Arizona Off The Beaten Path

 
by malecon
 
  •   Off The Beaten Path
    by malecon
  •   Montezuma's Castle or Well
    by Yaqui
  •   Montezuma's Castle or Well
    by Yaqui
  •   Montezuma's Castle or Well
    by Yaqui
  •   Montezuma's Castle or Well
    by Yaqui
 

Most Viewed Off The Beaten Path in Arizona

1.

Go out of the city and into the state of Arizona   Phoenix

Go out of the city and into the state of Arizona, Phoenix

 19 Reviews  Cottonwood is just a little over an hour drive from Phoenix, but immediately you feel like you are transported into another time of cowboys and Indans after you reach the Old Town of this... 

 See All 64 Off The Beaten Path in Phoenix

2.

Kitt Peak National Observatory.   Tucson

Kitt Peak National Observatory., Tucson

 14 Reviews  The road leading to Kitt Peak is Arizona Highway 86 also known as the Tucson-Ajo Highway. It runs through the Tohono O'odham Nation. You drive down 86 until you come to Junction 386 the Kitt Peak... 

 See All 103 Off The Beaten Path in Tucson

3.

Jerome   Sedona

Jerome, Sedona

 7 Reviews  Spending half a day in Jerome is essential if you are going to be in the Sedona area. The old mining town is only a 45 minute drive from the red rocks and a fun way to visit some local artisan... 

 See All 107 Off The Beaten Path in Sedona

4.

Hoover Dam/Lake Mead   Grand Canyon

Hoover Dam/Lake Mead, Grand Canyon

 12 Reviews  I took part in a flight excursion from Las Vegas without landing at Hoover Dam. The Dam was built on the time of the big economic crisis, in 1930, but it is still a milestone in the story of the... 

 See All 71 Off The Beaten Path in Grand Canyon

5.

Rafting   Grand Canyon National Park

Rafting, Grand Canyon National Park

 71 Reviews  As we head toward Page, Arizona we fly over the entire length of the river that we has just rafted for the last 7 days and 6 nights, we traveled for a total of 187 miles on the river and we were now... 

 See All 117 Off The Beaten Path in Grand Canyon National Park

6.

MOuntains   Phoenix

MOuntains, Phoenix

 10 Reviews  In the winter, most "official" hiking mountains in Phoenix are packed, with long waits for parking and crowded trails (especially Camelback and Squaw Peak). But there is one official trail that is... 

 See All 64 Off The Beaten Path in Phoenix

7.

Sabino Canyon   Tucson

Sabino Canyon, Tucson

 6 Reviews  I was so unprepared for this trip. My boyfriend and I decided to go hiking. Drove out of Tuscon city to the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area. Right from the parking lot you can get onto the Bear Canyon... 

 See All 103 Off The Beaten Path in Tucson

8.

Hiking/Biking   Sedona

Hiking/Biking, Sedona

 31 Reviews  We were able to spend 2 or 3 days hiking around in Sedona. The late fall (November) was interesting because there were pools of water everywhere! They offered some great reflections of the red rocks... 

 See All 107 Off The Beaten Path in Sedona

9.

Side Trips   Grand Canyon

Side Trips, Grand Canyon

 9 Reviews  If at all possible, especially if you've never been to the South Rim, I recommend getting there through the east entrance. It takes longer if coming from the south but your first look at the canyon... 

 See All 71 Off The Beaten Path in Grand Canyon

10.

Native Americans   Grand Canyon National Park

Native Americans, Grand Canyon National Park

 8 Reviews  Many visitors to the Grand Canyon NP do not know about a special oasis at the bottom of the Grand Canyon west of the Grand Canyon Village. Here, there is a small tribe of Havasupai Indians who live... 

 See All 117 Off The Beaten Path in Grand Canyon National Park

11.

Mexico   Phoenix

Mexico, Phoenix

 3 Reviews  Unlike other Mexican borders like Tiajuana in San Diego, Rocky Point (also known as Puerto Penasco) is a more peaceful and serene retreat. You can drive to Rocky Point from Phoenix in just a little... 

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12.

Nogales, Mexico   Tucson

Nogales, Mexico, Tucson

 4 Reviews  I read several articles on Nogales Mexico, and not having traveled there for a few years, I was unsettled about whether to go on a recent trip to Tucson. I was told not to for safety reason, by two... 

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13.

Vortexes & Spirituality   Sedona

Vortexes & Spirituality, Sedona

 10 Reviews  I actually got a giggle out of this, but at the same time, I can understand why so many feel that this area is filled with some of the most positive energy. Beautiful landscapes with serene settings... 

 See All 107 Off The Beaten Path in Sedona

14.

