Few landscapes in the world are as beautiful and iconic as the ones you’ll find in Arizona. Especially if what you’re after are emblematic natural landmarks.
With the Grand Canyon and some of the most beautiful national monuments set within its boundaries, Arizona is king when it comes to postcard-worthy scenery. Some so unique that you’re unlikely to find anything remotely similar anywhere else in the world.
With that in mind, the Grand Canyon State has a ton more to offer beyond its iconic destinations. Arizona is so big that it brims with tons of hidden gems. Some of which even locals have never heard of!
If you’re the type of traveler who prefers checking out secret places rather than highlights or you just want to have a pretty good mix of both in your itinerary, here’s a list of 7 hidden gems in Arizona you may have never heard of!
Hidden Gems in Arizona You May Not Know Exist
1. White Pocket
Set in the heart of the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, White Pocket is not just a hidden gem in Arizona. 
Picture a landscape of kaleidoscopic-looking rock formations, hoodoos coated in swirls of colors, and ponderosa pines all over to get a pretty good image of what White Pocket is all about. Plus, thanks to the fact that it’s still quite a secret, you don’t need a permit to enter. But you’re still very likely to get it all to yourself!
2. Barringer Meteor Crater
Here’s a fun fact for you: the best-preserved meteor impact on the planet lies in Arizona!
Barringer Meteor Crater stretches over 4,000 feet in diameter. And boasts a whopping depth of 560 feet. The crater itself is absolutely striking to look at. But when you add the fact that it’s backdropped by gorgeous plains and rugged scenery, you’re pretty much guaranteed an experience like no other here.
Aside from dropping your jaw right to the ground at the sight of this massive crater, the scenic drive to reach it is
3. Tumacacori National Historical Park
Located on the Santa Cruz River Valley, Tumacacori National Park still remains quite a secret in the usual Arizona route. And just happens to be a wonderful place to visit if you’re keen to learn more about the area’s history.
Back in the day, Tamacacori was the spot where O’odham Yaqui and Apache cultures would meet up with European missionaries. Sometimes, gatherings would become violent. But others were meant for them to work together to improve the area.
During your visit to Tumacacori, you can hike the Juan Batista de Anzano National Historic Trail. Go on a horseback riding adventure. Or explore the park’s Franciscan mission that was built together by American Indians and Spanish colonizers!
4. Jerome
Jerome is often nicknamed the “wickedest town in the West” due to the fact that it’s said to be incredibly
Once a prosperous gold mining hub, Jerome suffered plenty of manmade disasters. And its population slowly began to dwindle. Not too long after, this quirky town managed to come back to life by taking advantage of its valley and promoting itself as a destination for all things wine, arts, and ghastly sites.
Today, Jerome is a great spot to head to for historical buildings, wine-tasting, and a thriving art scene. Moreover, if you’re into haunted experiences, there are plenty of tours on offer that will show you just why this town is considered one of the most haunted places in the state!
If you are traveling to Jerome, make sure to make a stop in Cottonwood, a town you drive through to get to Jerome. It’s filled with wineries, good food, and cute shopping spots. Cottonwood is only an hour or hour and a half drive from Phoenix. So it’s totally worth it for a day trip.
5. Tombstone
Located right on the border with Mexico, Tombstone is a glorious historical city that was established as one of
A visit to Tombstone is all about traveling back in time to the town’s days of glory by checking out museums to learn its history, exploring remaining mines, and touring the streets on a stagecoach. It’s also a wonderful place to visit for cowboy experiences. Especially if you head to the O.K. Corral outdoor theater located on Allen Street, where an authentic cowboy gunfight is re-enacted!
6. Watson Lake
Surrounded by massive granite boulders, Watson Lake is a landscape of striking contrasts that are perfect for an outdoorsy day spent surrounded by postcard-perfect vistas.
Swimming isn’t allowed at Watson Lake, but there are plenty of other ways to enjoy the lake and its surroundings, be it by hitting a few hiking trails, boating, canoeing, rock climbing, and more!
7. Grand Canyon’s North Rim
The Grand Canyon is anything but a hidden gem in Arizona, but what many visitors to the state don’t know is that there’s a lesser-frequented side of the canyon you can visit if you want a more solitary experience.
The Grand Canyon’s North Rim only sees 10% of visitors to the park, which pretty much guarantees you’ll get it almost all to yourself. The North Rim is considered a section meant for more intrepid travelers because it lacks amenities, but it still has manageable hiking trails, a ton of boundary-free lookout points, and even a few campsites you can easily reach with incredible views all over (Cape Finale comes to mind!)
Are you currently planning a trip to Arizona? If so, which of these hidden gems in Arizona did you place in your itinerary? Let me know in the comment section below!
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