Arizona, United States
27 Gorgeous Waterfalls in Arizona to Visit
When most think of Arizona, images of desert landscapes and towering red rocks immediately come to mind. However, you may be surprised to learn that Arizona is also home to a variety of stunning waterfalls. From the cool, lush falls to cerulean-blue cascades, Arizona’s waterfalls can offer a unique and refreshing escape from the heat of the desert. Whether you’re an avid hiker or just looking for an easy-to-get-to picturesque spot, here are some of the best waterfalls in Arizona to visit.
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Tips for Visiting Arizona Waterfalls
Some of these waterfalls are difficult to get to, require permits, and may be challenging hikes or climbs to scale rocky surroundings. Others are perfect for beginners to visit, with minimal elevation gains. So it’s important you prepare and do your research ahead of time.
- Timing Matters: If the weather is dry, the waterfall/pool area may be dried temporarily. Check on this ahead of time.
- Pet Policies: Phoenix has a heat ordinance against having dogs outdoors when temperatures reach 100+ due to heat stroke and pavement burn. Some trails do not allow dogs because of this, so check ahead.
- Bring Water: Swimming in waterfall pools can cool you off, but you must bring drinking water to stay hydrated. Bring extra water in insulated bottles if possible.
- Stay Lightweight: Arizona heat is no joke. Make sure you wear lightweight clothes, pack light, and opt for hiking boots or shoes that are not too heavy.
- Stick to the Trails: Some of these hikes are quite difficult and can be slippery the closer you get to the falls. Staying on the trail is essential to stay safe, reserve energy, and protect local vegetation.
Beautiful Waterfalls in Arizona to Visit
Don’t miss our other outdoor travel guides about the region. Hiking to one of these waterfalls is also perfect if you visit Arizona in the summer or are looking for unique day trips from Las Vegas! Some of these hikes are also hiking trails near Las Vegas to add to your bucket list.
1. Seven Falls Trail
At the foot of the Catalina Foothills, the Seven Falls Trails is one of the more beautiful hikes in Arizona to waterfalls exploring the amazing Tuscon landscape. You start by taking a tram from the parking lot of the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area to Bear Canyon, where you can hike a trail of sycamore trees, flora, and unique rock formations. The Seven Falls are at the end of the hike, with clear pools to swim in for only an $8 fee per person. This is another hike where you will need to cross banks of water (up to your knees at some points) to access the falls.
- Location: Tucson, AZ
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Length: 8.3 miles, out-and-back
2. Bobs Bear Trail (AKA Fossil Spring)
Bob Bear Trail (formerly known as Fossil Springs Trail) leads you to one of the favorite waterfalls near Phoenix for its various water activities. This is a great place to swim, cliff jump, and explore grottos and caves, with water clear enough to be able to see fish swimming by with goggles. Located in the Tonto Wilderness, it takes about 4 hours to hike the 8.5-mile trail, with heavy sun and little shade most of the way. This waterfall can get pretty crowded on the weekends, so try to go on a weekday if you can.
- Location: Strawberry, AZ (Tonto National Forest)
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Length: 8.5 miles, out-and-back
3. Cibecue Falls
Visiting the Cibecue Falls is a unique experience that takes you deep into Salt River Canyon, surrounded on all sizes by massive boulders. The falls stand 30 feet high at the end of Cibecue Creek Trail, located in a peaceful oasis of the desert that can only be reached by hiking through wet banks of rock (your shoes will get wet!) Hikers start by driving through narrow roads and steep clifts along the Salt River before crossing the Cibecue Creek to get to the trailhead parking lot. You will need a permit to hike in these parts, which also gains you access to the Apache Falls, only a short 0.8 mile hike away.
- Location: Cibecue, AZ
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Length: 3 miles, out-and-back
4. Fossil Creek Waterfall
Located between Camp Verde and Payson, Fossil Creek Waterfalls can be reached by an easy 1-mile hike via the Waterfall Trail. The scenery along the river on your hike is gorgeous–especially if you go during the Fall–and the seclusion of the area makes it a great place for getting away from the crowds. You can swim near the falls or venture to the nearby swimming holes from April to October with the purchase of a reserved permit. These are not the biggest waterfalls in Arizona, but there are some really cool rock formations and caves you can explore while you’re here.
