OVERVIEW OF THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST
Welcome to the Bigroads overview of the American Southwest!
Buttes, mesas, domes, hoodoos, & spires…pictographs, petroglyphs, kivas, cliff dwellings & ancient ruins...slot canyons, balanced rocks, sand dunes, natural bridges & arches. The American Southwest is a place of deep history and immeasurable beauty. Its historical sites and scenery lure millions of visitors each year from all over the world.
But where should YOU go in the Southwest? There are a lot of attractions to choose from, so we have constructed this web-page to help introduce you to the most significant wonders of this magnificent region.
While Arizona, Utah and New Mexico are most commonly associated with the American Southwest, portions of Colorado, Nevada and California are also generally considered to be a part of this region.
The map we designed below highlights the major areas and attractions of the American Southwest.
NATIONAL PARKS OF THE SOUTHWEST
There is a lifetime of nature parks to explore in the American Southwest. If you haven't been to this region before, your first visit should focus on some of the its officially-designated national parks. There are fifty-nine national parks in the United States, and the Southwest can proudly lay claim to sixteen of them. Each of these national parks is cherished the world over, so you should try to squeeze a few of them into your travel plans whenever you are in the region:
- ARIZONA
- CALIFORNIA
- COLORADO
- NEW MEXICO
- NEVADA
- TEXAS
- UTAH
NATIONAL MONUMENTS & RECREATION AREAS OF THE SOUTHWEST
The national parks aren't the only attractions worth visiting in the Southwest. There are also many excellent national monuments, national recreation areas, and a national preserve. Here are our selections for the best of these types of parks in the Southwest. All of these parks are unique and worthy of consideration for your trip itinerary.
- ARIZONA
- Canyon de Chelly National Monument - Native American ruins/sites, beautiful canyon scenery and scenic overlooks
- Chiricahua National Monument - unique rock formations, hoodoos, balanced rocks
- Glen Canyon National Recreation Area - boating, kayaking, houseboat rentals, sculpted canyons, scenic views
- Lake Mead National Recreation Area - water-based activities, dam tours
- Montezuma Castle National Monument - impressive cliff dwellings
- Navajo National Monument - Native American ruins/sites
- Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument - organ pipe cactus, desert scenery, scenic driving
- Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument - volcanic scenery
- Tonto National Monument - Native American ruins/sites
- Walnut Canyon National Monument - Native American ruins/sites
- Wupatki National Monument - Native American ruins/sites
- CALIFORNIA
- COLORADO
- NEVADA
- NEW MEXICO
- Aztec Ruins National Monument - Native American ruins/sites
- Bandelier National Monument - Native American ruins/sites, petroglyphs, waterfalls
- Capulin Volcano National Monument - volcanic scenery
- El Malpais National Monument - volcanic scenery, lava tubes
- El Morro National Monument - historic inscriptions & petroglyphs, ancient ruins, scenic views
- Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument - Native American ruins/sites
- Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument - unique rock formations, a slot canyon, scenic views
- Petroglyph National Monument - volcanic scenery, petroglyphs
- White Sands National Monument - white gypsum dunes, picnicking, sand-boarding
- UTAH
STATE PARKS OF THE SOUTHWEST
In addition to the federally-managed parks, the Southwest also offers many outstanding state parks. Some of these state parks could easily qualify to be a national monument or national park, assuming the state was actually willing to relinquish control over their beloved parks. The parks listed below represent our favorite state parks in the Southwest.
- ARIZONA
- CALIFORNIA
- NEVADA
- NEW MEXICO
- TEXAS
- UTAH
FAVORITE TOWNS & CITIES IN THE SOUTHWEST
There any many great small towns and cities scattered throughout the Southwest that can serve as a base camp for your travels and adventures. These towns and cities all offer excellent accommodations, great food, and access to stand-out attractions nearby. The list below represents our selections for the best towns and cities in the Southwest:
- ARIZONA
- Bisbee
- Flagstaff
- Page
- Phoenix
- Prescott
- Scottsdale
- Sedona
- Tucson
- Williams
- CALIFORNIA
- Borrego Springs
- Julien
- Palm Springs
- COLORADO
- NEVADA
- NEW MEXICO
- Albuquerque
- Santa Fe
- Taos
- TEXAS
- UTAH
- Kanab
- Moab
- Springdale
- St. George
- Torrey
FLYING INTO THE SOUTHWEST
To reach the Southwest, most people will opt to fly into the major international airports of Las Vegas or Phoenix since flight prices are often very reasonable and have convenient arrival and departure times. However, cities like Albuquerque, Denver, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, and San Diego can also be used, and they sometimes offer better times and/or rates. When flying into a city, consider the cost of renting a vehicle, including any "drop fees" if you plan on picking up a rental vehicle in one location and dropping it off in another.
