Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
Location: Arizona, South of Sedona, near Pine
State park with a large natural bridge and various trails, including one which allows you to walk under the bridge.
Soldier Pass-Brins Mesa Loop
Location: Arizona, North of Sedona
Extremely popular trail (less frequently done as a loop) that includes a side trail to a pair of natural arches, one of which has a small cave inside.
Devil’s Bridge Trail
Location: Arizona, North of Sedona
Extremely popular trail to a natural bridge that you can walk across. A lesser-used trail leads to a great photo op at the base of the bridge.
Waterfall Trail on Fossil Creek
Location: Arizona, South of Sedona, near Camp Verde
Extremely popular short hike to a waterfall and idyllic swimming hole. Permits required in summer and very crowded.
Weeping Wall
Location: Canada, Alberta, Banff National Park, Northern area
Cool rock wall with dozens of tiny waterfalls.
Cave and Basin National Historic Site
Location: Canada, Alberta, Banff National Park, Banff area
Natural thermal mineral spring which gave rise to Banff National Park, the first Canadian National Park.
Banff Hoodoos
Location: Canada, Alberta, Banff National Park, Banff area
Short stroll to viewpoints overlooking interesting rock formations.
Gibsons Beach Walk
Location: New Zealand, West Coast, Cape Foulwind
Great low tide beach with nice rock formations like arches and sea caves.
Inland Pack Track to the Ballroom Overhang
Location: New Zealand, West Coast, Punakaiki area
Less used track with multiple fun river crossings to a large rock overhang.
Crazy Paving Stone Cave
Location: New Zealand, West Coast, Karamea
Easily accessible cave with interesting naturally occurring geometric “paving stones”.
Box Canyon Cave
Location: New Zealand, West Coast, Karamea
Nice, easily accessible cave with an upper level and side passages to explore.
Moria Gate Arch
Location: New Zealand, West Coast, Karamea
Family-friendly hike to an awesome arch that you can climb under.
Oparara Arch
Location: New Zealand, West Coast, Karamea
Short hike to an impressive arch/tunnel along a tannin-stained stream.
Cave Stream ♦
Location: New Zealand, Canterbury, Castle Hill Basin area
Awesome subterranean adventure through a 0.36 km cave following a stream with lots of small water features.
Castle Hill
Location: New Zealand, Canterbury, Castle Hill Basin area
Fascinating area with interesting rock formations with numerous climbing sites; filming location for Narnia.
Lake Crowley Columns
Location: Northern California, Eastern Sierras, Mammoth Lakes Area
Cliffs filled with fascinating natural rock columns and caves at the edge of a lake.
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
Location: New Mexico, Santa Fe Area
Neat park showcasing tent-shaped hoodoos and other interesting geology.
Horseshoe Bend
Location: Arizona, Lake Powell Area, Page
Short hike to a view of the iconic section of the Colorado River where its path creates a horseshoe-shaped bend around a pillar of rock.
Upper Catstair Canyon
Location: Utah, Kanab area
Short non-technical canyon hike with interesting stacked cars and some pretty sculpted rock sections.
Paria River Valley
Location: Utah, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Southern
Toadstool Hoodoos
Location: Utah, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Southern
Easy hike to some cool hoodoos.
Pipe Spring National Monument
Location: Arizona, Northern, Kaibab area
Interesting national park centered around a natural spring which was a major resource for both the native Paiute people and Mormon settlers.
Eagle Cliff Miner’s Cabin
Location: California, Southern, Joshua Tree
Short back-country hike to a neat and well-preserved historic miner’s cabin
Willow Hole
Location: California, Southern, Joshua Tree
Hike through the Wonderland of Rocks area to a seasonal water source with willow trees.
Skull Rock
Location: California, Southern, Joshua Tree
Loop trail through a maze of cool rock formations, including the notable Skull Rock; several climbing areas are nearby.
Desert Queen Mine
Location: California, Southern, Joshua Tree
Explore the remains of a successful gold mine including mine shafts, various pieces of mining equipment, and some building ruins.
Wonderland of Rocks Traverse
Location: California, Southern, Joshua Tree
Epic semi-technical day hike through the massive boulders of the Wonderland of Rocks.
⊗ Rattlesnake Canyon
Location: California, Southern, Joshua Tree
Great find in the desert: a fun, short technical canyon with cool sculpted walls.
Hidden Valley
Location: California, Southern, Joshua Tree
Easy loop hike around a beautiful natural enclosure with great climbing options.
Hallmundarhraun
Location: Iceland, West, Borgarfjörður district
Vast lava field with rugged scenery and great Northern Lights photography opportunities
Merkurker
Location: Iceland, Southern Iceland, Thórsmörk
Travel upriver through a narrow, enclosed fissure and explore fun caves and rock formations in this lesser known gem.
Gígjökull
Location: Iceland, Southern Iceland, Thórsmörk
Outlet glacier of Eyjafjallajökull whose surrounding landscape was radically transformed in the 2010 eruption.
