable Rocks and Ancient Cliff Dwellings. Since time immemorial, Indigenous Peoples have lived and traveled throughout Walnut Canyon’s dynamic landscape. Vibrant communities built their homes in the cliffs and farmed along the canyon’s rim. Today the park preserves this landscape, and the ancestral homes in and around the canyon. The one-mile round-trip Island Trail provides access to 25 cliff dwellings.
Wupatki National Monument This 104-room pueblo, complete with ball court and natural blow hole, is located directly behind the Wupatki Visitor Center. This pueblo is the largest free-standing pueblo in Northern Arizona. Some more places to visit here include: Lomaki and Box Canyon Pueblos Lomaki means “Beautiful House” in the Hopi language. Located at the end of this trail it had nine rooms constructed from local limestone and sandstone in the last decade of the 1100s. Wukoki Pueblo is an impressive eight room structure built on top of a large sandstone pedestal. It was occupied between the early 1100s and mid 1200s CE. The trail is 0.2 miles round trip, accessible up to the base of the pueblo, and offers grand views of the San Francisco Peaks in Flagstaff. You can also visit The Citadel and Nalakihu Trail. This trail is a 4-mile drive from the northern entrance off Highway 89, or a 10-mile drive from the Visitor Center.
Pro Tip: A well thought out plan is essential for seeing the most popular spots in any of these sites.
Arizona’s Two National Recreation Areas
Lake Mead and Glen Canyon offer water-based and backcountry recreation. Both of these offer many activities for water and wilderness enthusiasts.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area offers the opportunity to enjoy Lake Powell plus so much more. Also stretching into Utah, Glen Canyon encompasses over 1.25 million acres, stretching hundreds of miles from Lees Ferry in Arizona to the Orange Cliffs of southern Utah. You might want to visit Horseshoe Bend while you’re here. It’s another amazing rock formation created by nature.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area has striking landscapes and brilliant blue water across 1.5 million acres of mountains, canyons, valleys and two vast lakes. There is plenty to do here, but one of our favorites is taking one of the scenic drives enjoying the landscape. See the Hoover Dam from the waters of Lake Mead or Lake Mohave or find solitude in one of the park’s nine wilderness areas. Read more about our adventures at Lake Mead here.
Arizona Has Two National Historic Sites
The National Historic Site designation is used for areas associated with American Military History
Fort Bowie National Historic Site Fort Bowie witnessed almost 25 years of conflict between the Chiricahua Apache and the US Army. Explore the history of Fort Bowie and Apache Pass as you hike to the visitor center and old fort ruins. This is a three-mile hike so keep that in mind when making plans to visit this site. If you’re a history buff, it’s well worth the trip.
Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site is the oldest operating trading post on the Navajo Nation. You can do a self-guided tour of the hogan, farm and trading post. You can also take a guided tour of the Hubbell family home with a park ranger. This is another of my favorite places to visit. I love feeling like I’m back in time trading for goods. Of course, I always have to buy something here!
Arizona’s Single National Historical Park
National Historical Parks are areas of greater physical extent and complexity than National Historic Sites
Tumacacori National Historical Park This park represents a cultural crossroads in the Santa Cruz River Valley, where Native Americans met and mingled with European missionaries, sometimes in conflict and sometimes in cooperation. Things to do include exploring the missions, taking part in a guided tour or other ranger-led programs, and hiking.
Arizona’s National Memorial
National Memorials are primarily commemorative sites
Coronado National Memorial This memorial was established to interpret the Coronado Expedition. While there is no physical evidence of the expedition in the present memorial, the park offers a sweeping view of the San Pedro River which is widely regarded as the corridor that the expedition used on their way north to the mythical Cíbola. It has a variety of activities available, such as hiking, birding, and exploring Coronado Cave.
Three National Historic Trails run through Arizona
Although these National Historic Trails aren’t exclusively in Arizona, these three trails all have parts running through the state and can be a fun bucket list item for hikers to say they’ve walked on all three.
Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail This trail runs from California to the Midwest, traversing through Southern Arizona. In 1857, businessman and transportation entrepreneur John Butterfield was awarded a contract to establish an overland mail route between the eastern United States and growing populations in the Far West. What became known as the Butterfield Overland Trail made an arcing sweep across the southern rim of the country. There are many things to do along the trail from museums to trail markers. You can hike, bike or backpack through many parts of the trail. Check the website to plan your trip.
The Juan Batista de Anza National Historic Trail This trail follows the historic route of the 1775-76 Spanish colonizing expedition from Sonora, Mexico to San Francisco. The Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail covers over 1200 miles through the homelands of 70+ Tribal communities. Check the website to find the many historic sites and places to visit along the trail.
The Old Spanish National Historic Trail This trail allows hikers to follow mule pack train routes across the Southwest. The trail runs between Santa Fe and Los Angeles, and hits six states, including bits of Northern Arizona. There are many sites along the trail that you can stop and learn the history of the area and how the trail impacted it. Arizona has many historical sites to explore, but you might need to extend your trip to see them all!
Plan Your Adventure
Arizona is more than just a destination; it’s an experience that immerses you in natural wonders and rich history. Whether you’re visiting iconic National Parks, uncovering the stories behind ancient ruins, or marveling at geological marvels, you’ll find plenty to add to your bucket list. You may have to extend your trip or visit a few times to enjoy all of these great places! Please always follow the Leave No Trace principle whenever you are traveling and leave things as you found them.
We try to help you make the best plans possible by sharing our knowledge and experiences. Anytime you’re planning a trip, whether it be a long vacation or day trip, make sure you do your research and make plans so that your trip goes smoothly. Don’t forget your camera for your adventures to save your memories. We hope to inspire you to find new adventures and have fun!