When we travel to the Southwest, we prefer to fly into Phoenix and out of Las Vegas (or vice versa). This allows us to explore a large chunk of northern Arizona and southern Utah in one trip without the need to backtrack all the way back to the same airport. Again, though, watch out for "drop fees" on rental vehicles if you pick-up and drop-off in different locations.
BEST CAVE TOURS IN THE SOUTHWEST
The Southwest isn't particularly famous for its caves, but some of the most fascinating caves in the United States are indeed found here. All of the caves listed here offer guided cave tours. Carlsbad Caverns National Park also has two cave routes that you can explore without a guide. If you would like to take a guided cave tour, make advance reservations well in advance since these tours are very popular:
- ARIZONA
- Grand Canyon Caverns
- Kartchner Caverns State Park
- Colossal Cave
- NEVADA
- Lehman Caves, Great Basin National Park
- NEW MEXICO
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park
- TEXAS
WATERFALLS & SWIMMING HOLES OF THE SOUTHWEST
Don’t assume that because much of the Southwest is desert that there isn’t much water. There is plenty of water, but you do have to know where to look. Some of America's most beautiful waterfalls and swimming holes are found in the Southwest. Here are our selections for the best waterfalls & swimming holes in the Southwest:
- ARIZONA
- Beaver Falls, Havasupai (reservations required)
- Bear Canyon / Seven Falls, Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, Tucson
- Deer Creek Falls, Grand Canyon National Park (typically done as part of a backpacking trip with a permit)
- Fifty Foot Falls, Havasupai (reservations required)
- Havasu Falls, Havasupai (reservations required)
- Mooney Falls, Havasupai (reservations required)
- New Navajo Falls, Havasupai (reservations required)
- Ribbon Falls, Grand Canyon National Park (typically done as part of a backpacking trip with a permit)
- Slide Rock State Park, Sedona
- UTAH
- Left Fork, BLM land, Moab
- Lower Calf Creek Falls, Grand-Staircase Escalante National Monument
- Mossy Cave Falls, Bryce Canyon National Park
- Upper Calf Creek Falls, Grand-Staircase Escalante National Monument
FAVORITE MOUNTAIN PEAKS TO HIKE IN THE SOUTHWEST
There are some beautiful mountain hikes in the Southwest. Here are some of the best:
- ARIZONA
- Camelback Mountain, Echo Canyon Recreation Area, Phoenix
- Humphrey’s Peak, Coconino National Forest
- Mount Wrightston, Coronado National Forest
- Picacho Peak, Picacho Peak State Park
- Piestewa Peak, Phoenix Mountains Recreation Area
- Wasson Peak, Saguaro National Park
- CALIFORNIA
- Ryan Mountain, Joshua Tree National Park
- Telescope Peak, Death Valley National Park
- Wildrose Peak Trail, Death Valley National Park
- NEW MEXICO
- Wheeler Peak, Carson National Forest
- NEVADA
- Wheeler Peak, Great Basin National Park
- TEXAS
- Emory Peak, Big Bend National Park
- Guadalupe Peak, Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Looking for more hikes in the Southwest? Visit our top 25 day hikes in the Southwest page.
SLOT CANYONS IN THE SOUTHWEST
Slot canyons, or narrow canyons that are typically much deeper than they are wide, are one of the most fascinating geologic features in the Southwest. There are hundreds of these canyons in the Southwest, but many of them are "technical" in nature and require rock-climbing and/or advanced scrambling skills. Other slot canyons require extended drives down 4WD high-clearance roads. However, there are some excellent slot canyons that just about anyone in reasonable shape can drive and hike to. These accessible slot canyons include:
- ARIZONA
- Antelope Canyon-Upper (take note that a Navajo guide is required; reservations recommended)
- Antelope Canyon-Lower (take note that a Navajo guide is required; reservations recommended)
- West Fork of Oak Creek, Sedona (make sure to continue hiking upstream in the river after the official trail ends)
- CALIFORNIA
- Mosaic Canyon, Death Valley National Park
- The Slot, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
- NEVADA
- White Domes Trail, Valley of Fire State Park
- NEW MEXICO
- Slot Canyon Trail, Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
- UTAH
- Buckskin Gulch, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument (the easiest access is via Wire Pass)
- Jenny's Canyon, Snow Canyon State Park (this trail is typically closed in Spring)
- Little Wild Horse Canyon & Bell Canyon, BLM land, San Rafael Reef
- Peekaboo & Spooky Gulch, off Hole-In-The-Rock Road, Grand-Staircase Escalante National Monument
- Wire Pass, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
- Zion Virgin River Narrows, Zion National Park