Blue Lagoon
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Reykjanes Peninsula
Scenic geothermally heated pool that’s become an iconic but pricy tourist attraction
Valahnúkamöl
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Reykjanes Peninsula
Rugged coastal area with cliffs and scenic rock pillars
Deildartunguhver
Location: Iceland, West, Borgarfjörður district, Reykholt
Prolific hot spring with the highest flow in Europe
Titus Canyon
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (Beatty Junction area)
Backcountry road through some stunning scenery including colorful hills, a narrow canyon, a ghost town, and petroglyphs.
Zabriskie Point
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (Furnace Creek area)
Viewpoint showcasing beautifully eroded Badlands in multiple directions
Artist’s Palette
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (South of Furnace Creek)
Scenic drive featuring beautifully colored hills and views of banded cliffs.
Devil’s Golf Course
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (South of Furnace Creek)
Vast field of eroded rock salt spires
Badwater Basin
Location: California, Northern, Death Valley (South of Furnace Creek)
Iconic salt flats at the lowest elevation in North America
Reynisfjara
Location: Iceland, Southern, Skógar/Vík area
Black beach with an amazing geometric basalt cliff and an imposing pair of off shore islands with sheer cliffs
Fjaðrárgljúfur ♦
Location: Iceland, Southern, Skógar/Vík area
Stunning sheer-walled non-technical canyon lined with moss and clear water, perfect for hiking up-canyon in the watercourse
Dyrhólaey
Location: Iceland, Southern, Skógar/Vík area
Peninsula with a large natural arch, historic lighthouse, and beautiful coastal views
Gjáin ♦
Location: Iceland, Southern, Thjórsárdalur
Delightful hidden valley with nice rock formations and waterfalls
Fimmvörðuháls ♦
Location: Iceland, Southern Iceland, Thórsmörk
Fantastic hike through stunning glacier and volcanic sculpted hills and mountains
Grænavatn
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Reykjanes Peninsula
Lake formed by a volcanic crater with remarkable blue-green water
Thingvellir
Location: Iceland, Southwest Iceland, Golden Circle
Interesting National Park with a storied history and set between tectonic plates creating a picturesque landscape above ground and the famous Silfra Fissure, which can be explored via either snorkeling or diving
Gunnuhver
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Reykjanes Peninsula
Large boiling mud pool that expanded violently in 2008 claiming many of the viewing platforms and walkways
Seltun
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Reykjanes Peninsula
Geothermal area with a boardwalk for viewing various mud pots and fumaroles
Kleifarvatn
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Reykjanes Peninsula
Large lake with lava rock formations and shallow caves along its edge
Lóndrangar
Location: Iceland, West, Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Large lava pinnacles at the edge of dramatic basalt cliffs; you can find puffins here during the warmer months
Cassidy Arch Hike
Location: Utah, Capitol Reef National Park
Nice hike with expansive views to a huge natural arch that you can walk across
Hickman Bridge
Location: Utah, Capitol Reef National Park
Short hike to an impressive natural bridge that you can walk under
Sunset Point
Location: Utah, Bryce Canyon National Park
Viewpoint with great views of Bryce’s multi-colored hoodoos, including “Thor’s Hammer”
Sunrise Point
Location: Utah, Bryce Canyon National Park
Great viewpoint featuring sheer pink cliffs that dwarf multi-colored hoodoos in the valley below
Inspiration Point
Location: Utah, Bryce Canyon National Park
Excellent viewing area for the main amphitheater, with row upon row of hoodoos that glow in morning and afternoon sunlight
Hidden Canyon
Location: Utah, Zion National Park
Attractive, easy (non-technical) canyon with nice rock features including an arch
Taylor Creek Trail
Location: Utah, Zion National Park, Kolob Canyons Area
Pleasant trail with very little elevation gain, ending at the “Double Arch Alcove”
Calico Hills
Location: Nevada, Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon
Notable red rock hills with pretty striations; home to over 200 sport climbing routes
White Domes Loop
Location: Nevada, Las Vegas area, Valley of Fire State Park
Nice short hike through varied desert scenery with various highlights
The Fire Wave ♦
Location: Nevada, Las Vegas area, Valley of Fire State Park
Short hike with nice scenery to a fascinating slick rock sandstone formation with colorful striations
The Wave
Location: Arizona, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
Iconic sandstone formation of sculpted, beautifully colored slickrock
Coyote Buttes North ♦
Location: Arizona, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
Fabulous area with outstanding rock formations, multiple natural arches, dinosaur tracks, and more!
Boiling Pots and Pe’epe’e Falls
Location: Hawaii, Big Island, Hilo
Waterfall upstream from an interesting series of carved bowls famous for their churning water in heavy flow
Mono Lake
Location: California, Eastern Sierras, Lee Vining Area
Lake with fascinating mineral towers (called tufa) exposed due to decreasing lake levels
Curio Bay ♦
Location: New Zealand, South Island, The Catlins
Petrified forest tidal shelf and home to an easy-to-view colony of penguins.
Moeraki Boulders
Location: New Zealand, Otago, East Coast
Picturesque ancient rock spheres on a beach