Old West, Arizona
United States
From desert cattle ranches to mile-high mountain towns, this Sonoran Desert drive climbs from the cowboy capital of Wickenburg through a former copper boomtown hanging on a cliff to the red-rock vortexes of Sedona and Flagstaff's ponderosa pines.
Explore on the interactive map →Stops along the route
- Wickenburg
The dude ranch capital of America, a genuine cattle town with 1870s storefronts and the Vulture Gold Mine where Henry Wickenburg struck gold in 1863.
- Prescott
Arizona's first territorial capital at a mile high. Whiskey Row on Montezuma Street keeps its 1900s saloon facades; the Sharlot Hall Museum tells the rest.
- Jerome
A ghost town on a 30-degree slope, once Arizona's 4th largest city. Now 450 artists inhabit 1900s copper-boom brick ruins above the Verde Valley.
- Cottonwood
A Verde Valley wine town with Arizona Stronghold and Page Springs wineries nearby. Old Town's main street runs on craft beer and farm-to-table cooking.
- Sedona
Red sandstone buttes and mesas surround this resort town. Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, and Oak Creek Canyon are all minutes from downtown.
- Flagstaff
A Route 66 mountain city at 2,100 m in the world's largest ponderosa pine forest. Lowell Observatory discovered Pluto here; the Grand Canyon is 90 minutes south.
Where to Eat
- Pizzeria BocceNeapolitan-style Pizza
Offers wood-fired pizzas with thin, charred crusts in a casual setting with a scenic main-street backdrop.
- The Asylum RestaurantAmerican
Located in the historic Jerome Grand Hotel, serving gourmet American dishes with panoramic views of the Verde Valley.
- Elote CaféMexican
Renowned for its modern Mexican cuisine and signature elote appetizer, set against the stunning red rocks of Sedona.
Things to Do
- Jerome State Historic Park & Douglas MansionMuseum
Explore exhibits on Jerome's mining history within the historic Douglas Mansion, offering panoramic views of the Verde Valley.
- The Sliding JailHistoric Site
Visit this quirky jail that slid 225 feet from its original location due to unstable ground, a testament to Jerome's mining past.
- Cathedral Rock TrailHike
A popular trail in Sedona offering a steep climb to stunning views of the iconic red rock formations.