15 Best Places to Elope in Arizona
Eloping in Arizona
Arizona has a little bit of everything – when it comes to Arizona elopement locations, there’s honestly endless possibilities! Whether you’re looking for stunning overlooks, cactus views, red rocks and cliffs, slot canyons, sandstone walls, snowy mountains, or diverse forests, there’s bound to be something that draws your eye and makes you want to run off to have a grand adventure for your elopement experience!
Arizona has over 12.2 million acres of public land, with 3 national parks (The Grand Canyon, Saguaro National Park, and Petrified Forest), 34 State Parks, 6 National Forests, and lots of other beautiful land to choose from! It’s full of jaw-dropping landscaping and awe-inspiring experiences and would be an amazing place to get married and even have your honeymoon there - or just an epic road trip!
Arizona Elopement Locations
Places to Elope in Arizona
Here’s my list of some of the top places to elope in Arizona! And you’re thinking about where to elope, be sure to check out my guide on how to choose your elopement location!
Sedona Elopement
I can’t write a blog post all about where to elope in Arizona, and not include Sedona! Sedona, Arizona is a small town between Phoenix and Flagstaff, famous for its glorious red rock cliffs, hiking, mountain biking, and delicious wine. Downtown Sedona is also a great tourist spot with unique shops, bars and eateries! There’s infinite spots in Sedona that would be incredible for an Arizona elopement, but here’s just a few amazing options: Cathedral Rock, Devil’s Bridge, Fay Canyon, Red Rock State Park, Bear Mountain area, Merry-Go-Round Rock, Seven Sacred Pools, Bell Rock, Slide Rock State Park, and Airport Mesa - and that’s just to name a few!
Grand Canyon Elopement
How can I not mention the Grand Canyon?! Grand Canyon National Park is a breath-taking spectacle and is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. This place is filled with millions of years of geological history, with layers of red rock, colorful hues, and stunning sunrise and sunset viewpoints in spots like Mather Point, Yavapai Observation Station, and Lipan Point, among many others!
Horseshoe Bend
You’ve probably seen photos of the iconic spot of Horseshoe Bend on your Instagram feed, and with good reason - it’s stunning! The first time I saw it in person, I couldn’t believe that it really looked that magical in real life! A short hike to this epic overlook will bring worthwhile rewards and is a must-see!
Slot Canyons
Arizona is home to some of the most amazing slot canyons in the world! These spiral rock arches are truly an incredible sight to see, and are formed from water rushing through rock - how crazy is that? Some of the most magnificent slot canyons are Lower Antelope Canyon (which you’ve also probably seen photos of), Rattlesnake Canyon, and Mountain Sheep Canyon.
Flagstaff
Flagstaff is the largest city in northern Arizona and has some stunning locations for your Arizona elopement, including spots you wouldn’t even believe are in Arizona! Flagstaff is popular among outdoor enthusiasts who come to see its vibrant aspen forests, cool weather, and hiking! Lockett Meadow is a beautiful spot to see some of the aspen trees - how is this not Colorado? You can also look into some cozy A-Frame cabins like this AirBnb!
Monument Valley
Monument Valley is an iconic spot of the Navajo Nation and borders both Arizona and Utah - you can also check it out in another blog post about locations to elope in Utah! This vast spectacle was created over time by wind and water and features some major monuments and rock formations!
Glen Canyon & Lake Powell
Lake Powell is part of the Colorado River in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. This is another spot that borders both Arizona and Utah, and there’s nothing like being among the views of Lake Powell! The beautiful rocks and cliffs are magicians against the turquoise blue water, and there’s also some great hikes, sunrise and sunset viewpoints, sandstone mesas, distant mountains, and glorious views all around - it’s an incredible place to have an Arizona elopement!
Superstition Mountains
The Superstition Mountains, also called “The Superstitions,” is a vast mountain range in Arizona, east of Phoenix. These mountains are characterized by jagged, volcanic peaks and ridges separated by canyons, and covered by saguaro and other cacti for some awesome desert vibes! Located in the Sonoran Desert, at the base of the Superstition Mountains, is Lost Dutchman State Park - one of dozens of Arizona’s state parks! Lost Dutchman is a wonderful spot to experience the plants and wildlife of this desert region and a great spot to elope in Arizona!
Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National Park is filled with saguaro cacti, which are native to its desert environment, and surrounded by mountain views! If you’re looking for some desert vibes for your Arizona elopement, this is a beautiful spot with impressive viewpoints, rocky hills, saguaro-covered plains, and various hiking trails and backcountry roads!
Mount Lemmon
Mount Lemmon is surrounded by the Coronado National Forest and offers a variety of scenery and activities depending on the time of year. During the summer months, you can hike trails, camp under the stars, go fishing, or go rock climbing! When there’s snow, you can also go skiing, snowboarding, sledding, and snowshoeing!
Mogollon Rim
The Mogollon Rim cuts across the northern half of Arizona and is a rugged geological feature! Offering some of the most far-reaching scenery in Arizona, spanning views of the desert at 2,000 feet, you’ll find incredible overlook spots for sunset and can even enjoy a picnic, hiking, biking, rock climbing, boating, fishing, horseback riding, and stargazing there!
Watson Lake
Watson Lake is a beautiful lake among desert landscapes, just a few miles from Prescott, Arizona. Its stunning blue water is surrounded by granite boulders, hiking trails, and other activities like camping, rock climbing, canoeing, kayaking, boating, and fishing, and offers some lovely picnic areas too!
Salt River Canyon Wilderness
Salt River Canyon Wilderness is a dramatic vista that spans over 30,000 acres of wilderness within the Tonto National Forest in Arizona. Although there’s no designated trails, many of the side canyons are great hikes! You can also find Apache Falls there, a hidden gem in the heart of the Salt River Canyon!
Coal Mine Canyon
Coal Mine Canyon is an incredible textured canyon with red mudstone, bleached white rock, and coal streaks, creating a colorful array of unique rock formations. Sitting at the edge of the vast Painted Desert of Arizona, you’ll find magnificent hoodoos (found in other Southwest parks like Bryce Canyon), eroded spires, and other magnificent cliffs and formations, the colors and textures of this place are unparalleled!
Petrified Forest
Petrified Forest National Park is filled with paleontological and geological wonders, with its Rainbow Forest full of colorful petrified wood, backcountry hikes like Red Basin and Martha’s Butte, incredible overlooks, rock formations, fossils, badlands, buttes and mesas, ancient petroglyphs, wildlife, and wildflowers! The unique scenery would be amazing for an elopement in Arizona!
This list is definitely not comprehensive and there’s lots of other beautiful spots in Arizona! It was honestly hard to narrow down this list, but honestly, anywhere you choose in Arizona is going to be an incredible spot for your elopement experience. Let’s get to planning your dream day - start here!
P.S. Here’s a quick list of honorable mentions, I meant to keep the list on the shorter end but wanted to mention a few additional spots too: Sunset Crater Volcano, Phoenix Mountain Reserve, and Humphreys Peak!
Elopement Packages Arizona
Arizona Elopement Packages
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