- Location: Strawberry, AZ (Fossil Springs Wilderness)
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Length: 2.6 miles, out-and-back
5. Slide Rock
The trail to Slide Rock is one of the shorter Sedona hiking trails with waterfalls, but it’s also rather challenging due to its slippery nature. Slide Rock is a popular spot for swimming, sunbathing, and picnicking. A shallow part of Oak Creek creates an exciting natural water slide where visitors can enjoy sliding down smooth rocks or wading in the shallow pool below. Located in Slide Rock State Park, this is a spot Sedona residents and visitors will spend the entire day at, so try to visit earlier in the day for less crowding.
- Location: Sedona, AZ
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Length: 0.3 miles, out-and-back
6. Ribbon Falls
Tucked inside the bottom of the Grand Canyon are the Ribbon Falls, a hidden gem and one of the best waterfalls in the United States. Cascading from 100 feet, the falls crash on moss-covered red rock, creating a secret garden in the middle of the desert. These are the only falls you can see in the park without having to raft or back. Ribbon Falls is found on the North Kaibab Trail and can easily be done in a day; make sure to stay on the trails as the mossy vegetation is very fragile.
- Location: Grand Canyon National Park near North Rim
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Length: 8.4 miles, out-and-back
7. Mooney Falls (Havasupai Region)
One of the most picturesque (and tallest) waterfalls at the Havasupai Indian Reservation is Mooney Falls, plunging over 190 feet to the bottom of the Cataract Canyon. This is not a hike for beginners and includes unpaved trails, ladders, climb cliffs, tunnels, and a lot of steep descents. It’s recommended to bring some climbing gloves for the chains and ladders and to wear shoes with excellent grip as the trail can get wet and muddy.
- Difficulty: Hard
- Length: 3.4 miles
Havasupai is a breathtaking Native American Reserve that is surrounded by the Grand Canyon National Park and entirely inaccessible by car. Inside the reservation is a series of turquoise blue waterfalls you can hike to from the campground, which is a 10-mile hike from the parking lot. This is not a day hiking experience–all visitors must stay at the campground (reservations required) and get the proper permits to hike to the waterfalls.
8. Havasu Falls (Havasupai Region)
Havasu Falls (also called Havasupai Falls) are made for adventure seekers looking for a hidden paradise to swim. The hike is long but worth the trip to see the blue-green waters at the trail’s end–a real magical oasis in the desert! Plan to leave early in the morning to visit these falls as they are an extremely popular destination at the reserve.
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Length: 10 miles, out-and-back
9. Navajo Falls (Havasupai Region)
The short trek to Navajo Falls is slightly difficult, but these falls are some of the most beautiful in the state and the least crowded on the reservation. Navajo Falls originated due to flash flooding in the canyon in 2008 that altered the landscape indefinitely. Make sure to check out the swimming pools of both the Upper and Lower Navajo Falls.
- Difficulty: Hard
- Length: 0.5-mile unpaved to both Lower and Upper
10. Beaver Falls (Havasupai Region)
From the Havasu campground, Beaver Falls is about an 18-mile round trip hike, best paired with Mooney Falls. The hike is challenging, with chains, ladders, and bolts to assist you in your climb. The turquoise pools that flow over limestone terraces are the highlight, and you’ll also get a chance to pass the historic burial site of the Havasupai natives.
- Difficulty: Hard
- Length: 18 miles, out-and-back
11. Fifty-Foot Falls (Havasupai Region)
The Fifty Footfalls are tucked away in the reservation (between the Supai village and the campground) and are easy to miss if you don’t know they exist. You can see them from the main trail at certain angles, but they are best reached by following the trail upstream from the Lower Navajo Falls located next to the pools. Be prepared to hike through weeds, up a hill, and through streams to get the best-unobstructed view.
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Length: 1.25 miles, out-and-back (from the campground)
BONUS: Havasu Creek & Colorado River Confluence (Havasupai Region)
There is a stunning turquoise blue pool of water created from the merging of the Havasu Creek and Colorado River. The trail leads you along stunning red rocks and vegetation as you get closer to the confluence, but a few miles in, the trail is poorly marked, so look for faint marks on the creek sides to follow. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that WILL take all day to complete–plan ahead to be able to get back to your campsite before dark.
