Sometimes taking a break from the modern life into remote areas is a well-deserved treat, whether it’s for a couple of hours or a couple of weeks. It’s a chance to take a break from technology, reconnect with nature, and reset your biological clock, all of which can lead to much healthier life. You could probably drive about 50 miles in any direction from where you are right now and find yourself in the boonies, but you never really know if you’re standing on private land or not. Instead, here are a few suggestions for places that offer beautiful views, natural silence, and isolation from the rest of the world.
- Blue Range Wilderness
Alan English CPA/Flickr This eastern Arizona destination runs right along the border we share with New Mexico and what a sight it is! You will find dozens of hiking, camping, and fishing areas and many of them often see few people on a daily basis, meaning you could probably go a couple of days without seeing another person. Visiting information: U.S. Forest Service
- Cabeza Prieta Wilderness
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Flickr
Dan Sorenson/Flickr This wildlife refuge gets two photos due to how diverse the landscape is, consisting of typical Sonoran Desert flora, sand dunes, and old volcanic fields. It is the state’s largest wilderness area and home to one of the oldest trails in the country (El Camino del Diablo), first blazed by Spanish conquistadors in 1540. Visiting information: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
- Coal Mine Canyon
John Fowler/Flickr It’s easy to feel secluded on the Navajo Nation but Coal Mine Canyon, which is just off the road between Tuba City and Kykotsmovi, is one place where you’ll feel completely separated from the rest of the world. Plus, it helps that this place is 105% gorgeous. Visiting information: Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation
- Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area
Bureau of Land Management/Flickr This area is located just south of the Blue Range Wilderness and goes to show how quickly the land changes from ponderosa forests to a desert refuge. It follows the Gila River, which acts as a lush riparian area for local desert creatures and hikers who venture inside. Visiting information: Bureau of Land Management
- Hellsgate Wilderness
Alan English CPA/Flickr The photo doesn’t quite capture the rugged nature of Hellsgate but it is one fantastically beautiful area that offers some pretty strenuous hiking trails. Check out the video above for a view of the entrance to Hellsgate, starting at the 2:07 mark. Visiting information: U.S. Forest Service
- Kanab Creek Wilderness
Kaibab National Forest/Flickr This picturesque area sits in the remote Arizona Strip, right between the Grand Canyon and Vermilion Cliffs National Monument. It’s safe to say you’ll find a rare soul trekking through these lands but a visit here is incredible if you’re looking to get away from modernity for awhile. Visiting information: U.S. Forest Service
- Mazatzal Wilderness
Alan English CPA/Flickr Situated between the Verde River and Beeline Highway, this wilderness area is contains some rough, remote areas but the sweeping desert views are simply breathtaking. Visiting information: U.S. Forest Service
- Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Jason Corneveaux/Flickr This area sits right next to our second list location and it is just as beautiful and remote. You’ll find an incredible collection of native cacti, most notably the organ pipe cactus. Visiting information: National Park Service
- Pinaleño Mountains
Patrick Alexander/Flickr Most people know this mountain range for Mount Graham, one of the tallest peaks in the state. While the sky island looks like a desert from the base, the top is actually a haven for pine, maple, aspen, and other non-deserty flora, as well as a great retreat for locals. Visiting information: U.S. Forest Service
- Pipe Spring National Monument
Malcolm Surgenor/Flickr Another location in the Arizona Strip, this monument is difficult to access but a notable spot for the state’s history, blending Indigenous, Spanish, and pioneer cultures. The area is located along the Old Spanish Trail, the ancestral home of Kaibab Pauite, and was a settlement area for Mormon pioneers in the latter half of the 19th century. Visiting information: National Park Service
- Supai
Daniel Pouliot/Flickr This little town located in the depths of the Grand Canyon earns a spot on this list for being perhaps the most remote town in the state and country. It requires a day-long hike into the canyon but the views you’ll find there make the trek worth the effort. Visiting information: National Park Service
Need more evidence that rural Arizona is the best place in the state? Our article 14 Photos That Prove Rural Arizona Is The Best Place To Live will probably do the trick.
Alan English CPA/Flickr
This eastern Arizona destination runs right along the border we share with New Mexico and what a sight it is! You will find dozens of hiking, camping, and fishing areas and many of them often see few people on a daily basis, meaning you could probably go a couple of days without seeing another person. Visiting information: U.S. Forest Service
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Flickr
Dan Sorenson/Flickr
This wildlife refuge gets two photos due to how diverse the landscape is, consisting of typical Sonoran Desert flora, sand dunes, and old volcanic fields. It is the state’s largest wilderness area and home to one of the oldest trails in the country (El Camino del Diablo), first blazed by Spanish conquistadors in 1540. Visiting information: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
John Fowler/Flickr
It’s easy to feel secluded on the Navajo Nation but Coal Mine Canyon, which is just off the road between Tuba City and Kykotsmovi, is one place where you’ll feel completely separated from the rest of the world. Plus, it helps that this place is 105% gorgeous. Visiting information: Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation
Bureau of Land Management/Flickr
This area is located just south of the Blue Range Wilderness and goes to show how quickly the land changes from ponderosa forests to a desert refuge. It follows the Gila River, which acts as a lush riparian area for local desert creatures and hikers who venture inside. Visiting information: Bureau of Land Management
The photo doesn’t quite capture the rugged nature of Hellsgate but it is one fantastically beautiful area that offers some pretty strenuous hiking trails. Check out the video above for a view of the entrance to Hellsgate, starting at the 2:07 mark. Visiting information: U.S. Forest Service
Kaibab National Forest/Flickr
This picturesque area sits in the remote Arizona Strip, right between the Grand Canyon and Vermilion Cliffs National Monument. It’s safe to say you’ll find a rare soul trekking through these lands but a visit here is incredible if you’re looking to get away from modernity for awhile. Visiting information: U.S. Forest Service
Situated between the Verde River and Beeline Highway, this wilderness area is contains some rough, remote areas but the sweeping desert views are simply breathtaking. Visiting information: U.S. Forest Service
Jason Corneveaux/Flickr
This area sits right next to our second list location and it is just as beautiful and remote. You’ll find an incredible collection of native cacti, most notably the organ pipe cactus. Visiting information: National Park Service
Patrick Alexander/Flickr
Most people know this mountain range for Mount Graham, one of the tallest peaks in the state. While the sky island looks like a desert from the base, the top is actually a haven for pine, maple, aspen, and other non-deserty flora, as well as a great retreat for locals. Visiting information: U.S. Forest Service
Malcolm Surgenor/Flickr
Another location in the Arizona Strip, this monument is difficult to access but a notable spot for the state’s history, blending Indigenous, Spanish, and pioneer cultures. The area is located along the Old Spanish Trail, the ancestral home of Kaibab Pauite, and was a settlement area for Mormon pioneers in the latter half of the 19th century. Visiting information: National Park Service
Daniel Pouliot/Flickr
This little town located in the depths of the Grand Canyon earns a spot on this list for being perhaps the most remote town in the state and country. It requires a day-long hike into the canyon but the views you’ll find there make the trek worth the effort. Visiting information: National Park Service
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