
[Look at all those lush desert plants! And that beautiful red desert rock! And that kinda sorta desert sunset! Side notes: Desert sunsets really are some of the most beautiful! This was near Saguaro National Park]
Like, did you know that not all of Arizona is desert (which is what I originally assumed #dontassume) and that it actually SNOWS in some parts? Like what.
[Yes, that white stuff is snow. In Arizona. And one of the many many reasons Flagstaff is s’cool: its extensive urban trail system! Also known as FUTS (Flagstaff Urban Trail System)]
With that said, here are my favorite places (that I’ve been so far – I really want to go back and explore more of northern AZ! Mainly just bc northern AZ is more my jam – I’m not as much of a desert DESERT person).
Native Land Acknowledgment: The places I traveled were located on O’odham, Tohono O’odham, Sobaipuri, Hokoham, Southern Paiute, Hualapai, Hopi, Havasupai, Pueblos, Western Apache, Diné, Ute, Chiricahua Apache, Upper Pima, and Yavapaiv Apache land.
NORTHERN ARIZONA
FLAGSTAFF IS THE PERFECT MOUNTAIN TOWN

I say ‘lived’ because, even though I was in the conservation corps for three months, I was only in Flag (as the cool kids call it) for a total of about 4 weeks since I was sent to different places to work. Which was awesome – I’d highly recommend the conservation corps! I got to travel a ton (although we were paid very little haha) and have unique experiences that you wouldn’t get as a typical tourist!

SUNSET CRATER IS A COOL SLICE OF HISTORY

You can’t actually go see into the crater – apparently, there used to be a trail but due to damage from hikers, they closed it – but you can go to the base!


THE GRAND CANYON WAS EVERYTHING I THOUGHT & MORE


I really enjoyed my experience there as I felt like I got the best of both worlds: I did a day trip from Flag to visit the South Rim, and then worked on the trail close to the North Rim and bottom of the canyon for the conservation corps (FYI: it takes about 4 hours to drive from one rim to the other because you have to go all the freaking way around).

The top of the North Rim was still FREEZING but the bottom of the canyon was a lot warmer. We got to stay in the ranger bunk, but it was also warm enough that we cowboy camped outside on the helipad for a few nights.

SEDONA IS FULL OF MAGIC

And it really is full of magic – so many people are drawn to Sedona due to its spiritual aura. So many people talk about “vortexes” in Sedona that are supposed to make you feel spiritually enlightened and healed and meditative. They’re areas where concentrations of energy make you feel alive.
I didn’t necessarily feel that, but I also didn’t try to seek out an vortexes, either. But there’s definitely something about Sedona that resets you, and makes you feel more alive and centered – although I attribute that to the beautiful surroundings more so than the energy. But who knows – you have to experience it for yourself!

Otherwise, I’d recommend just driving around and exploring, and hiking random trails like the Chuckwagon Trail or the Courthouse/Bell Rock trail. Most of the trails in the area are 5 miles or less, with many of them being under 3 miles. They’re all pretty easy – at least the ones I’ve done, on pretty level trails with not too much incline.


HORSESHOE BEND

HAVASUPAI

ANTELOPE CANYON

SOUTHERN ARIZONA
CHIRICAHUA IS LIKE NOTHING YOU’VE SEEN BEFORE

This is such a cool, unique place! The ‘hoodoos’ are super awesome. We went on Easter and it was pretty empty. However, we did find a random gigantic stuffed pink horse on the side of the road, and my friend thought it would be a great idea to pick it up and attach it to her backpack – we got a lot of weird looks.
Like Sedona, this is another place where I just felt alive and energized. There’s something about looking at those beautiful and bizarre hoodoos. To be honest, I think there’s just something about the Southwest in general that’s different from anywhere else.
BISBEE IS THE CUTEST PLACE IN THE WORLD

Another cute little town. I’m obsessed with cute little towns, if you can’t tell. I’m also obsessed with its old, western style buildings and artist hippie feel (it was a haven for them back in the 60’s!).


I’d suggest wandering around, popping into all of the cool antique-y shops, stopping at the brewery, and finding alllll the staircases (which pretty much gives you a nice little tour in itself).

SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK



SCOTTSDALE
I also really enjoyed the houses in Scottsdale. So many southwestern style homes, all unique yet still maintaining a cohesive vibe. I also loved the cacti in everyone’s yards! Very cool that so many people didn’t try to fight the AZ climate and try and grow grass (so much water wasted!).
And also I just LOVE cacti and succulents, and love to look at them especially since I somehow manage to kill all of mine. If you’re going to southern Arizona, I would highly recommend staying in Scottsdale over Phoenix! It’s much nicer, in my opinion, there’s a ton of hiking nearby, and it’s only about 20ish minutes from Phoenix.
Can we also talk really quick about the crazy awesome summer storms that occur during summertime aka monsoon season (mostly July/August)?? They come out of nowhere and are soooooo cool. Like one second it’s still and quiet and the next it’s pouring rain with thunder and lightning. I LOVE.
PLACES I MISSED
THE WAVE

WHITE POCKET

THE CONFLUENCE AT HAVASUPAI
I can’t find a free photo of the confluence, soooo click here so you can see the pretty photos for yourself!
IT LOOKS SO PRETTY! But, it’s a 16 mile hike round trip from the campground, and the trail is not super well marked. So, we decided not to do it and just stopped at Beaver Falls (which ended up being a good thing because it started pouring rain the day we had planned it). It seriously looks soooo pretty, though, and if I ever go back to Havasupai, I definitely want to try and do it!
FOSSIL CREEK


I’m sure there are like 1043485748 other beautiful places that I don’t even realize exist, especially in northern AZ. Ugh, I’d move back to Flag any day! It’s the definition of the perfect town for me – small, but not too small; bike-able; basically right smack dab in the middle of nature; varied and beautiful surroundings; snow but not toooo much; mountainous; really pretty with unique houses; small but fun downtown – list goes on. Only thing I’d wish for is to be a little closer to the ocean, and maybe for a little more rain. But, it’s definitely a place I wouldn’t mind living in again!

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