- Difficulty: Challenging
- Length: 16.5 miles, out-and-back
12. Workman Creek Falls
You don’t have to hike to get to this 200-foot waterfall–just stay in your car and take in the view! Located high up in the Tonto National Forest in Gila County (between Young and Globe), you can only get to the hidden falls of Workman Creek on an unpaved road, with tons of plants and local wildlife along the way. The falls are most powerful after the rain in the summer, but the scenic views also make this of the best places to visit in the winter. You must have a high-clearance vehicle to visit, as the road is steep, narrow, and impassible when wet.
- Location: Young and Globe, AZ
- Length: No hiking required
13. Massacre Falls
Massacre Falls, set in the Superstition Wilderness, are seasonal falls that only flow in the early spring or during the monsoon season. There’s a dark story behind the name of the falls, originating in the mid-1800s after the massacre of the Peralta by the Apache. The area has a rich mining history, with an abandoned mine shaft you can explore on the trail. Hiking to Massacre Falls includes some moderate elevation gains, still doable for beginners and families, with wonderful views of the Superstition Mountains from the cliffs right before you get to the falls.
- Location: Fort McDowell, AZ (Superstition Wilderness
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Length: 5.4 miles, out-and-back
14. Deer Creek Falls
The remote waterfall on the Deer Creek Trail cascades an impressive 180 feet out of the red Arizona rocks and down to the Colorado River. Located in the Grand Canyon National Park, hikers will encounter several steep ascents on the way to the falls and a very narrow ledge nicknamed “The Abyss.” Along the wall of the canyon, look for the ancient handprints left in the rock by Native American tribes, some over 1,000 years old. This trail requires a backcountry camping permit and is susceptible to extreme hot and cold temperatures.
- Location: Grand Canyon National Park
- Difficulty: Hard
- Length: 1.1 miles, out-and-back
15. White Tank Mountain Waterfall Trail
Located in the White Tank Mountain Regional Park, White Tank Falls is one of the least challenging waterfall hikes, best for beginners and families. The Waterfall Trail is short and paved part of the way before transforming into dirt and rock, with tons of local cacti to explore along the sides. You’ll reach a staircase towards the end of the trail leading to the opening of the falls, which are the most powerful after it rains (sometimes only trickle in dry weather). Don’t forget to check out the protected area of petroglyphs from the ancient Hohokam tribe of Arizona along the trail!
- Location: Waddell, AZ, White Tank Mountain Regional Park (fee to enter the park)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Length: 1.8 miles, out-and-back
16. Grand Falls
Grand Falls (also called the Chocolate Falls) is a great place for beginners to hike in the Navajo Nation, just 15 miles east of Flagstaff. Towering over you at 181 feet, it’s one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Arizona, hugged by several terraces and spilling silt-laden tinted water from the Little Colorado River. The cliffs are almost Grand Canyon-like, with local flora and fauna and gazebos along the cliffs for visitors who do not want to hike for a view. Make sure you wear clothes that can withstand dirt and mud, which can be seriously intense by the falls.
- Location: Leupp, AZ
- Difficulty: Easy
- Length: 1.1 miles, out-and-back
17. Lower Tanque Verde Falls
When you hike to the Lower Tanque Verde Falls, you’ll experience an 80-foot plunging waterfall and several other smaller waterfalls spilling into swimming holes. The Lower Tanque Verde trail is short, but only because it ends at the creek, where you then need to follow the creek bed until you get to the hidden falls. Swimming is encouraged, but beware that this area can become very slippery due to the surrounding granite. Expect to get a workout on this hike, as you’ll need to wade through the creek, scramble up rock, and boulder hop your way to the end.
- Location: Tuscan, AZ
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Length: 1.9 miles, out-and-back
18. Travertine Cavern Falls
Getting to Travertine Cavern Falls is an adventure, with a series of ropes and ladders attached to the boulders beginning below Diamond Creek in the Grand Canyon National Park. If you’re looking for hikes near Las Vegas that are a little challenging, this is an excellent one to choose. At the top of the climb to the upper falls is a grotto filled with clear water with a powerful rushing waterfall that you can stand right under to cool off (like a refreshing natural shower!) You can book a day tour of this area through the Hualapai Tribe or find other companies who offer canyon water tours allowing you to raft your way down the Colorado River.
- Location: Grand Canyon National Park
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Length: unknown