Hikes/Trails   Grand Canyon

Hikes/Trails, Grand Canyon

 13 Reviews  I love the wildlife around the Grand Canyon. Last May I was hiking down the South Kaibab trial and a mature Desert Big Horn ram crossed in front of me. Tons of mule deer, sheep, condors, scorpions,... 

 See All 71 Off The Beaten Path in Grand Canyon

15.

Side Trips   Grand Canyon National Park

Side Trips, Grand Canyon National Park

 9 Reviews  Funny how we look back on this Historical District. We didn't know it has specific meaning once we were there. All the buildings in this district are landmarks and represent the last 100 years. The... 

 See All 117 Off The Beaten Path in Grand Canyon National Park

16.

Tempe   Phoenix

Tempe, Phoenix

 4 Reviews  For those who love organic food, organic farming, intuitive readings, and massages, visit The Farm at South Mountain. The restaurants are AMAZING and The Retreat has a group of very talented woman who... 

 See All 64 Off The Beaten Path in Phoenix

17.

Tombstone and the O.K. Corral   Tucson

Tombstone and the O.K. Corral, Tucson

 3 Reviews  Tombstone, is located about 70 miles out of Tucson, which is a perfect day trip. In this old historic mining town, the main attraction are situated in and around Allen Street. More info on my... 

 See All 103 Off The Beaten Path in Tucson

18.

Indian Ruins   Sedona

Indian Ruins, Sedona

 4 Reviews  Another one of the beautiful rock formations you cannot see from the downtown area, but can only see if you head off one of the side roads. We were able to see these beautiful rocks while on the Pink... 

 See All 107 Off The Beaten Path in Sedona

19.

Native Americans   Grand Canyon

Native Americans, Grand Canyon

 6 Reviews  Monument Valley is part of everybody's memories. Being there it's diving in your imagination, a sort of reincarnation in a past, where only the vehicles awake you to the reality of the present.... 

 See All 71 Off The Beaten Path in Grand Canyon

20.

Hikes/Trails   Grand Canyon National Park

Hikes/Trails, Grand Canyon National Park

 13 Reviews  While you may not be alone at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, you will escape perhaps 98% of all park visitors, especially if you hike the South Kaibab Trail. Besides the solitude you get to see up... 

 See All 117 Off The Beaten Path in Grand Canyon National Park

21.

Biosphere 2   Tucson

Biosphere 2, Tucson

 5 Reviews  We drove about 40 miles north of downtown Tucson on State Highway 77 near Oracle to get to Biosphere 2. This is a 3.15-acre (12,700 m2) structure originally built to be a man-made, materially-closed... 

 See All 103 Off The Beaten Path in Tucson

22.

Oak Creek Canyon   Sedona

Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona

 8 Reviews  We definitely drove to the great Oak Creek Canyon. My stomach had butterflies because of how high we were going up the mountains and how steep the the cliffs were. We passed so many canyons and it... 

 See All 107 Off The Beaten Path in Sedona

23.

Rim, North   Grand Canyon

Rim, North, Grand Canyon

 7 Reviews  Visit the North Rim. Not as many people go to the North Rim as the South Rim. For the lesser crowds alone it is worth it to visit the North Rim rather than the South. But it is also worth it to go... 

 See All 71 Off The Beaten Path in Grand Canyon

24.

Colorado River   Grand Canyon National Park

Colorado River, Grand Canyon National Park

 4 Reviews  There are two entrances to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Most people take the south entrance, heading north from Flagstaff. The east entrance is a longer drive north past Flagstaff and is less... 

 See All 117 Off The Beaten Path in Grand Canyon National Park

25.

Mt. Lemmon   Tucson

Mt. Lemmon, Tucson

 5 Reviews  A beautiful winding road extends from Tucson to Mt. Lemmon and it's a trip you cannot miss. You go from desert to mountain and pass by the charred forest rebuilding itself from the forest fires of... 

 See All 103 Off The Beaten Path in Tucson

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

The World’s Greatest American Old West Experience

by DesertVet

Tombstone is the greatest Old West town in the world!! It is also Arizona’s second biggest tourist attraction, second only to the Grand Canyon. Tombstone has no franchises or any businesses other than those supporting the Old West tourism. This is the greatest step back into the American West one can find on the planet.There are gunfight shows galore, an underground silver mine tour, (silver is what created the town…gunfights are what has kept in on the map) stagecoach rides, western saloons, horse rentals and history, history, history! They make it a lot of fun too! This town is absolutely incredible and although off the beaten path…well worth making a day of when in Arizona.

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Arizona State and Local Parks

by glabah

Obviously, the most famous thing in Arizona is the Grand Canyon National Park.However, don't forget about the lesser known places, some of which are covered in state and local parks.For example, the route between the south rim of the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas goes through Kingman. Just outside of Kingman, you will find an impressive pile of very jagged rocks, which looks very intriguing for visitors. It so happens this is Hualapai Mountain County Park.So, just because something isn't on the National Parks list, doesn't mean that it isn't something that could be worth visiting.Don't get so caught up in visiting the big name attractions that you miss out on the smaller attractions along your planned route (whatever that route may be).

