Arizona is one of the most beautiful states to visit in the USA. Check out all the most beautiful Instagram-worthy destinations in Arizona.
Cathedral Rock
If you’re searching for the perfect photo opportunity to capture Arizona’s scenic natural beauty, look no further than Cathedral Rock—a challenging 1.2-mile hike with incredible views.
Cathedral Rock is located in Sedona, Arizona, on Back O Beyond Road, just across the street from the iconic Chapel of the Holy Cross. You’ll have to pay an entry fee of $5 per vehicle to enter, and you should budget at least 1.5 hours to complete the hike (photos included!).
Since hiking Cathedral Rock is one of the most popular things to do during a day trip to Sedona, it’s worthwhile to plan your hike at sunrise or sunset to avoid the crowds so that you can capture the most scenic photo.
When you arrive at the top, there are plenty of excellent places to take photos. However, the best spot is a small ledge you can walk to along the right side of the peak. Here, you can either sit on the rock or stand for a spectacular photo with the picturesque red rocks in the background.
If you hike at a busier time, you may have to wait 10-15 minutes to take a photo. However, it’s worth waiting to have the whole ledge to yourself!
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Monument Valley
One of the best places in Arizona for Instagram is Monument Valley. This area is located on the Eastern border of Utah and Arizona and is established on Navajo Land. You can get there by flying into Phoenix, Arizona, and driving around 6 hours North. The tall standing buttes and canyons make this a wonderful place to take Instagram pictures for sunrise and sunset.
The number one way to get epic Instagram photos is by taking The Monument Valley self-guided tour loop. You can go at your own pace and take pictures next to the Buttes. The drive is around 17 miles and, on average, takes 2 hours to complete. You can stop at many outstanding viewpoints like The Three Sisters, John Ford’s Point Overlook, Elephant Butte, Camel Butte, The North Window Overlook, and much more. John Ford’s Point Overlook has the famous “lone rider on a horse,” and you can take a picture of him. Just be aware that you need to tip them for this photo.
Once you are done, head over to the Forrest Gump Point. This is an Instafamous spot where you can take a photo of the road with the beautiful buttes in the distance. The GPS coordinates are 37.101393, -109.990973, and you do need to be careful when taking photos as this is still a road.
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Devil’s Bridge
Arizona is full of Instagram-worthy sights, hikes, and landmarks. From towering saguaros to hidden caves you will definitely be left in awe. Perhaps one of the most popular sights is the Devil’s Bridge Hike. Do not let the popularity scare you away. This hike is 100 percent worth it and a definite bucket list item. The hike itself is located in Sedona, Arizona, and is about 3.9 miles round trip.
It is rated as moderate with a 521 ft elevation gain. It is a busy trail, so be sure to arrive early or late to get a parking spot. If you start at sunrise, you will even see many hot air balloons soaring in the distance. Once you make it to the famous rock bridge, you will likely have to wait in line to get the picture. It’s a perfect time to eat a snack and enjoy the views! The other hikers behind you will likely offer to take the picture for you! Tip! The bridge is much wider than it appears in pictures, but it’s still important to use common sense!
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Airport Mesa
If you are looking for an amazing photo destination with panoramic views of the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona, head to Airport Mesa! Airport Mesa is one of the vortexes of Sedona, that people from all over the world come to meditate at and admire. It also just happens to be one of the best spots in Sedona and all of Arizona to take Instagram-worthy photos. In fact, the entire Airport Loop Trail, starting from Airport Mesa is one of the best trails in Sedona with views.
If you walk the short path to the top of the Mesa, you can have 360 views of the iconic rock formations of Sedona. This makes it the perfect spot to photograph at both sunrise and sunset. To get to the mesa, drive up Airport Road towards the Sedona airport. On the left side of the road partway to the airport, there are several parking spots only steps from the mesa.
These spots do fill up fast though and there are a limited number of them. If the spots next to the mesa are closed, continue driving up towards the airport where there is a large lot with $3 parking. From here you can either hike the roughly three-quarters of a mile, one-way trail down to Airport Mesa or snap some photos from the alternate lookout near the parking lot. These views are equally gorgeous, but only face Northwest making them great for sunset.
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Canyon de Chelly
Canyon de Chelly is located in Chinle, Arizona. It is in the central part of the Navajo Nation, and it is located in the northeast region of Arizona. Although it can be difficult to get to, being 4 hours to Flagstaff, the drive through the open spaces of the reservation is both beautiful and awe-inspiring. The Canyon is both beautiful, and approachable. In contrast to The Grand Canyon, Canyon de Chelly you can hike to the base of the canyon in a single day.
In Canyon de Chelly you can do so many amazing things, and document them all in Instagram for later
1. You can go horseback riding through the canyon, this requires a Navajo guide to take you through this sacred area, and you must book it in advance to get a permit, but it is totally worth it. You will get to see areas of the canyon other tourists cannot see.
2. You can hike White House Ruins Trail, it is only about 2.3 miles round trip, it has slight incline on the way back up, but overall an easy hike with well-preserved Anasazi Ruins at the end.
