The Desert Southwest is a rugged land filled with wide open deserts, unique plant life, and jaw-dropping rock formations. This area is the perfect place to hit the road and see where it takes you, as sometimes the most beautiful sight is along a remote stretch of highway where it will just be you and the desert cactus.
With fall quickly approaching, now is the perfect time to start planning your vacation in the Southwest to escape the cold of winter.
Here are ten beautiful sights that will take you beyond the Grand Canyon and into the stunning landscapes that make this part of the country so special.
Antelope Canyon, Arizona
Antelope Canyon, located within the Navajo Nation, is one of the most otherworldly sights in the country. These slot canyons are unique with their flowy, striated walls that feel like they are coming to life when the sun shines upon them.
Access to the canyon can only be done through guided tours. If you’re interested in photographing the canyon, there are photography-specific tours that will take you during times when the light is best, which typically is around mid-day.
Horseshoe Bend, Arizona
At one time, Horseshoe Bend was nothing more than a small dirt pullout on the side of the road. But over the years, social media has caused the popularity of this scenic overlook to swell, and dedicated parking areas have since been built to handle the influx of visitors.
Getting to the overlook requires a short but flat walk to the rim of the canyon, where you can snap an iconic photo of the Colorado River below.
Monument Valley, Arizona/Utah Border
There is perhaps no image that better encapsulates the feel of the American West than one of Monument Valley. Fans of the film Forest Gump will recognize this spot as the one where he decides to stop running and go home now.
If you want to snap a photo or recreate this famous scene, then head to mile marker 13 on U.S. 163 in Utah. Just don’t be one of those people who stand in the middle of the road without paying any attention to the traffic.
Sedona, Arizona
After making our first visit to Sedona, it was easy to see why so many people visit this stunning town and just never leave. The drive to Sedona from Phoenix is pretty, but it isn’t until you’re just a few miles outside of town that the true beauty of the area comes to life.
Towering red rock cliffs surround the town, and miles of hiking trails take you to stunning overlooks, incredible rock formations, and along warm streams perfect for cooling off in the summer heat.
Shiprock, New Mexico
This volcanic spire rises abruptly out of the plains of New Mexico, and it is easy to see why this is such a revered place within the Navajo Nation.
The rock takes on an otherworldly feel at sunrise and sunset as the skies are bathed in soft lights while the rock stands ominously overhead. This area is a photographer’s dream as there are a multitude of angles to shoot from, and the quickly changing light will keep you on your toes.
Saguaro National Park, Arizona
The Saguaro Cactus is such a unique species within the Desert Southwest that it was deserving of its own national park. These extremely slow-growing cacti can take decades to reach maturity, but they can stand up to 60 feet tall once they do!
Saguaro National Park sits just outside of Tucson, Arizona, and with miles of trails, there is no shortage of ways to get out into the desert to explore these magnificent plants.
White Sands National Park, New Mexico
Unlike most sand dunes in the United States, White Sands National Park is unique in that the sand is almost entirely made up of white gypsum. This means that the dunes are a pure white color rather than the tan found almost everywhere else!
Once you make your way through the park, it can almost feel like you’re living in a black-and-white world, especially early or later in the day when the sun casts dark shadows across the backsides of the dunes.
Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
Once you’ve tired of the glitz and glam of Las Vegas, take a drive just 45 minutes to the east of town, and you’ll find yourself in a world of red rocks, natural arches, and stunning canyons.
This place couldn’t feel further from the city as you’ll be able to bask in the silence of the desert and explore these extraordinary desert landscapes.
Don’t miss the petroglyphs carved into the rocks within the park, which date back nearly 4,000 years!
Joshua Tree National Park, California
Sitting just outside of the megacity of Los Angeles, Joshua Tree National Park is a place where locals and visitors alike come to bask in the solitude of the desert and take in the otherworldly Joshua trees that call this park home.
Fun fact: the Joshua tree isn’t actually a tree but is instead more closely related to the agave plant. However, I’m not so certain that these would make for very good tequila.
Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
I bet you didn’t know that Colorado was home to the tallest sand dunes in the country. At over 700 feet tall, these dunes will leave even the fittest of hikers stopping to catch their breath on the walk to the top.
What makes this park extra special is its setting directly in front of the rugged Sangre de Cristo Mountains, which makes it all that much more gorgeous for visitors.