Four Corners

by grandmaR

I am standing in Arizona taking a picture of Bob and our daughter standing in New Mexico. This is the only place where four states meet at one point. The VT location for Four Corners is Colorado. The fourth state that has a corner there is Utah.At the time we went in 1966, there really wasn't much here Pictures taken more recently show a whole bunch of stores around this area. The monument that marks the meeting place of the four states can be accessed by a clearly marked short spur road from US160.

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near the Cameron Trading Post

by toonsarah

We didn’t actually visit the Cameron Trading Post, which is considered a great place to shop for Native American crafts such as jewellery in silver and turquoise, woven rugs, pottery, baskets and paintings. Maybe we should have! But we did stop nearby, as the photos show. We found the scene very photogenic: the rather desolate empty landscape, the scruffy shack selling crafts (almost certainly of a lesser quality than at the Trading Post, but as we weren’t shopping that didn’t matter) and the big, big skies. It could be any one of quite a few places in this desert state; it just happened to be here. So if you have a camera and an eye for the less obvious vista, take the time to stop in the places less travelled and take in the scene.

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Cliff Dwellers

by toonsarah

Near the Vermillion Cliffs in north eastern Arizona is the small settlement known as Cliff Dwellers. The name fascinated us when we saw it on our map so we decided to stop to investigate. The settlement consists of a few adobe buildings nestled amongst crumbling rocks and oddly shaped boulders. Some, as the name suggests, are actually built into the Cliffside – spot the doorway under the rock in my main photo. There is a gas station and café, but the main attractions for us were the photogenic rocks and the group of friendly children (see photo 2) who gathered to watch our arrival and show us the pebbles they had collected (none of them very interesting, it has to be said!)In writing this tip now, many years after my visit, I’ve finally got round to doing a bit of research about these odd structures and found out that they are the remains of a lodge that stood here about 80 years ago....

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Vermillion Cliffs

by toonsarah

In the background of this photo you can see how the Vermillion Cliffs rise above the flat plains in the north east corner of Arizona. These are considered to form one of the most spectacular and extensive cliff faces in the US. Their colourfulness is caused by the variegated rocks of the “Chinle Formation” which forms the lower strata. The escarpment runs for over 30 miles and reaches heights of 2,000 feet. It is a National Monument, but one without facilities or visitor attractions. However the cliffs certainly merit a stop or two to take photos, and if you want to explore further there are tracks and hiking trails that will take you to the edge of the cliffs for views over the surrounding plateau, although we didn’t take advantage of these on this trip. There is also the possibility of wilderness back-packing – see the website below for more information.

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The Wave

by richiecdisc

With a name like Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument you would think the National Park system had grandiose plans for this sublime piece of Utah real estate when it was designated a protected area in 1996, but the young park was relegated to the Bureau of Land Management and hence lost a bit of the gloss associated with its more famous National Park cousins in the state. No matter, it appears enough people are finding out about it just the same and perhaps the reasoning behind the managerial choice was to keep it less developed and hence more wild than a bona fide National Park. With little known but sure fire attractions like The Wave and Buckskin Gulch, it might be for the best to keep roads to them unpaved and relegated more for adventure seekers. Even this growing group is having to be kept at bay with permit requirements to protect this fragile ecosystem What they seek is a...

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Montezuma's Castle National Monument

by richiecdisc

With its proximity to both Phoenix and Flagstaff, Montezuma's Castle provides a quick glimpse into Native American cliff dwelling life for those that may not get further afield. While not as elaborate as Mesa Verde in Colorado, its level of preservation is equitable and if you are driving to the Grand Canyon from Phoenix, it is right on your way. Couple that with it being part of the America the Beautiful pass and hence free to enter if you are in possession of one to go to the Grand Canyon. What you will be rewarded with, after such minimal effort, is an ancient Native American equivalent to a high rise built right into the side of a cliff. The impressive structure is five stories high with twenty individual rooms that housed Sinagua Indians some 600 years ago. Built into the natural limestone cliffs common to the area, early settles misnamed it after Montezuma whom they assumed had...

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Lost Dutchman State Park

by snafflebit

Lost Dutchman State park is located about 40 minutes outside of Phoenix near the town of Apache Junction. This was our first stop in a week-long camping adventure across the state. The campground was breathtaking... spectacular views of the desert landscape ESPECIALLY at sunset!Hike the superstition mountain trail (we didn't quite make it to the flatiron... big sis is kinda afraid of heights...), but the view from siphon draw is worth it. Take a drive into Tonto National Forest along the Apache Trail... the scenery is UNBELIEVABLE! If you want to park at any of the recreation areas, make sure you buy a $5 parking pass in Apache Junction or you can get one at Tortilla Flats along the Trail.