3. You can drive to all the overlooks and see all the different views of the Canyon, Spider Rock overlook is one of the prettiest
4. You can buy original, and authentic artwork, pottery, and jewelry at the overlooks from the artisans themselves during the summer
5. You can visit a traditional dwelling, the Hogan at the Visitors Center just outside the Canyon
6. You can stare at the stars, which because of relatively low light pollution, the view is incredible
7. You can eat a traditional meal of the Navajo Taco at Junction Restaurant in Chinle
Arizona is filled with so many beautiful places, but Canyon de Chelly is one that is frequently overlooked, and although it takes time to get there the pictures and experience are worth it. Here are more details about the logistics and how to stay in Chinle.
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Seligman
Seligman is the home to Historical Route 66. Route 66 goes right through the heart of Arizona. And what better way to visit this historical highway, than right where it started! About an hour’s drive west from Flagstaff, visit Seligman. Enjoy a day exploring the many shops from the past. Taking photos with the “cars with eyes”, inspiration for Pixar’s Cars!
This is the perfect spot to get some great photos for your Instagram. Snap a shot of the historical town sign. Spend some time finding the classic cars scattered around Seligman. And don’t forget to capture the cutest cafes around the town!
Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon National Park is the second most visited park in the US. The entire Canyon is bigger than the state of Rhode Island. However, the national park only covers a small portion of the Canyon. There is nothing like seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time. The depth, magnitude, and immense scale are hard to capture in words and pictures. At 227 river miles long and 18 miles wide, how do you explore such a destination? In this travel guide, you will learn everything you need to know about how to visit the Grand Canyon National Park.
There are endless Instagram-worthy opportunities in this park! From the stunning overlooks to the curious nature you won’t out of photo spots!
Saguaro National Park
There are few places quite like Saguaro National Park. Named after the saguaro cactus (you know the one – the super famous tall one with its arms stretched out), the park is a photographer’s dream. Admission is $25 per vehicle, but you’ll have access to the whole park for seven days with that single fee.
The cacti stretch as far as the eye can see in most of the park, often dotting hills in stunning shades of greens. They make for beautiful, Instagram-worthy photos, whether you’re getting up close, or showcasing the gorgeous desert landscape.
The park is located right in the city of Tucson, Arizona – with plenty of hotels and a major airport, it’s super easy to get to. Tucson actually divides the park in two, splitting it into Saguaro East and Saguaro West. You can find picture-perfect views in both areas, but for Instagram photos, the better views are in Saguaro West.
Start your adventure at the Desert Discovery Nature trail.
An easy half-a-mile walk that will immediately give you access to big saguaros. They’ll look beautiful against the blue desert skies.
For wilder views, including a colorful sunset or two, you’ll want to head over to the King’s Canyon / Gould Mine Loop trail. You’ll be literally surrounded by saguaros, with views of hills dotted with cacti stretching into the horizon.
Do keep in mind that this is the desert. Visit in the fall or early spring for cooler weather, and always have plenty of water and sun protection on you. The southwest is calling, and Saguaro is absolutely worth it.
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Antelope Canyon
Antelope Canyon is one of the most beautiful spots in Arizona and the USA. Located in Page, Arizona, this fiery orange sandstone canyon is a photographer’s dream. In recent years it has become a tourist hot spot and for good reason.
This natural beauty is situated inside the Lake Powell Navajo Tribal Park. The wavy grooves and curves you see in the canyon were created from years and years of erosion. There are two sections to Antelope Canyon, the upper and lower canyon. The most popular is the lower canyon as the sun shines down into the canyon and creates the most beautiful rays of light. The lower canyon does require climbing down and back up a flight of stairs and ladders at each end.
Antelope Canyon is approximately 10-minutes from the town of Page or if you are driving from Phoenix it is approximately a 4-hour drive. You can also opt to take a tour if you aren’t driving. Bring good walking shoes and water with you. There are gift shops that you can also purchase snacks and souvenirs from.
Antelope Canyon can only be visited with a Navajo tour guide. Tours sell out very quickly in the peak season months so if you are set on visiting this beauty, booking well ahead of time is recommended. Tickets range between $50 and $80 on average. Tours to Antelope Canyon operate year-round but the most popular peak times are March to October with the middle of summer being the busiest.
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Sedona
Sedona is one of the most scenic areas in the country. There are tons of gorgeous hiking trails, beautiful vistas, and striking red rock that make for the perfect Instagram backdrop. But if you are looking for something truly unique, a hike down the Boynton Canyon trail will lead you to sweeping views of Boynton Canyon and one of Sedona’s hidden treasures, the Subway cave.
Looking out onto Sedona’s red rock framed by the striking curved rocks of the Subway cave is arguably the most photogenic spot in Arizona. This Instagram photo spot requires a 7-mile moderate hike with a short rock scramble inside the cave. You are able to walk around the upper area of the cave for more stunning views and to explore ancient Sinagua ruins. You will need to buy a $5 Red Rock pass (one per car) to park at the Boynton Canyon trailhead.
The spur trail to the cave is marked only by a distinctive tree, about 2.0 miles into the hike from the Boynton Canyon Trailhead. The secret is turning right at the “Alligator Tree” and staying right as you pass a small creek. There are no signs, so keep your eyes peeled for a narrow slit in the sandstone as this is the opening of the cave. The cave is about 0.4 miles from the “Alligator Tree” turn-off.
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