Arizona is easily a dangerous place. Stop paying attention for a few minutes or go somewhere without a plan and you can quickly find yourself in trouble! Today we’re going to take a look at some of the most dangerous places in Arizona where you should practice constant vigilance. Let’s start with some broad places before getting into specific spots.

  1. Nearly any hiking trail in Arizona in summer

K e v i n/Flickr Extreme temperatures combined with intense sunlight and not enough hydration quickly spells out disaster. If you want to go hiking, be sure to hydrate before, during, and after your excursion; get an early start on your hike; and, perhaps most importantly, let others know about your planned trip so that if you do encounter trouble, at least someone knows where to find you.

  1. Mountain lion country.

Photo Kent/Flickr Bears are pretty scary but if there’s any predatory Arizona animal that gives me the heebie jeebies, its mountain lions. You know how your little house kitty has a tendency to quietly stalk and ambush you from behind? Mountain lions do the same thing to prey animals, except with much more deadly consequences. It’s rare but they have been known to attack humans as well. While out in mountain lion country (which is, frankly, most of Arizona), keep these tips in mind.

  1. Slot canyons.

James Marvin Phelps/Flickr These beautiful areas were carved with flowing water… and that is exactly what makes these areas dangerous. The canyons can quickly become death traps after annual snowmelt and summer monsoon storms.

  1. Bright Angel Trail

Grand Canyon National Park/Flickr This impressive trail in the Grand Canyon is also one of the most notorious trails in the state for both its beautiful views and potentially dangerous environment. People tend to encounter difficulties when they attempt to hike the entire trail in one day or don’t carry enough water. Read more on what makes this the most dangerous trail in Arizona. Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon Village, AZ, USA

  1. Echo Canyon Trail

Alan English CPA/Flickr Over the years, Echo Canyon trail has gained a reputation as being more challenging than most people expect. Many times, this comes from inexperienced hikers or out-of-staters who don’t pay attention to their surroundings, getting injured, or not being properly hydrated. Read more on the Echo Canyon Trail in this article. Echo Canyon Trail, Grand Junction, CO 81507, USA

  1. The Superstition Mountains

Scott Taylor/Flickr The rugged terrain in the Superstition Mountains holds not only the alluring fable of hidden treasures but also plenty of opportunities to encounter trouble. In the last 15 or more years, there have been quite a few people who required rescue teams, and tragically, many died while trying to hike the mountains. Superstition Mountains, Arizona 85119, USA

  1. Flood areas, especially flash flood zones.

Erin/Flickr Dips in the road and crossings through rivers and washes create dangerous situations when water from rainstorms flows through. Don’t attempt driving through these areas! Turn around; don’t drown.

  1. Apache Trail

Alan English CPA/Flickr This well-known stretch of road can seem pretty scary, especially for people who are not used to traveling these kinds of roads. It has improved over the years but some parts of the Apache Trail are still dirt, lanes are thin in other areas, and you can’t always count on an effective guard rail to protect you from the edge. It’s a beautiful ride, but be careful if you do travel this road! Apache Trail, Arizona, USA

  1. Sitgreaves Pass

Gallopingphotog/Flickr Another stretch of highway with winding, scenic roads, this is a part of the old Route 66 that had plenty of travelers driving with white knuckles. Hairpin turns, narrow lanes, and questionable road conditions in some areas. Keep your eyes open when driving Sitgreaves Pass, which is considered to be one of the most dangerous roads in Arizona. Sitgreaves Pass, Arizona 86413, USA

  1. I-10 Highway

Google Maps One of the dangerous roads in the country, the 1-10 Highway in Arizona claims 85+ deaths each year.

What are some other dangerous spots you know of here in Arizona? Tell us about them in the comments!

K e v i n/Flickr

Extreme temperatures combined with intense sunlight and not enough hydration quickly spells out disaster. If you want to go hiking, be sure to hydrate before, during, and after your excursion; get an early start on your hike; and, perhaps most importantly, let others know about your planned trip so that if you do encounter trouble, at least someone knows where to find you.

Photo Kent/Flickr

Bears are pretty scary but if there’s any predatory Arizona animal that gives me the heebie jeebies, its mountain lions. You know how your little house kitty has a tendency to quietly stalk and ambush you from behind? Mountain lions do the same thing to prey animals, except with much more deadly consequences. It’s rare but they have been known to attack humans as well. While out in mountain lion country (which is, frankly, most of Arizona), keep these tips in mind.

James Marvin Phelps/Flickr

These beautiful areas were carved with flowing water… and that is exactly what makes these areas dangerous. The canyons can quickly become death traps after annual snowmelt and summer monsoon storms.

Grand Canyon National Park/Flickr

This impressive trail in the Grand Canyon is also one of the most notorious trails in the state for both its beautiful views and potentially dangerous environment. People tend to encounter difficulties when they attempt to hike the entire trail in one day or don’t carry enough water. Read more on what makes this the most dangerous trail in Arizona.

Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon Village, AZ, USA

Alan English CPA/Flickr

Over the years, Echo Canyon trail has gained a reputation as being more challenging than most people expect. Many times, this comes from inexperienced hikers or out-of-staters who don’t pay attention to their surroundings, getting injured, or not being properly hydrated. Read more on the Echo Canyon Trail in this article.

Echo Canyon Trail, Grand Junction, CO 81507, USA

Scott Taylor/Flickr

The rugged terrain in the Superstition Mountains holds not only the alluring fable of hidden treasures but also plenty of opportunities to encounter trouble. In the last 15 or more years, there have been quite a few people who required rescue teams, and tragically, many died while trying to hike the mountains.

