Natural Features

366 locations. View on the interactive map

Nevada (91)

Angel Lake — Elko County, NV
A high alpine lake at about 8,350 feet in the East Humboldt Range, reached by a paved spur from Wells. Glacial cirques, Forest Service camping and picnic are…
Arc Dome — Nye County, NV
11,773-foot high point of the Toiyabe Range and namesake of the large Arc Dome Wilderness in Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Summit approaches via the Toiy…
Beaver Dam State Park — Lincoln County, NV
One of Nevada's most remote state parks (~34 miles east of Caliente on a long graded gravel road), tucked against the Utah line in volcanic canyon country of…
Big Dune — Nye County, NV
A several-square-mile complex of Mojave sand dunes in Amargosa Valley managed by BLM as a recreation area and ACEC, including a tall primary dune often cited…
Black Rock Desert Playa — Humboldt County, NV
One of the flattest, largest dry lakebeds on Earth — remnant of ancient Lake Lahontan. Land speed records broken here. Home of Burning Man. Hot springs ring …
Blue Lakes (Pine Forest Range) — Humboldt County, NV
Rare high-desert glacial lakes nestled in a granite cirque below Duffer Peak in the Pine Forest Range of far northwestern Nevada. Short hike from the dirt ap…
Boundary Peak — Esmeralda County, NV
Highest natural point in Nevada (13,140–13,147 ft) on the White Mountains crest in Boundary Peak Wilderness (Inyo National Forest). Strenuous day hike via Qu…
C Hill — Carson City, NV
Open summit immediately west of downtown Carson City crowned by the whitewashed hillside letter “C” (community/school tradition since at least the early 1920…
Calico Tanks — Clark County, NV
Popular Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area hike from Sandstone Quarry into a chain of natural tanks that sometimes hold water, finishing with a Las V…
Caliente Hot Springs Area — Lincoln County, NV
Natural geothermal springs just outside the railroad town of Caliente in Meadow Valley Wash. Warm pools and seeps sit in a cottonwood-lined canyon setting wi…
Capital to Tahoe Trail — Carson City, NV
10-mile singletrack connecting Carson City to the Tahoe Rim Trail—the first non-motorized link from Nevada's capital to Lake Tahoe basin; popular for bikes a…
Carson Sink — Churchill County, NV
Vast alkali basin and terminal playa of the Carson River system—remnant of pluvial Lake Lahontan. White flats, mirages, and open desert sky dominate; seasona…
Cathedral Gorge — Lincoln County, NV
Cathedral Gorge State Park near Panaca exposes soft bentonite clay eroded into spires, slot alleys, and organ-pipe walls. Short walks from the developed area…
Cathedral Gorge Slot Canyon Narrows — Lincoln County, NV
Inside Cathedral Gorge State Park, soft bentonite walls pinch into short slot corridors and cave-like passages among spires and badlands. The slots are brief…
Cathedral Rock — Clark County, NV
Prominent limestone/dolomite tower above Kyle Canyon in the Spring Mountains (Mt. Charleston Wilderness). Short steep trail (~2.8 mi RT, ~1,000 ft gain) from…
Cave Lake State Park — White Pine County, NV
A 32-acre mountain reservoir state park at about 7,300 feet in the Schell Creek Range east of Ely, stocked for trout fishing with camping, hiking, and winter…
Cave Rock — Douglas County, NV
Dramatic andesite volcanic plug rising from the east shore of Lake Tahoe, sacred to the Washoe people and pierced by twin highway tunnels on US-50. Cave Rock…
Charleston Peak — Clark County, NV
Highest summit of the Spring Mountains and Clark County (11,916 ft) and Nevada’s most topographically prominent peak. Strenuous North and South Loop trails i…
Christmas Tree Pass — Clark County, NV
Scenic backcountry pass through the Newberry Mountains between US-95 and NV-163 near Laughlin, threading Spirit Mountain Wilderness / Avi Kwa Ame National Mo…
Colorado River Black Canyon (Emerald Cave) — AZ/NV Border
Emerald Cave is a glowing rock alcove on the Colorado River in Black Canyon below Hoover Dam, typically reached by kayak or guided paddle from Willow Beach. …
Crystal Springs — Lincoln County, NV
Desert oasis and historic junction at the south end of the Extraterrestrial Highway (SR-375) where it meets SR-318 in northern Pahranagat Valley. Artesian sp…
Delamar Mountains — Lincoln County, NV
Remote range in southern Lincoln County, home to the Delamar Mountains Wilderness and the Delamar ghost-town mining district. Dirt roads, wide desert views, …
Desatoya Peak — Lander County, NV
High point of the Desatoya Mountains along the Lander–Churchill line, anchoring Desatoya Wilderness Study Area / surrounding BLM high country between US-50 a…
Diamond Peak — Eureka County, NV
High summit of the Diamond Mountains on the Eureka–White Pine skyline northeast of Eureka (~10,600+ ft class). A thin-county peakbagging and big-view objecti…
Echo Canyon State Park — Lincoln County, NV
Nevada state park around Echo Canyon Reservoir east of Pioche, backed by banded volcanic cliffs and side canyons. Paved access, camping, boating, and fishing…
