In many ways, the beauty of Arizona is embodied by its most famous natural landmark, the Grand Canyon. Like the Grand Canyon itself, Arizona is vast and ancient, a panorama of stunning colour and fascinating geology, with a history defined by American Indians and larger-than-life adventurers. But there is so much more to the Grand Canyon State than the Grand Canyon itself.

Arizona is home to dozens of parks, monuments, and landmarks – breath-taking sights everywhere you look. Arizona boasts 22 National Parks and Monuments, 6 national forests and 35 state parks! Arizona’s own natural wonder, the Grand Canyon, has 277 miles of unbelievable scenery which make for an unforgettable adventure any time of year. 

“The ‘Four Corners’ region of the United States has the most IDA Dark Sky Communities in the world. In fact, Arizona has 19 dark sky communities, places and parks, 2 of which are National Parks (Grand Canyon & Petrified Forest). Arizona helped birth the dark-sky preservation movement when, in 2001, the International Dark-Sky Association designated Flagstaff as the world’s very first Dark Sky Place for the city’s commitment to protecting its stargazing-friendly night skies. Since then, six other Arizona communities—Sedona, Big Park, Camp Verde, Fountain Hills, Cottonwood and Thunder Mountain Pootseev Nightsky—have earned Dark Sky status from the IDA.

Arizona also boasts 12 Dark Sky Parks, defined by the IDA as lands with “exceptional quality of starry nights and a nocturnal environment that is specifically protected for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural heritage, and/or public enjoyment.” The most famous of these is Grand Canyon National Park, where remarkably beautiful night skies lend draw-dropping credence to the Park Service’s reminder that “half the park is after dark.”

Long before the Wild West. Even before the extinction of sabre-toothed cats and the mammoth. As far back as 12,000 years ago, indigenous cultures made their home in what, today, we affectionately call Arizona. These early inhabitants settled into villages throughout the diverse regions of Arizona, giving formation to tribes such as the Ancestral Puebloans, Hohokam, Mogollon, and Patayan people.

Today, 22 sovereign American Indian communities reside in Arizona, lending their unique spiritual, cultural, and economic richness to the state. Throughout Arizona, you can step into the past and experience up-close the artefacts and fascinating structures built and used by these tribes at a number of American Indian-operated museums and cultural centres.

For anyone visiting Arizona, the unique American Indian heritage and culture here is a must-see for getting a first-hand understanding of our state’s special and important history.