50 Mesmerizing Attractions in the Southwest
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31. White Sands National Monument
White Sands is one of the most fascinating places to put on your Western bucket list. With glistening white sand dunes contrasting against the brilliant blue cloudless desert sky, it really is a surreal place. If you arrive here early enough in the morning before the crowds hit, it really is an exhilarating experience to stand alone on top of a sand dune, seemingly millions of miles away from any civilization.
A long time ago the desert area that stands today was covered by a lake in which layers of gypsum sand were deposited at the bottom. It is unusual for the gypsum to remain as it is normally soluble. However, it is theorized that gypsum was created faster than it could be dissolved. The result is rare gypsum sand dunes. The hills are fun to walk up and down on your bare feet as gypsum does not reflect the sun even when the temps exceed 100, which they regularly do during the summer. Or bring with a sled and pretend like a winter storm just passed the desert!
Location: South central New Mexico near Alamogordo
32. McDowell Sonoran Preserve
While hiking Camelback Mountain is often touted as the must-do in the Phoenix area, in all reality, this hike is very difficult and also very crowded much of the time. My preferred alternative is the gorgeous trail system at Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve. First off, the trails here receive little foot traffic – rather at most times they are actually quite desolate. Second, the views of the mountains are outstanding. Third, there are a diversity of trails, so you can pick from easy to hard, long to short, etc. depending on how far you want to go out on any particular day.
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
More info on the McDowell Sonoran Preserve
33. Wupatki National Monument
This historic 100 room, very well preserved pueblo ruin found just outside of Flagstaff, Arizona. Wupatki means “tall house” in the Hopi language and it was the largest building for 50 miles. The gorgeous red sandstone color of the pueblo stands out brilliantly amongst the blue skies of the Arizona desert. The ancient Sinagua lived here approx. between 1010 and 1100 AD following the eruption of nearby Sunset Crater. There is something enchanting about visiting these ruins. What a strange experience being in complete isolation in the desert, while imagining what life was like here so long ago.
A self-guided tour leads you past the main dwelling and several other unusual sites including a mysterious blowhole which functions as a natural vacuum – blowing air out when outside air is warmer, and sucking in air when it is cooler outside. Historians believe ancients used the blowhole as a natural heater/air conditioner or as a weather predictor. The blowhole was also thought to have spiritual purposes for the Hopi who tied the feature to the wind god, Yaponcha.
Location: About 20 minutes outside of Flagstaff, Arizona
34. Watchman trail at Zion National Park
The Watchman is another incredible trail at Zion, this one involving a gradual but steep uphill climb which ends with spectacular views in every direction. The great thing about the Watchman Trail is that is does not see nearly as much traffic (especially so early in the morning) so hiking the trail is a nice solitary experience in which you feel like you get to take in the wonderful views all to yourself. Asides from wonderful views of the rock formations, the trail crosses the quaint river at several points. Mule deer and bighorn sheep often come out at dawn.
Location: Zion National Park near Springdale, Utah
35. Mission San Xavier del Bac
Mission San Xavier del Bac, a gorgeous Spanish Catholic mission located about a half hour south of Tucson, is know as “the White Dove of the Desert.” It is considered to be the finest example of Spanish colonial architecture in the US. This magnificent architectural building is the oldest standing European structure in Arizona. Both the inside and the outside design are incredible. The interior features ornate statues and paintings. If you happen to be staying in Tucson or traveling anywhere in Southern Arizona, it’s worth a look. Open for self guided tours whenever an event/mass is not in schedule.
Location: 10 miles south of Tucson, Arizona
