Author Roger Naylor shares top 10 must-visit spots in Arizona

Roger Naylor moved to Arizona 50 years ago from Ohio to go to NAU. Now, to celebrate his milestone, he wrote about his top 10 favorite places in Arizona. Some of his favorite places include Dead Horse Ranch State Park, Castle Dome Mine Museum and Wildflower at Picacho Peak State Park.

Award-winning Arizona author Roger Naylor joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss his books, share photos, go in-depth about his top five favorite places to visit in Arizona.

In 1975, Naylor moved from his hometown in Cincinnati, Ohio to Flagstaff, Arizona, which is home to Northern Arizona University. After a year of school, Naylor dropped out and started “rambling around” the Grand Canyon State, eager to fuel his aspirations as a writer.

August 24, 2025 marked 50 years since his initial move to Arizona. To commemorate the occasion, Naylor wrote a special article for The Arizona Republic where he listed his top 10 must-visit spots in Arizona!

During this Arizona Horizon segment, the author describes his top 5 picks. From describing the wildflowers of Picacho Peak State Park, to the Castle Dome Museum in Yuma, one thing that all of these places have in common is the breathtaking sights and atmospheres.

Naylor’s number one spot goes to Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Cottonwood, Arizona. For the past 30 years, Naylor and his wife have lived in Cottonwood. He regularly hikes the trails and takes in the shady lagoons.

He says that no matter what part of Arizona one could be, there is always a sight to see that can be special to you.

“We can all reconnect to nature, we can all get back really quickly, and that’s a gift and that’s one of the reasons why I love Arizona,” says Naylor.

To learn more about the spots Naylor recommends, visit his website, rogernaylor.com.