Sometimes, it really is the destination that inspires wistful dreaming, not the journey. That’s especially true at these six Arizona hotel properties, where dazzling vistas, unique amenities and want-for-nothing hospitality combine to create coveted experiences worthy of any traveler’s bucket list.
Backland Luxury Nature Resort
Nestled on 160 acres surrounded by Kaibab National Forest, Backland Luxury Nature Resort manages to walk the line between outdoor adventure and indoor coziness. Guests stay in nature suites, which look like tents but feel like chic lofts. Inside, there are full bathrooms, electricity, house keeping and luxury linens, along with 16-foot skylights or panoramic windows, depending on the unit. Insulation provides sound dampening for privacy and comfort, and family-friendly accommodations are also available. Backland even offers complimentary breakfast and seasonal cuisine at its on-site restaurant.
For those in search of expeditions in nature, Backland doesn’t disappoint. There’s birdwatching, walking trails and a pond with a beach. And there’s frisbee golf, volleyball, s’mores over the bonfire and stargazing, either with the naked eye or via the property’s telescope. Backland has dedicated 95 percent of its territory as open space, too — to ensure that starry night sky remains pristine for future generations.
Castle Hot Springs
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Experiencing the great outdoors doesn’t have to be synonymous with roughing it. As Arizona’s first wellness retreat, Castle Hot Springs proves nature has a softer side.
Set on 1,100 acres just 50 miles north of Phoenix, the adults-only resort was built in the late 19th century around the mineral-rich hot springs that gush out of the Bradshaw Mountains. Guests can follow the three-pool circuit, or alternate between warm soaks and cold plunges, or simply dip in and out as they desire. But the springs are just the first of many options. Most activities, like guided hiking, archery, axe throwing and paddleboard yoga, are all included in your stay, while horseback riding and spa treatments are available for a fee. Also included: farm-to-table cuisine, courtesy of the property’s three-acre farm.
The 31 accommodations seamlessly blend history with modernity in a way that lets you imagine yourself as a 1920s aristocrat tucking into a multi-course dinner or a turn-of-the-century explorer scaling a nearby rockface. How you experience Castle Hot Springs, in other words, can be as wild or as serene as you like.
Highland Grand Canyon
Arriving at Highland Grand Canyon feels a little bit like pioneering. There are five safari tents spread out over 10 private acres where guests are treated to a tableau only nature can provide. Owls, elk and birds form a veritable symphony, and the Grand Canyon’s South Rim — just four miles away — dominates one’s consciousness while the star-studdedsky puts city lights to shame.
All this isintentional say owners Fabienne and Bass Swann. “We wanted people to have space to breathe, to feel surrounded by nature but still cared for,” Fabienne explains.
The couple developed the property on land that had been in Fabienne’s family for nearly half acentury. This personal connection explains why the couple was meticulous about conservation. They chose the safari tents because those were the same type that pioneers once used, and they selected meaningful luxuries like Nectar mattresses, heated mattress pads, down duvets and plush pillows to soften theedges of a wilderness experience.
The Swanns recommend stays of two or three nights to truly slow down and appreciate the surrounding beauty, whether that’s through stargazing, hiking or taking in the charms of nearby businesses.
And, of course, there’s always the Grand Canyon. “We recommend catching a sunrise or sunset at the Canyon,” Fabienne says. “I am partial to sunrises because there is something so special about watching the first bits of light touch the canyon walls.”
Marble Canyon Lodge
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Marble Canyon Lodge has come a long way from its days as a roadhouse and trading post when it opened in 1926. Today, all 53 guest rooms, eight ranch cottages and dining and retail outlets boast functional layouts and modern, Southwestern-inspired design following a two-year renovation.
The glow-up came courtesy of the Lodge’s new owners, Terra Vi, whose goal is for the property to make the gems of Grand Canyon’s North Rim more accessible to those who love the outdoors but don’t necessarily need to become one with them. The lodge resides along the Colorado River minutes from Lees Ferry and within walking distance of Navajo Bridge.
As a result, guests have their pick of “curated adventures” through local outfitters and Navajo partners, or they can craft their own adventure from a suite of options like fly fishing, kayaking and hiking. For those who can’t decide, Terra Vi Adventure Scouts remain on standby to help chart a course customized to you.
Shash Diné Eco-Retreat
Located 12 miles south of Page on the Navajo reservation, Shash Diné Eco-Retreat is where sheep graze, petroglyphs whisper of ancient civilizations and mesas kiss the sky. It is where views of Lake Powell and Vermilion Cliffs invite you to morph imagination into reality. And it is where Baya Meehan’s ancestors have lived for generations.
Today, Baya and herhusband, Paul, invite visitors to “glamp” on the property for a singular perspective on Northern Arizona. Canvas tents, two restored sheep herder wagonsand two traditional hogans are available, as is a new “kyoob,” which is a modern, well-appointed cabin.
Whichever abode visitors choose at this Navajo-owned and-operated destination, it is merely a launch pad for a variety of experiences. Guests can take an easy, five-minute hike for 360-degree views of Navajo Mountain, Lake Powell and Echo Peaks, for example. They can visit nearby attractions like Horseshoe Bend, Lake Powell and Antelope Canyon. Or they can reserve the Navajo Experience, which includes a traditional dinner of lamb and vegetables, Navajo storytelling and an early morning photo tour above Marble Canyon during a two-night stay.
Tucson Mountain Guest Ranch
Desert immersion awaits at the historic Tucson Mountain Guest Ranch neighboring Saguaro National Park. Designed and constructed in the late 1930s by Margaret Fulton Spencer — one of the first female architects in the United States — the ranch was originally named Rancho de Las Lomas, sprawled among 190 acres and, during the 1940s, played host to famous guests such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Clark Gable and Eleanor Roosevelt.
Today, the guest ranch sits on 90 acres of untouched desert amid a forest of saguaros; for accommodations, visitors can choose from stone cottages, adobe casitas andwooden cabins, each more charming than the last and all stacked with desert views.
Header image credit: Backland Luxury Nature Resort.
Elizabeth Exline
Elizabeth Exline is a freelance writer and editor whose work has appeared in local and national publications. She believes frequent stops for food is the best way to survive a road trip. Find more of her work at elizabethexline.com.
