While most travelers stick to the big names like Zion or the Grand Canyon, we’re here to show you five unforgettable places to visit in the Southwest that are a little quieter. Feeling connected to nature is hard when you’re elbow-to-elbow on a trail.
If you’re like us and crave space, quiet, and the feeling of discovering something most people miss, the good stuff is off the main road. We’re talking dirt roads and places where your only neighbors might be a jackrabbit or a curious coyote.
These five spots across the Southwest are quieter, more remote, and full of the beauty that reminds you why you hit the road in the first place. No crowds. No chaos. Just wide-open spaces, weird geology, and much room to breathe.
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El Malpais National Monument, New Mexico
If you’re looking for otherworldly places to visit in the Southwest, El Malpais delivers with lava tubes, night skies, and trails through deep volcanic history. El Malpais (which translates to “the badlands”) looks like the surface of another planet.
El Malpais, often called the “Land of Frozen Fire,” is a rugged landscape shaped by ancient lava flows and volcanic forces. Black rock fields stretch for miles, broken up by towering sandstone cliffs and old trails that tell the story of the people who’ve lived here for generations. Despite its harsh appearance, the area is full of life.
Pull off at Sandstone Bluffs for sweeping views of one of the youngest lava flows in the continental U.S. There are strenuous hikes over jagged lava fields, backcountry campsites tucked into the wilderness, and lava tubes you can crawl through.
Before you head out, stop at the El Malpais Visitor Center to grab maps, get trail updates, or secure a cave permit. Cell service is spotty, so download everything you’ll need beforehand.
If you’re up for something unique, try catching the bat outflight at Bat Cave along the El Calderon Trail during summer. Hundreds of Brazilian free-tailed bats burst out of a lava tube at sunset.
Ranger-led programs run from Memorial Day through Labor Day, but you can also go alone.
And when the sun goes down, don’t rush back to camp. El Malpais has some of the darkest skies in New Mexico.
Great Basin National Park, Nevada
Tucked into eastern Nevada, the Great Basin National Park might be one of the best-kept secrets in the national park system. You can hike to a glacier, explore ancient bristlecone pines, or tour Lehman Caves. It’s cool (literally), even in summer, and the stargazing here is unreal, thanks to almost zero light pollution.
Great Basin has some of the darkest skies in the country, and on a clear night, the Milky Way stretches from one side of the horizon to the other.
This rugged park is home to the southernmost glacier in the U.S. and possibly some of the oldest living organisms on Earth — the bristlecone pines, which can live over 4,000 years.
Underground, you can tour Lehman Caves — a marble cave full of strange and beautiful formations. Ranger-led tours are the only way in, and they’re worth it.
Valley of the Gods, Utah
Monument Valley is famous for its massive sandstone buttes and dramatic desert scenery, which you’ve likely seen in old westerns or car commercials. However, Valley of the Gods has the same towering red rock buttes and mesas sculpted by wind and time.
It’s remote, peaceful, and completely off-grid — no services, water, or cell signal in most places. Pack it in, pack it out. This road can get sketchy when wet, so check the weather before committing.
It’s a 17-mile dirt road loop with incredible red rock formations, and you can camp with million-dollar views. The drive is a highlight, with sandstone formations around every bend and plenty of spots to pull over and soak it in.
Camping is free and dispersed, so you can pick a spot and set up right in the red rocks of the Valley of the Gods. At night, it’s just you, the stars, and maybe a coyote howling in the distance.
There are no marked trails, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to explore. Short walks from your campsite can take you closer to the towering formations. And if you’re looking for a bit more elevation and a stunning overlook, drive up the nearby Moki Dugway. This road is a steep, narrow, switchback dirt road that climbs the cliffs above the valley.
You will see gorgeous sunrises and sunset light, and the colors on the rocks glow pink, orange, and purple. Valley of the Gods is one of those places to visit in the Southwest that feels truly untouched — a quiet, wild landscape you can still experience on your own terms.
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is along the Arizona-Mexico border in one of the most remote and untouched corners of the Sonoran Desert. The rare organ pipe cactus gives the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument its name, growing tall with many arms that reach skyward like nature’s version of a cathedral pipe organ. The area is the only place in the U.S. where they grow in abundance, and seeing them scattered across the desert is something you don’t forget.
The park is vast, rugged, and quiet. You’ll drive for miles through cactus-covered valleys with jagged mountains in the distance. Wildlife sightings are common — javelinas, desert foxes, and hawks are out here doing their thing, mostly undisturbed. And if you’re lucky enough to visit in spring, the wildflower bloom turns the desert floor into a sea of color.
There are two scenic drives: Ajo Mountain Drive, a 21-mile loop with towering views, and Puerto Blanco Drive, which covers even more remote terrain. Both have trailheads along the way for short hikes or photo stops. Arch Canyon Trail is a favorite — short, scenic, and with a big payoff at the end.
Before you head out, stop by the Kris Eggle Visitor Center for trail maps, road conditions, and water fill-ups. It’s a remote park, and summer temps are no joke, and hydration and shade are non-negotiable.
And when the sun goes down? You’re in one of the darkest places in the country. The sky turns deep black, and the stars go full galaxy mode.
Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
Great Sand Dunes is home to the tallest dune field in North America, and standing at their base is a lot more dramatic than you’d expect. Towering sand hills rise against the backdrop of 14,000-foot peaks in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
If you’re there in late spring, Medano Creek creates a small beach at the base of the dunes. It’s shallow, cold, and a total blast, especially if you’ve got kids or dogs.
Beyond the dunes, the park is bigger than it looks. The surrounding mountains have forested trails, alpine lakes, and rugged backcountry routes. If you’re up for a 4WD challenge, Medano Pass Primitive Road winds through sand, streams, and steep mountain terrain, offering access to remote campsites and hidden corners of the park.
And don’t leave when the sun goes down because the skies here are incredibly dark. The stars spill out of the mountains and across the dunes on a clear night. Whether you’re sitting around a campfire or lying in the sand, stargazing here is something you’ll remember.
These Hidden Places to Visit in the Southwest Are Worth the Trip
If you’re planning a Southwest road trip and want something quieter than the usual bucket list stops, these five places to visit in the Southwest offer a different kind of experience. Chase stars in Great Basin, hike lava fields in El Malpais, and camp beneath red rock towers in Valley of the Gods — the Southwest offers hidden gems you’ll want to explore.
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