The Northern Region includes the counties of Coconino, Navajo, Apache, and Yavapai. The region has great geographic diversity including mesa, forest, canyon, and desert. The best-known attraction of the region is the Grand Canyon, a mile-deep canyon carved by the Colorado River. In the most northern part of the region, visitors and residents enjoy rafting on the Colorado River and water sports on Lake Powell. Many Indian tribes are located in the region, including the Hualapai and Havasupai Tribes along the river. About half of the region belongs to the Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe. In the northeastern part of the region—a dry, colorful plateau—attractions include the Four Corners, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Monument Valley, the Petrified Forest, and the Painted Desert. Further south, the cooler climates of the high forests on the Colorado Plateau attract outdoor enthusiasts for hiking, fishing, and skiing activities. The area just south of the Mogollon Rim—the rugged escarpment at the edge of the Colorado Plateau—belongs to the White Mountain Apache Tribe.

Some of the cities in the region are Flagstaff, Prescott, Winslow, and Sedona. Northern Arizona University, one of the three state universities, is located in Flagstaff. This is the largest region of Arizona, encompassing about 42% of the state’s area. About 477,400 people (9% of the population) live in this region. Ranching is important to the region’s economy, as well as coal mining, manufacturing, and timber production.