ARCHES & NATURAL BRIDGES IN THE SOUTHWEST
It would be a crime to visit the Southwest without seeing a few of its famous arches and natural bridges. There are literally thousands of these geologic wonders throughout the Southwest. Here are some of the finest ones in the region:
- ARIZONA
- Devil’s Bridge, Coconino National Forest, Sedona
- Hole In The Rock, Papago Park, Phoenix
- Tonto Natural Bridge, Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, Payson
- Window Rock, Window Rock
- CALIFORNIA
- Lathe Arch, Alabama Hills Recreation Area
- Mobius Arch, Alabama Hills Recreation Area
- NEVADA
- Elephant Rock, Valley of Fire State Park
- NEW MEXICO
- La Ventana Arch, BLM land
- UTAH
- Rainbow Bridge, Rainbow Bridge National Monument
- Broken Bow Arch, Grand-Staircase Escalante National Monument
- Corona Arch, BLM land, Moab
- Delicate Arch, Arches National Park
- Double Arch, Arches National Park
- Double O Arch, Arches National Park
- Druid Arch, Canyonlands National Park (Needles District)
- Grosvenor Arch, Grand-Staircase Escalante National Monument
- Jacob Hamlin Arch, Grand-Staircase Escalante National Monument
- Kachina Natural Bridge, National Bridges National Monument
- Kolob Arch, Zion National Park
- Landscape Arch, Arches National Park
- Mesa Arch, Canyonlands National Park (Islands In The Sky District)
- Owachomo Bridge, National Bridges National Monument
- Sipapu Bridge, National Bridges National Monument
- The Windows, Arches National Park
- Tower Arch, Arches National Park
If you are interesting in finding even more arches & natural bridges to find, visit our guide to the arches & natural bridges of the United States.
BEST MUSEUMS IN THE SOUTHWEST
It’s not all about the scenery in the Southwest. There are some world-class museums here, too:
- ARIZONA
- Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson
- Heard Museum, Phoenix
- Musical Instrument Museum, Phoenix
- Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix
- Pima Air & Space Museum, Tucson
- Titan Missile Museum, Green Valley
- NEVADA
- Mob Museum, Las Vegas
- National Automobile Museum, Reno
- Neon Museum, Las Vegas
- Pinball Hall of Fame, Las Vegas
- NEW MEXICO
- International UFO Museum & Research Center, Roswell
- Museum of International Folk Art, Santa Fe
ANCIENT RUINS & CLIFF DWELLINGS IN THE SOUTHWEST
Ancient ruins and cliff dwellings abound in the Southwest, and many are relatively easy to find and visit:
- ARIZONA
- Canyon de Chelly National Monument
- Montezuma Castle National Monument
- Navajo National Monument
- Tonto National Monument
- Walnut Canyon National Monument
- Wupatki National Monument
- COLORAADO
- Mesa Verde National Monument
- NEW MEXICO
- Bandelier National Monument
- Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument
SCENIC DRIVES IN THE SOUTHWEST
There are many paved and unpaved not-to-be-missed scenic drives in the Southwest. Here are our favorite paved scenic drives in the region:
- ARIZONA
- Mt Lemmon Scenic Byway / Catalina Highway Scenic Drive
- South Rim Drive, Grand Canyon
- US 191 through Monument Valley (best driven heading in a southwest direction from Utah)
- US 89A / Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Drive
- NEVADA
- Mt. Charleston / Spring Mountains Scenic Loop
- Valley of Fire State Park park roads
- UTAH
- Kolob Canyons Road, Zion National Park
- Scenic Drive, Capitol Reef National Park
- UT 12 from Panguitch to Torrey
- UT 24 through Capitol Reef National Park
- US 95 from Hanksville to Blanding
- US 9 through Zion National Park
TRAVEL SUGGESTIONS: ARIZONA
Looking for some Arizona travel ideas? We've compiled a list of great attractions that are within a few hours of some of Arizona's major destinations:
TRAVEL SUGGESTIONS: SOUTHEASTERN CALIFORNIA
Here are some highly recommended attractions close to Palm Springs and Death Valley National Park in California:
TRAVEL SUGGESTIONS: SOUTHERN NEVADA
Too many people who visit Las Vegas never leave the city limits. That's quite disappointing to us because there are some spectacular attractions nearby.
TRAVEL SUGGESTIONS: NEW MEXICO
If you are headed to Albuquerque or Santa Fe, try to budget time to visit some of these great attractions:
TRAVEL SUGGESTIONS: SOUTHERN & CENTRAL UTAH
Utah is known for it's "Mighty Five" national parks, but there are so many more attractions that shouldn't be missed:
As an Amazon Associates affiliate, this website contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase any products after clicking any Amazon.com link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. I only endorse products that I have personally used or those that come highly recommended by trusted peers.
|
