Known for its colorful swirls of slickrock, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument is a sherbet-colored dream world filled with fantastical rock formations like The Wave, White Pockets, and Buckskin Gulch.

Did you know that Petrified Forest is perfect for exploration and discovery? While the park has all the wonders known for a century, there are many new adventures and discoveries to share. There are backcountry hikes into areas never open before such as Red Basin. There are new exhibits that bring the stories to life. Come rediscover Petrified Forest!

The Coconino National Forest is one of the most diverse National Forests in the country with landscapes ranging from the famous red rocks of Sedona to Ponderosa pine forests, from southwestern desert to alpine tundra. Explore mountains and canyons, fish in small lakes, and wade in lazy creeks and streams.

Portions of the Prescott National Forest today are much the same as they were when in 1863 Sam Miller panned for gold in Lynx Creek and was wounded by a cougar, or when General Crook’s flag fluttered over Palace Station. At the lowest elevation, the primary vegetation is of the Sonoran Desert type. As the elevation rises, chaparral becomes common, followed by piñon pine and juniper. Above that, Ponderosa pine dominates the landscape.

At over 2.9 million acres, the Tonto National Forest is the largest national forest in Arizona and the seventh-largest national forest among 154 USDA National Forests. The Tonto features some of the most rugged and inherently beautiful lands in the country. Sonoran Desert cacti and flatlands slowly give way to the highlands of the Mogollon Rim. This variety in vegetation and range in altitude — from 1,300 to 7,900 feet — offers outstanding recreational opportunities throughout the year, whether it’s lake beaches or cool pine forest.

Icon of the South-West, Tucson, Arizona is home to the nation’s largest cacti. The giant saguaro is the universal symbol of the American West. These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are protected by Saguaro National Park, to the east and west of the modern city of Tucson. Here you have a chance to see these enormous cacti, silhouetted by the beauty of a magnificent desert sunset.

Life abounds in the Sonoran Desert. Look closely. Look again. The sights and sounds of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, an International Biosphere Reserve, reveal a thriving community of plants and animals. Human stories echo throughout this desert preserve, chronicling thousands of years of desert living. A scenic drive, wilderness hike, or a night of camping will expose you to a living desert that thrives.

Of the 666,640 acres within Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, 547,719 acres are designated wilderness, making it the second-largest wilderness area in Arizona. The important designation helps ensure this amazing desert landscape is protected for future generations. 

The Hualapai Mountains, are a mountain range in Mohave County. “Hualapai” means “People of the Tall Pines” in the local Hualapai language. Hualapai Mountain Park is a county park and was first developed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The name Hualapai is derived from the name of the Indian tribe that once lived here. The park encompasses over 2,300 acres (9.3 km²) with elevations ranging from 4,984 feet (1,519 m) to 8417.