Northern Arizona facts for kids
Northern Arizona is a special part of the U.S. state of Arizona. It's not an official area, but people often use this name. This region mostly includes five counties: Apache, Coconino, Mohave, Navajo, and Yavapai.
Northern Arizona is mostly covered by the Colorado Plateau. The southern edge of this plateau in Arizona is known as the Mogollon Rim. This area is famous for its amazing natural beauty and history.
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People and Places in Northern Arizona
Flagstaff is the biggest city in northern Arizona. Other well-known cities include Sedona, Page, and Williams.
A lot of the land here is managed by the government. This includes National Forest Service land, national parks, and other public lands. In the northeast, you'll find large areas that are home to the Hopi and Navajo peoples. These are called reservations.
Many Native Americans live in this region. For example, in Coconino, Navajo, and Apache counties, almost half of the people are Native American. You can also find ancient ruins here. These ruins were built by the Anasazi, Sinagua, and other Puebloan peoples long ago.
Exploring Northern Arizona's Geography
This region has many different landscapes, from tall mountains to wide deserts.
Mountains and Lakes
Northern Arizona is home to several mountain ranges. The San Francisco Peaks are here, which are the highest mountains in the entire state. Most of Arizona's natural lakes are also found in this region. In the eastern part, you'll find the White Mountain range.
Famous Natural Wonders
The incredible Grand Canyon is located in the western part of northern Arizona. In the central area, you can see the colorful Painted Desert.
This region is known for its wild and varied landscapes. It has millions of acres of forests, including the largest ponderosa pine forest in North America. You'll also find aspen and mixed-conifer trees.
Major Attractions
Besides the Grand Canyon, there are many other cool places to visit. These include Monument Valley, Canyon de Chelly, the Painted Desert, and Meteor Crater.
The main highway that connects the larger cities in this region is Interstate 40. This highway roughly follows the historic Route 66. Northern Arizona is sometimes called Alta Arizona, which means "Upper Arizona" in Spanish.
Counties of Northern Arizona
Northern Arizona is made up of five different counties:
Fun Things to Do and See
Northern Arizona offers many chances for outdoor fun. You can enjoy hiking trails and forest roads. The area has a huge variety of land types and environments. It also has a rich history of geology and human life.
Here are some popular attractions in northern Arizona:
National Parks and Monuments
- Grand Canyon National Park
- Petrified Forest National Park
- Canyon de Chelly National Monument
- Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument
- Navajo National Monument
- Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
- Walnut Canyon National Monument
- Wupatki National Monument
- Vermillion Cliffs National Monument
Amazing Natural Spots
- Monument Valley
- Painted Desert
- Oak Creek Canyon
- Slide Rock State Park
- San Francisco Peaks
- Red Rock Country
- Lava River Cave
- San Francisco Volcanic Field
- Window Rock
- Antelope Canyon
Other Cool Places to Visit
- Arizona Snowbowl
- Lowell Observatory
- Grand Canyon Railway
- Museum of Northern Arizona
- Northern Arizona University
- Four Corners Monument
- Jerome
Special Areas of Northern Arizona
Northeast Arizona
Northeast Arizona usually includes Apache County and Navajo County. Some important towns here are St. Johns, Eagar, Holbrook, Show Low, Winslow, Window Rock, Fort Defiance, Ganado, Chinle, and Kayenta.
This area is home to several Indian reservations. These include all of the Zuni Indian Reservation and most parts of the Hopi Reservation, the Navajo Nation, and the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. The rugged desert land of Northeast Arizona has been lived in by indigenous peoples for a very long time. You can see ancient ruins at places like Monument Valley, Navajo National Monument, and Canyon de Chelly National Monument.
Northeast Arizona is a dry place with little greenery. It has many hills, mesas, buttes, cliffs, and canyons. The windy, stony plains of the Petrified Forest National Park show parts of the barren, colorful Painted Desert. You can also find preserved Native American petroglyphs there. Northeast Arizona is also where you'll find the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest and Four Corners Monument.
Arizona Strip
The Arizona Strip is a part of Arizona located north of the Colorado River. It is geographically separated from the rest of the state. Because of this, fewer than 10,000 people live there.
