Scottsdale has some fascinating tourist attractions in the south and central of the state, making it an ideal destination to visit if you plan a trip to Arizona. Located in a beautiful desert, where the outdoors can be explored in various forms (on foot or four or two wheels), this city has a great art culture. All these traits combined make Scottsdale, Arizona, a unique and fun place to explore. 

Saguaro National Park

Located approximately 113 miles from Scottsdale, Saguaro National Park, established in 1933, is considered a desert symbol worldwide. This magnificent park features the Rincon and Tucson mountain ranges passing through it and also preserves and protects the Sonoran Desert environment spreading through the southwestern part of the state. Saguaro cactuses growing in the desert have a 150-life span and are as tall as 15 meters with prolonged growth. Divided into two sections that lie on either side of Tucson city, Saguaro National Park is among the most stunning national parks in Arizona. On the east lies the Rincon Mountain District, which consists of the historic Cactus Forest Loop, while on the west (Tucson Mountain District) features scenic views from the Valley View Overlook Trail and opaque saguaro stands. The park provides the American Southwest classical image with breathtaking views and outstanding trails to bike, hike, or horseback ride. 

Grand Canyon National Park

Roughly about 3 hours and 40 minutes from Scottsdale, Grand Canyon is the most extensive canyon, 277 miles long. The Colorado River divided the terrain into sheer rock walls a million years ago, exposing many-layered colors that identify contrasting geologic eras. The size of the vertical rock walls is not only an outstanding record of time but also awe-inspiring. Exploring this canyon feels like intensely staring into the earth’s secrets. The famous Grand Canyon, with its size, scale, and beauty, poses some of the most fantastic earth scenery. Stretching over a vast northwestern Arizona cover, Grand Canyon is protected and preserved as a national park, thus drawing millions of tourists year-round. This national park is most popular with wildlife as it harbors thousands of scarce species (from little brown bats to bighorn sheep). It is also a perfect destination to sight the California Condors, which were once close to extinction. Through vigilant wildlife management, these giant birds are gradually returning. Statics shows that, in 2018, this canyon was a nesting place for six pairs of birds. You can spot them fly on the South Rim over Lookout Studio and Yavapai points. 

Petrified Forest National Park

Situated approximately 156 miles from Scottsdale lies the Petrified Forest National Park. The antediluvian tree trunks, sunk in a riverbed over 200 million years and preserved by the minerals they sucked up after immersion, attract many tourists. These tree trunks have transformed into solid over time and are utterly a field of vision with bubbly quartz in rainbow colors; the red-brown of jasper, yellow of citrine, and purple of amethyst. Just like its name, the principal attraction at Petrified Forest National Park is the 225 million year’s old petrified trees. In addition to fossilized trees, this mineral-colored topography also features streaked canyons and colorful deserts. At Blue Mesa (pale-hued badlands), you can hike on the tarmacked trail that circles the blue-white rock. Jasper Forest Trail, a longer hike, offers fascinating landscape views.

Conclusion

Besides a strong art culture, Scottsdale has numerous national parks, monuments, reserves that offer recreational activities, and much more. These parks are undoubtedly the most unique and appealing to tourists, thus a must-to-do road trip. Within the city’s periphery, you can explore in the middle of the desert, travel through the wetlands, hike on the incredible nature trails, and experience the most scenic views.