2024's 9 Most Scenic Arizona Towns
Arizona has much of the United States’ most incredible and iconic scenery. From the Grand Canyon in the north to the Santa Catalina Mountains in the south, Arizona abounds in beautiful landscapes awaiting exploration. Though the vast majority of the state’s population resides in or near the major cities of Phoenix and Tucson, there is far more natural scenery to experience throughout the rest of the state.
While the larger metropolises do have plenty of their own wondrous natural landscapes, Arizona also has numerous small towns sporting incredible views all around. You can expect amazingly beautiful desert views, but don’t sleep on Arizona’s gorgeous mountains and verdant forests. From Cave Creek to Williams, take a journey through nine of the most scenic Arizona towns in 2024.
Cave Creek
Cave Creek may only be 32 miles north of Downtown Phoenix, yet this seemingly sleepy suburb comes alive with dazzling displays of natural beauty. Start at Cave Creek Regional Park, which has multiple easy and moderate trails providing access to wide expanses of Sonoran Desert wilderness and just over 1,000 feet of elevation gain. In addition, Cave Creek Regional Park has designated horseback riding stables and trails, along with 55 campsites for tent and RV camping.
For a more rugged and pristine slice of the upper desert, go to the Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area and explore its 2,154 beautiful acres. Not only does Spur Cross Ranch include a lovely stretch of Cave Creek (the natural stream), but it also has plenty of gorgeous riparian habitat, and it has nearly 90 archaeological sites featuring petroglyphs and other artifacts dating back to when the Hohokam Indigenous people lived here over 800 years ago.
Globe
It appears quite fitting that this former mining town about 87 miles east of Phoenix has some of Arizona’s finest hidden gems. Located around 3,500 feet above sea level and at the foot of the mighty Pinal Mountains, Globe makes the perfect base camp for plenty of exhilarating outdoor adventures. Just about a 20-minute drive from Globe, the Pinal and Upper Pinal Campgrounds of Tonto National Forest are ideal for a great escape high into the mountains, where Ponderosa pines abound, animals like elk, deer, and even bears run wild and free, and the lack of city lights makes for gorgeous stargazing at night.
For more cool adventures closer to town, try the Besh Ba Gowah Archaeological Park and Museum. This park includes the remains of a pueblo originally constructed by the Salado Indigenous people between 1225 and 1450 CE. Admire the pueblo structures themselves, then head inside the museum to learn more about ancient Southwestern Indigenous history and culture. While at the park, keep exploring the trails and discover the lovely botanical gardens on site.
Greer
High up the White Mountains (more specifically, about 8,400 feet above sea level) in Eastern Arizona, the town of Greer may be the ultimate paradise for nature lovers. About 222 miles northeast of Phoenix and 183 miles southeast of Flagstaff, Greer offers a slice of tranquil serenity in the mountains, along with 16 trails to explore and enjoy. If you are not sure where to begin, try the Butler Canyon Trail (at Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests) to catch a glimpse into native riparian life in the White Mountains and soothing views of the Butler Canyon Spring.
For a more invigorating challenge, try the East Fork Trail that guides you along the path of the Little Colorado River through dense forests of spruce, fir, aspen, and Ponderosa pine trees to expansive meadows, curious rock formations, and another trail that goes all the way up to the peak of the extinct volcano Mount Baldy (at 11,409 feet above sea level). Meanwhile, the Pole Knoll Recreation Area has 18 miles of inter-looping trails that are great for hiking during the warmer months, yet they become prime territory for cross-country skiing in winter.
Prescott
With mostly mild (for Arizona) weather throughout the year, a comfortable elevation of around 5,300 feet above sea level, and a prime location sandwiched between the Bradshaw Mountains, the Sierra Prieta range, and the Granite Dells (and about 99 miles north of Phoenix and 94 miles south of Flagstaff), Prescott is picture-perfect for explorers who crave the ultimate excursions into the great outdoors.
Prescott has an abundance of parks and public lands full of hiking and biking trails. Highlights include the Granite Basin Recreation Area at Prescott National Forest for stunning views of Granite Mountain and the Granite Basin Lake, Watson Lake for prime hiking, boating, and bird watching amidst the incredible Granite Dell boulders, and Lynx Lake for the ideal escape into the mountains. For even more adrenaline-pumping adventures, Watson Lake and the Peavine Trail also have great spots for rock climbing.
Winslow
Winslow may be best known for its location on the historic Route 66 (about 178 miles northeast of Phoenix and 56 miles east of Flagstaff), but there is much more to this town beyond the open road. Just beyond town limits lies Homolovi State Park, which preserves a traditional pueblo built by the ancestors of the Hopi Indigenous people over 700 years ago. Homolovi has multiple hiking trails, including the wheelchair-accessible Homolovi II Trail, which provides access to the park’s largest archaeological sites, and the Homolovi I Trail, which follows the path of the Little Colorado River.
