Situated in a desert climate, Arizona is famous for its scorching temperatures, known for being the land of red rocks, cacti, and the vast landscape of the Grand Canyon. However, several destinations in Arizona tout cooler temperatures for much of the year — it’s not all scorching hot days in this state. From the spa culture of Sedona to the ski slopes of Flagstaff, we’ve compiled five popular Arizona destinations with cooler temperatures.
To put this list together, we looked at the average temperatures across Arizona and identified places that, despite being in the desert, experience cooler temperatures throughout the year. While some of these locations can reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the height of summer, they can also be extremely pleasant or downright chilly in other seasons. Using a mix of opinions from travelers and locals, as well as this writer’s own experience in the state, we came up with these five destinations.