This expansive mosaic of semi-desert area, cut by ribbons of valuable riparian forest, offers one of the most significant systems of prehistoric sites in the American Southwest. In addition to the rich record of human history, the monument contains outstanding biological resources.

Canyon De Chelly National Monument offers scenic drives with dramatic overlooks and Southwestern history with 1500 year old Anasazi ruins.

Casa Grande, or "Big House," is one of the largest and most mysterious prehistoric structures ever built in North America. Casa Grande Ruins, the nation's first archeological preserve, protects the Casa Grande and other archeological sites within its boundaries.

Chiricahua National Monument features a vast landscape of spires and unusual rock formations that is is popular for hikers and birders. This is one of the premier areas for biological diversity in the northern hemisphere.

Coronado National Memorial commemorates the first major European exploration of the American Southwest. The Memorial lies on the United States-Mexico border within sight of the San Pedro River Valley, through which the Coronado Expedition first entered the present United States.

This special natural area designated by Congress encompasses a 15-mile segment of Bonita Creek and 23 miles of the Gila River. It is one of only two Riparian National Conservation Areas in the United States.

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area encompasses Lake Powell -- a vast body of deep blue water contained within orange-red cliff walls. It offers excellent opportunities for fishing, and in summer when water temperatures climb to a comfortable 70-80 degrees, swimming and water skiing. It is extremely popular with houseboaters.

The Grand Canyon is an awesome place. Its overwhelming size and its intricate and colorful landscape make it without question one of the seven marvels of the natural world.

This remote area offers the hearty, outdoor adventurer miles of unpaved and often extremely rough roads. Visitors will enjoy viewing the unique combination of desert flora and deep canyons with exposed rock formations. Vegetation ranges from Mohave Desert sagebrush to ponderosa pine forest.

Possessing one of the richest stands of Ironwood trees in the Sonoran Desert, the monument encompasses several desert mountain ranges including the Silver Bell, Waterman and Sawtooth, with desert valleys in between.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area has 1.5 million acres on the banks of the Colorado River, Lake Mead and Lake Mohave.

Nestled into a limestone recess high above the flood plain of Beaver Creek in the Verde Valley stands "Montezuma Castle," one of the best preserved cliff dwellings in North America.

Monument Valley is an area of exceptional free standing red rock monoliths that rise up to 1,000 above the desert floor. The landscape they create is truly majestic, a fact documented by the numerous Westerns that have used it as a backdrop.

Navajo National Monument preserves three of the most-intact cliff dwellings of the Anasazi. The monument is high on the Shonto Plateau, overlooking the Tsegi Canyon system in the Navajo Nation in Northern Arizona.

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is a showcase for the Sonoran Desert, exhibiting an extraordinary collection of plants, including the organ pipe cactus. The park is not heavily visited so you'll be likely to experience a fair amount of solitude here.

This is a wilderness area of 112,500 acres, thousands of acres of both red rock and garden.

Petrified Forest National Park is a nice day trip for those traveling I-40 in northeastern Arizona. It features the world's largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood as well as the multi-colored badlands of the Painted Desert.

Pipe Spring National Monument, a little known part of the National Park System, is rich with American Indian, early explorer and Mormon pioneer history.

By its wondrous size, to say nothing of its majesty and mystery, Rainbow Bridge has inspired humans throughout time. Rainbow Bridge is the world's largest natural bridge. The easiest way to get to Rainbow Bridge is by boat on Lake Powell.

Ramsey Canyon is a canyon of contrasts. Its deep cleft lies between Mexico's Sierra Madre, the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts and the Rocky Mountains - and Ramsey Canyon has aspects of all of them. Plants and animals of all types live in the canyon . . . most notably 130 species of birds.

The world's most recognizable cacti, the giant Saguaro Cactus are showcased at Saguaro National Park. You can enjoy these icons of the desert on a leisurely scenic drive or short hike.

The Sonoran Desert is the most biologically diverse of the North American deserts, and the monument captures a significant portion of that diversity. The most striking aspect of the plant community within the monument is the extensive saguaro cactus forest.

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument protects 3040 acres representing the Colorado Plateau's most recent volcanic eruption. A cinder cone rising 1,000 feet above the surrounding landscape is the main focal point.

Tonto National Monument features well-preserved cliff dwellings that were occupied by the Salado culture during the 13th, 14th, and early 15th centuries.

Tuzigoot is an ancient village or pueblo built by a culture known as the Sinagua. The pueblo consisted of 110 rooms including second and third story structures. The first buildings were built around A.D. 1000.

Visitors will enjoy scenic views of towering cliffs and deep canyons. Paria Canyon offers an outstanding five day wilderness backpacking experience. There are also opportunities to view wildlife, including big horn sheep and California Condors.

Walnut Canyon is a very attractive park featuring a series of single-story cliff dwellings built high on a canyon wall. The dwellings were built and occupied by the Sinagua peoples from about 1100 to 1250 AD.

Wupatki National Monument features well preserved multistory masonry pueblos amidst a painted desert landscape.