The Grand Canyon

by DueSer

This probably wouldn't normally be considered off the beaten path seeing as how it is a big tourist attraction. However, some people may not realize how far off the highway the Grand Canyon is. The road is narrow and only one lane in each direction so you can't go too fast and it is quite a ways from the turnoff from the highway to the entrance to the park (a little over an hour from the 40, longer if you go from Flagstaff) with absolutely NOTHING out there so you'd better make sure you have enough gas and water to make it that much further. It is definitely worth the effort to get there though. It's not a touristy tourist attraction, if you know what I mean. There can be a lot of people (avoid the crowds by getting up early, you're more likely to see more animals that time of day as well) and there is a gift shop but the overwhelming beauty of the place, including the animals and...

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Unique Places in Arizona

Top 3 Hotels in Arizona

El Tovar Hotel Grand Canyon  Grand Canyon

 14 Reviews and 735 Opinions  El Tovar Hotel was built in 1905 and designed by Charles Whittlesey who was the Chief Architect for... 

 Hotels in Grand Canyon

The Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa  Tucson

 6 Reviews and 762 Opinions  I have stayed here multiple times and always experience it the same way. Nice but not too nice.... 

 Hotels in Tucson

L'Auberge de Sedona  Sedona

 4 Reviews and 418 Opinions  My boyfriend and I stayed here last weekend, off season so the rate for a cabin was $250.00. It was... 

 Hotels in Sedona

1,486 Hotels in Arizona
 
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Off The Beaten Path: Cities in Arizona
  1. Phoenix Off The Beaten Path
  2. Tucson Off The Beaten Path
  3. Sedona Off The Beaten Path
  4. Grand Canyon Off The Beaten Path
  5. Grand Canyon National Park Off The Beaten Path
  6. Scottsdale Off The Beaten Path
  7. Flagstaff Off The Beaten Path
  8. Tombstone Off The Beaten Path
  9. Yuma Off The Beaten Path
  10. Bisbee Off The Beaten Path
  11. Lake Havasu City Off The Beaten Path
  12. Page Off The Beaten Path
  13. Tempe Off The Beaten Path
  14. Sierra Vista Off The Beaten Path
  15. Tubac Off The Beaten Path
  16. Mesa Off The Beaten Path
  17. Prescott Off The Beaten Path
  18. Canyon de Chelly National Monument Off The Beaten Path
  19. Petrified Forest National Park Off The Beaten Path
  20. Payson Off The Beaten Path
  21. Saguaro National Park Off The Beaten Path
  22. Kingman Off The Beaten Path
  23. Glendale Off The Beaten Path
  24. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument Off The Beaten Path
  25. Williams Off The Beaten Path
  26. Kayenta Off The Beaten Path
  27. Apache Junction Off The Beaten Path
  28. Jerome Off The Beaten Path
  29. Supai Off The Beaten Path
  30. Winslow Off The Beaten Path
  31. Montezuma Castle National Monument Off The Beaten Path
  32. Chiricahua National Monument Off The Beaten Path
  33. Holbrook Off The Beaten Path
  34. Tacna Off The Beaten Path
  35. Nogales Off The Beaten Path
  36. Oatman Off The Beaten Path
  37. Wupatki National Monument Off The Beaten Path
  38. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Off The Beaten Path
  39. Lost Dutchman State Park Off The Beaten Path
  40. Arcosanti Off The Beaten Path
  41. Black Diamond Off The Beaten Path
  42. Carefree Off The Beaten Path
  43. Marana Off The Beaten Path
  44. Seligman Off The Beaten Path
  45. North Rim Off The Beaten Path
  46. Parker Off The Beaten Path
  47. Sunset Crater National Monument Off The Beaten Path
  48. Tortilla Flat Off The Beaten Path
  49. Wickenburg Off The Beaten Path
  50. Queen Creek Off The Beaten Path
  51. Palm Springs Off The Beaten Path
  52. Peach Springs Off The Beaten Path
  53. Teec Nos Pos Off The Beaten Path
  54. Tonto National Monument Off The Beaten Path
  55. Willcox Off The Beaten Path
  56. Chloride Off The Beaten Path
  57. Rainbow Bridge National Monument Off The Beaten Path

More Cities in Arizona

 

Questions and Answers

klm2sun profile photo

Q:  Are there any motels on Route 89 between Flagstaff and Cameron? 

cgf profile photo

A: there are 50 miles far each other.. in the middle a gasoline station and (when I drove there) nothing else. at Cameron and Flagstaff there are motels 

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