
The Most Beautiful Places in Arizona Poll 2025 launched on July 15 with 10 gorgeously worthy contenders going head to head in a reader poll to determine the most stunning Arizona view everyone should see at least once.
The top three finalists — the Grand Canyon, Sedona's red rocks and Monument Valley — made it to the second round.
Round 2 closed with more than 850 readers voting to determine the winner. But only one place can be named Arizona's most stunning view. And the winner proved the decisive highlight among readers, with 58% of the vote.
And the Most Beautiful Place in Arizona 2025 winner is ... the Grand Canyon.
Where is the Grand Canyon?
The Grand Canyon is in northern Arizona, encompassing about 278 miles of the Colorado River and adjacent uplands, according to the National Park Service. The Canyon is entirely in Arizona.
Those who photographed and painted the Canyon over the years have inspired generations of travelers with their depictions of its grandeur and vast scope, but nothing compares to seeing it for yourself.
The unforgettable natural wonder became a tourist destination in the early 20th century when the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway opened a connection to the South Rim in 1901 with a line from Williams to Grand Canyon Village; people can take that train route today via the Grand Canyon Railway.
The Santa Fe Railway, in collaboration with the Fred Harvey Company, developed the El Tovar hotel to host guests taking the railroad to visit the Canyon.
How was the Grand Canyon formed?
The Canyon was formed millions of years ago through the uplift of igneous and metamorphic rock and carved by the Colorado River through erosion.
People have lived in and around the Canyon for thousands of years, from Indigenous peoples to Spanish explorers. It was protected as a national monument under President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908, and became a national park under President Woodrow Wilson in 1919.
How to see the Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon National Park draws millions of visitors every year; more than 4.9 million people visited in 2024, according to the National Park Service.
Visitors can see the Canyon from overlooks on the South Rim, such as Mather Point and the popular sunrise/sunset viewing spot Hopi Point.
The less crowded North Rim — known for its dramatic views from Point Imperial, Cape Royal and Bright Angel Point — is closed for the rest of the 2025 season because of the Dragon Bravo Fire, which destroyed the historic Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim and has temporarily closed Phantom Ranch and numerous popular hiking trails.
Visiting Grand Canyon National Park costs $35 per vehicle for seven days of access.
Details: 928-638-7888, nps.gov/grca.
South Rim and more: Where else to visit near Grand Canyon while the North Rim is closed
Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: The most beautiful place in Arizona, according to readers
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