A little farther out, you can find even more illustriously beautiful public lands within an easy drive of Winslow. About 30 miles south, Jack’s Canyon at Coconino National Forest offers 300 routes of prime year-round sport climbing, along with wonderful hiking and biking trails with views of the Moenkopi red rock sandstone canyon. About 58 miles east of Winslow, Petrified Forest National Park has everything from Triassic-era fossils to the eye-catching colorful “moonscape mounds” at Painted Desert. And 18 miles west of Winslow, the Meteor Crater gets you up close and personal with the land where a meteor with a force 150 times greater than an atomic bomb crashed into the earth.
Sedona
About 30 miles south of Flagstaff and 117 miles north of Phoenix, Sedona has some of Arizona’s most famously beautiful natural scenery. Travelers come from all around the world to view the city’s iconic red rock formations, and Sedona makes it possible to hike trails leading to natural landmarks like Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte, and Boynton Canyon.
If you feel like hopping on a mountain bike and hitting more challenging terrain, ride the Mescal Trail to reach the massive sandstone Mescal Mountain, or hit the Ridge Trail for an exhilarating ride into Red Rock Crossing with phenomenal views of Thunder Mountain. If you fancy a different kind of ride, try horseback riding on one of Coconino National Forest’s approved equestrian trails, including Anaconda, Arizona Cyprus, Cockscomb, and Girdner. For even more scenic adventures, head to Slide Rock State Park for a host of trails with incredible red rock and mountain views, as well as swimming and fishing at Oak Creek.
Tubac
Located around 44 miles south of Tucson and 156 miles southeast of Phoenix, Tubac may be best known for its historic 18th-century presidio and its contemporary artists’ colony, but there is much more to catch the eye beyond the galleries. The Tubac Presidio State Historic Park serves as a trailhead for a four-mile-long stretch of the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail that leads to Tumacácori National Historical Park. Along this trail, enjoy an easy stroll by the soothing waters of the Santa Cruz River and amidst the lovely riparian habitat that welcomes the region’s birds.
This area serves as a critical refuge for over 200 species of birds, including golden eagles, cooper’s hawks, turkey vultures, mallard ducks, calliope hummingbirds, Inca doves, and roadrunners. The trails within Tumacácori National Historical Park and connecting back to Tubac Presidio State Historic Park are great for walking, running, hiking, and biking.
Williams
Situated right along the historic Route 66 and near the I-40 freeway (35 miles west of Flagstaff), travelers generally come to Williams because it’s the most developed town within 60 miles of Grand Canyon National Park. Williams serves as a convenient base camp for an epic Grand Canyon excursion, and the Williams-Forest Service Visitor Center in town can help you plan special experiences like whitewater rafting the Colorado River at the canyon floor.
Yet beyond the Grand Canyon, there is even more to see and do in the forests and mountains around Williams. For incredible mountain scenery, try the Bill Williams Mountain Trail at Kaibab National Forest to hike a roughly eight-mile long trail that traverses through Ponderosa pine and oak groves up to aspen and fir forests and eventually reaches an elevation of 9,256 feet above sea level. For great fishing, head to Cataract Lake and Kaibab Lake and try catching trout. And for one of the region’s most stunning waterfalls, hike or bike the Sycamore Rim Trail to discover truly majestic views of Sycamore Falls.
Flagstaff
Sitting around 7,000 feet above sea level near the base of the San Francisco Peaks, the stately college town of Flagstaff is a larger community but has some of Arizona’s finest “outdoor classrooms.” For an easier journey into nature, try the Griffith’s Spring Trail at Coconino National Forest to step into a gorgeous riparian habitat that birds like wild irises, western bluebirds, robins, and hummingbirds call home. You will also spot Griffith’s Spring itself, a seemingly small stream that eventually becomes Oak Creek as it makes the dramatic journey down to Sedona.
For a more challenging hike, bike, and/or equestrian journey, try the Little Elden Trail (also in Coconino National Forest) for spectacular views of aspen groves and the San Francisco Peaks that are especially striking during the fall season, when the aspens’ leaves turn golden. For more explosive adventures, head to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument to explore an extinct volcano that still has dry lava left over from its last eruption around 1085 CE. During winter, the Arizona Nordic Village opens its trails to cross-country skiers, while the Arizona Snowbowl has 777 skiable acres and a variety of runs serving skiers and snowboarders at all levels.
Arizona’s Scenery Isn’t Limited to the Low Desert
Arizona may be best known for its wide expanses of arid Sonoran Desert, and this desert really does have plenty of its own beautiful scenery. Yet beyond the desert, Arizona has many more hidden gems awaiting your discovery. From the grand alpine wilderness near Greer and the lovely pine forests of Williams to the tranquil riparian habitat of Tubac and the serenely rocky landscapes of Prescott, Arizona has an incredible diversity of scenic landscapes and ecosystems. These nine most scenic Arizona towns are certainly towns you will want to spend quality time exploring in 2024.
