When a lot of us think of natural wonders in Arizona, images of places like Grand Canyon, Sedona and Antelope Canyon often come to mind. Those are all great sights to see, but the reality is you can also see plenty of amazing places right in the city of Phoenix.
Spectacular natural wonders to experience in Phoenix:
- Red rock humps of Camelback Mountain
- Sunrise or sunset at Dreamy Draw Park
- Hidden Valley Loop in South Mountain Park
- Bird’s eye view of the Valley from Piestewa Peak
- Hole in the Rock at Papago Park
- Pristine desert landscape of Phoenix Sonoran Preserve
Thankfully the City of Phoenix Parks & Recreation Department put together the wonderful interactive guide below to help you find awesome sights and adventures right in town.
Interactive guide to best hikes in Phoenix
Check out these AZ Wonders blog posts for more tips and insights on Phoenix area adventures.
Once you have narrowed your sites to the specific area you want to visit, you can plan in greater detail with the interactive trail maps for these locations:
- Camelback Mountain
- Deems Hills Recreation Area
- Lookout & Shadow Mountain
- North Mountain & Shaw Butte
- Papago Park
- Piestewa Peak & Dreamy Draw
- Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area
- Sonoran Preserve
- South Mountain Park/Preserve
Sure, there are plenty of amazing natural wonders to explore all around the state of Arizona, but no worries if you’re not able to venture out beyond the Phoenix area. There are plenty of spectacular sights to see right here in the Valley.
About your guide
Since moving to Arizona in 2012, I’ve logged hundreds of miles on hiking trails and byways. After one particular hike to the falls of Havasupai in the Grand Canyon, I became obsessed with exploring the many natural wonders of Arizona.
Now I love sharing some of my most fascinating discoveries with others.
Arizona Bucket List Adventure Guide & Journal details my top 50 natural wonders.
Excellent info – Since we spend our winters on the north side of the valley, I’m usually out hiking at the Phx Sonoran Preserve, but my favorite place to hike is Spur Cross. So many great trails throughout the valley!
Love Spur Cross! I’m continually amazed at how much open desert space there is in Phoenix. I am a regular at Phoenix Mountains Preserve . Can’t believe how pristine it is right in the middle of the city. City planners really did right by future generations.