Superstition Mountains, Arizona 85119, USA

Erin/Flickr

Dips in the road and crossings through rivers and washes create dangerous situations when water from rainstorms flows through. Don’t attempt driving through these areas! Turn around; don’t drown.

This well-known stretch of road can seem pretty scary, especially for people who are not used to traveling these kinds of roads. It has improved over the years but some parts of the Apache Trail are still dirt, lanes are thin in other areas, and you can’t always count on an effective guard rail to protect you from the edge. It’s a beautiful ride, but be careful if you do travel this road!

Apache Trail, Arizona, USA

Gallopingphotog/Flickr

Another stretch of highway with winding, scenic roads, this is a part of the old Route 66 that had plenty of travelers driving with white knuckles. Hairpin turns, narrow lanes, and questionable road conditions in some areas. Keep your eyes open when driving Sitgreaves Pass, which is considered to be one of the most dangerous roads in Arizona.

Sitgreaves Pass, Arizona 86413, USA

Google Maps

One of the dangerous roads in the country, the 1-10 Highway in Arizona claims 85+ deaths each year.

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The OIYS Visitor Center

Most Dangerous Places in Arizona December 17, 2021 Tori Jane What are some dangerous places to avoid in Arizona?   Arizona isn’t a dangerous place, per se, though of course wherever there are towns there are less-than-savory people, and the Copper State has some towns that are relatively unsafe when compared to others. There are also natural dangers throughout the southwest that certainly require attention; for example, the extreme heat during the summers makes most of the hiking trails in Phoenix and the surrounding areas some of the most dangerous places in the entire state, given the time of year, of course. Mountain ranges and lots of outdoors enthusiasts mean that injuries outside are common, especially in places where there may be climbing and inclines (or deaths) like the Grand Canyon. There are also some critters around the deserts and wilds of the state that can and do kill people every year; it’s unsafe to wander around in the deserts without proper safety procedures, as there are plenty of animals out there that will harm you without a thought. Arizona isn’t an unsafe place, as long as you know what (and where) to stay away from.   What are the least dangerous towns in Arizona?   For every town that one might consider “dangerous”, there are plenty more that are quite the opposite. Some of our favorite safe cities in Arizona include places like Florence, which is super tiny but very peaceful, and Oro Valley, which is nearby Tucson and boasts some of the safest streets in the state. Other remarkably safe cities and towns in Arizona include Prescott Valley, which is a stunning mountain town, and San Luis. There’s also Lake Havasu City, which made the list, as well as Somerton. For the most up-to-date list of Arizona’s safest cities and towns, check this article out. We do our best to keep these lists updated, so make sure to keep checking back and see how the list changes! 

The OIYS Visitor Center

Most Dangerous Places in Arizona

December 17, 2021

Tori Jane

What are some dangerous places to avoid in Arizona?   Arizona isn’t a dangerous place, per se, though of course wherever there are towns there are less-than-savory people, and the Copper State has some towns that are relatively unsafe when compared to others. There are also natural dangers throughout the southwest that certainly require attention; for example, the extreme heat during the summers makes most of the hiking trails in Phoenix and the surrounding areas some of the most dangerous places in the entire state, given the time of year, of course. Mountain ranges and lots of outdoors enthusiasts mean that injuries outside are common, especially in places where there may be climbing and inclines (or deaths) like the Grand Canyon. There are also some critters around the deserts and wilds of the state that can and do kill people every year; it’s unsafe to wander around in the deserts without proper safety procedures, as there are plenty of animals out there that will harm you without a thought. Arizona isn’t an unsafe place, as long as you know what (and where) to stay away from.   What are the least dangerous towns in Arizona?   For every town that one might consider “dangerous”, there are plenty more that are quite the opposite. Some of our favorite safe cities in Arizona include places like Florence, which is super tiny but very peaceful, and Oro Valley, which is nearby Tucson and boasts some of the safest streets in the state. Other remarkably safe cities and towns in Arizona include Prescott Valley, which is a stunning mountain town, and San Luis. There’s also Lake Havasu City, which made the list, as well as Somerton. For the most up-to-date list of Arizona’s safest cities and towns, check this article out. We do our best to keep these lists updated, so make sure to keep checking back and see how the list changes! 

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

Arizona isn’t a dangerous place, per se, though of course wherever there are towns there are less-than-savory people, and the Copper State has some towns that are relatively unsafe when compared to others. There are also natural dangers throughout the southwest that certainly require attention; for example, the extreme heat during the summers makes most of the hiking trails in Phoenix and the surrounding areas some of the most dangerous places in the entire state, given the time of year, of course. Mountain ranges and lots of outdoors enthusiasts mean that injuries outside are common, especially in places where there may be climbing and inclines (or deaths) like the Grand Canyon. There are also some critters around the deserts and wilds of the state that can and do kill people every year; it’s unsafe to wander around in the deserts without proper safety procedures, as there are plenty of animals out there that will harm you without a thought. Arizona isn’t an unsafe place, as long as you know what (and where) to stay away from.  

What are the least dangerous towns in Arizona?  

For every town that one might consider “dangerous”, there are plenty more that are quite the opposite. Some of our favorite safe cities in Arizona include places like Florence, which is super tiny but very peaceful, and Oro Valley, which is nearby Tucson and boasts some of the safest streets in the state. Other remarkably safe cities and towns in Arizona include Prescott Valley, which is a stunning mountain town, and San Luis. There’s also Lake Havasu City, which made the list, as well as Somerton. For the most up-to-date list of Arizona’s safest cities and towns, check this article out. We do our best to keep these lists updated, so make sure to keep checking back and see how the list changes!