50 Mesmerizing Attractions in the Southwest
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The Southwest is home to some of the most breathtaking natural wonders in the world. This dazzling region of the country is a prime place to plan an adventurous, active, outdoorsy vacation. The scenery is so diverse out here that you can go from hiking amongst cacti to snowshoeing through a pine forest, all in the same day. Because attractions in the Southwest are so spread out, you really need to spend some time here to take it all in.
While the summers can be quite dry, sunny, and plain miserable with months of unending 100+ temps in most areas, the rest of the year is pretty moderate. Plus, there are many high altitude escapes which offer a convenient respite from the heat of the surrounding low desert areas.
For purposes of this list, I have considered Arizona, New Mexico, southern Utah, southern Nevada, and Western Colorado & Texas, as there are the states I feel most embody the Southwestern spirit in terms of landscape, culture, natural attractions, and food. Here are 50 mesmerizing sights to add to your Southwestern bucket list!
1. Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Drive
This enchanting 14 mile long river gorge lies in between the high altitude pine covered wilderness of Flagstaff and the colorful red rock wonderland of Sedona. Scenery is drop dead gorgeous for the entirety of the 14 mile drive. Ponderosa pines, leafy deciduous trees, gigantic colorful rock formations, and serene views of Oak Creek, one of the only perennial streams in Arizona, line the route. Numerous hikes, creekside strolls, swimming holes, scenic overlooks, restaurants, and authentic Native American craft markets can be enjoyed along the way.
Hiking alongside the creek, viewing the oaks and maples of the West Fork trail changing beautiful autumn hues, aweing at the red rocks dusted with a fresh layer of snow after a winter storm, sipping a coffee on the lovely tree covered patio of Indian Gardens on a beautiful cool summer morning – every season offers a new & exciting opportunity to see & do something different, the same of which cannot be said of the Sonoran Desert just 2 hours away.
This drive is very crowded due to the immense beauty & cooler spring/summer climate (about 20 degrees cooler than Phoenix year-round). Despite the crowds, Oak Creek Canyon is worthy of a visit anytime of the year.
Location: Northern Arizona along Rt 89a, in between Flagstaff & Sedona, 2 hrs north of Phoenix
More info and a full list of things to do along Oak Creek Canyon
2. Horseshoe Bend
Horseshoe Bend is a really unique roadside geological wonder in Page, Arizona. It is definitely worth checking out if you happen to be traveling anywhere near the Northern Arizona/Southern Utah region. This is a great detour on the way to Zion or Bryce Canyon National Park. A short, but steep & sandy half mile trail will lead you to an interesting sandstone rock formation which takes on an odd horseshoe like shape as the beautiful Colorado River curves around it. The bright turquoise waters contrast brilliantly amongst the red rock formation. It’s no surprise that Horseshoe is one of the most photographed places in all of the Southwest.
Location: Page, Arizona (near the Utah border)
3. Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National Park, which lies just a half hour outside of Tucson, Arizona, is one of the country’s most unique national parks. This gem is home to one of the highest concentrations of the visually spectacular (and very rare) Saguaro cactus. As this type of cactus is only native to the Sonoran Desert, it’s a rare sight, and thus, Saguaro NP is a worthy addition to your national park bucket list. Besides the Saguaro, you will find over 2 dozens species of cactus here, all of which are fascinating to observe up close in person.
There are 2 entrances to this massive park, and both are included with your admission ticket which is good for 7 days. The Rincon district features extraordinary views of the mountains, while the Tucson district is home to an especially dense concentration of Saguaros. If you only have time for 1 park, the Rincon is definitely the one to pick. This entrance features the most gorgeous paved scenic drive with numerous overlooks/trails along the route.
Both parks feature fabulous desert scenery, terrific mountain vistas, and scenic drives. Check out the event lineup which may include everything from a guided night hike to a presentation on how to harvest water from a cactus.
Location: About a half hour outside of Tucson
Fee: $25 per vehicle, $15 per person/bike
More info on Saguaro National Park
4. Walnut Canyon
Walnut Canyon, a really interesting historic landmark located about 10 miles outside of Flagstaff, is highly regarded for its’ many well preserved cliff dwellings. It’s definitely worthy of a look if you happen to be vacationing or driving through the Northern Arizona region. This park is home to more than 80 ancient Sinagua cliff dwellings, about 20 of which you can view along the Island or Pubelo Ruins trail. The Sinagua tribes occupied the area from 1125-1250 AD and somehow managed to survive in an area with so little water (Sinagua means “mountains without water”).
The more difficult of the 2 trails, the Island, involves a 200+ stair climb where you not only pass more than 20 cliff dwellings, but you will also be treated to amazing overlooks of this massive 400 foot deep, 1/4 mile wide canyon. History buffs, nature lovers, & photographers should all appreciate the natural beauty and historical significance of Walnut Canyon.
Location: About 20 minutes outside of Flagstaff, Arizona
Fee: $25 per vehicle for a 7 day pass
5. Inner Basin
The Inner Basin is a high altitude hiking adventure which begins in Flagstaff’s gorgeous Lockett Meadow area. This trail travels into the heart of the beautiful San Francisco Peaks, the highest mountain range in Arizona. Breathtaking mountain scenery aside, this also happens to be one of the top leaf peeping trails in the country. Walking amongst the golden aspen groves on a crisp autumn day is spectacular. It’s odd to think of any place in Arizona as being a prime leaf peeping destination! However, Inner Basin’s foliage easily rivals anything found in New England.
This hike is quite a feat with a beginning altitude of 8600 feet and an elevation gain of nearly 1500 feet over the 1.7 mile out-and-back course. Nevertheless, it is well worth the climb for the amazing foliage and opportunity to stroll through breathtaking uninterrupted nature. Do not let the difficulty hold you back as you can simply go out to your comfort level and still enjoy plenty of autumn hues.
Location: Lockett Meadow in Flagstaff, Arizona