Eightmile Flat — Churchill County, NV
A broad alkaline playa and salt-flat mosaic in the Salt Wells Basin south of Fallon, gazetted as Eightmile Flat between the Bunejug Mountains and the Sand Mo…
Elephant Rock — Clark County, NV
Sandstone arch near Valley of Fire's east entrance that silhouettes like an elephant from a short trail at the entrance parking area. Do not stop on the high…
Fay-Luther / Jobs Peak Ranch Trail System — Douglas County, NV
Carson Valley foothill trail network at the base of Jobs Peak with dual trailheads (Jobs Peak Ranch and Fay-Luther). Hikers get bridged stream crossings, int…
Fire Wave — Clark County, NV
Swirling red, white, and pink Aztec Sandstone bands in Valley of Fire State Park, reached by an easy marked trail from a signed parking pullout on White Dome…
Fish Lake — Esmeralda County, NV
Namesake lake/wetland feature on the floor of Fish Lake Valley beneath the White Mountains—an alkaline desert lake and valley bottom landscape distinct from …
Fly Geyser — Washoe County, NV
An accidental 1964 geothermal well that grew into a blazing neon monument. Thermophilic algae paint the travertine mounds in brilliant reds, greens, and oran…
Forty Mile Desert — Churchill County, NV
Alkali plain between the Humboldt Sink and the Carson/Truckee river corridors—the most dreaded dry stretch of the California Emigrant Trail. Mid-1800s partie…
Fourmile Flat — Churchill County, NV
Broad alkali playa in the Salt Wells Basin south of US-50, sister landscape to nearby Eightmile Flat but a distinct GNIS flat centered west of Sand Mountain.…
Frenchman Mountain Summit — Clark County, NV
Frenchman Mountain rises east of Las Vegas, offering a rugged climb to a summit that overlooks Lake Mead and the valley skyline. The route is longer and stee…
Galena Creek Regional Park — Washoe County, NV
Washoe County / Humboldt-Toiyabe foothill park on Mt. Rose Highway with a staffed visitor center, paved nature trail, picnic areas, and trailheads into Jones…
Geiger Lookout Wayside Park — Washoe County, NV
CCC-era stone overlook and wayside on Geiger Grade (SR 341) between Reno and Virginia City, roughly 1,000 feet above the Truckee Meadows. Short rock-lined pa…
Genoa Peak — Douglas County, NV
9,150-ft summit on the Carson Range crest above Genoa and Lake Tahoe, reached via the popular Genoa Peak OHV Road / multi-use trail system from Spooner Summi…
Gold Butte — Clark County, NV
Gold Butte National Monument sprawls east of Lake Mead with red and gold sandstone, Joshua trees, and extreme quiet. Whitney Pocket is a common day-use hub; …
Great Basin Bristlecone Grove — White Pine County, NV
High alpine grove of Great Basin bristlecone pines on the glacial moraine below Wheeler Peak. A ~2.8-mile round-trip trail from the end of Wheeler Peak Sceni…
Hayford Peak — Clark County, NV
Highest peak in the Sheep Range inside Desert National Wildlife Refuge north of Las Vegas. Long desert approaches and ridge walking lead to a remote limeston…
High Rock Canyon — Washoe County, NV
Dramatic basalt-walled canyon corridor in the Black Rock Desert–High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area. Historic Applegate-Lassen emigra…
Ice Age Fossils State Park — North Las Vegas, NV
Nevada's newest state park (grand opening Jan 20, 2024) protecting Ice Age fossil beds with visitor center and short interpretive trails in the upper Las Veg…
Ice Box Canyon — Clark County, NV
Ice Box Canyon is a short, shaded wash hike inside Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area west of Las Vegas. Cooler air and occasional winter seeps contr…
Jean Lake — Clark County, NV
Ephemeral desert lake / playa basin west of Jean and south of Las Vegas—classic Mojave valley-floor scenery on the approaches to Goodsprings and the southern…
Job Peak — Churchill County, NV
Highest summit of the Stillwater Range (~8,780 ft), rising more than 5,000 feet above Dixie Valley. A long Class-2 desert ridge walk and one of west-central …
Kershaw-Ryan State Park — Lincoln County, NV
Spring-fed canyon oasis south of Caliente with rainbow-hued cliffs up to 700 ft, wild grapes, Gambel oak, willows, and a seasonal spring-fed children’s wadin…
Kingston Canyon — Lander County, NV
Forested canyon on the east slope of the Toiyabe Range south of Austin, with USFS Kingston Campground (~7,100 ft), seasonal streamside sites, and access towa…
Lahontan State Recreation Area — Lyon County, NV
Nevada State Parks unit surrounding Lahontan Reservoir on the Carson River, with roughly 69 miles of shoreline, cottonwood and willow pockets, boat launches,…
Lake Mead Anniversary Narrows — Clark County, NV
Anniversary Narrows is a Muddy Mountains slot reached via Callville Wash North Road inside Lake Mead NRA. Hikers follow a wash into high walls with dryfalls …
Lamoille Canyon — Elko County, NV
Glacier-carved canyon in the Ruby Mountains — often called the Swiss Alps of Nevada. A 12-mile paved scenic byway (NF-660, generally May–Oct) climbs to trail…
Little Finland — Clark County, NV
Little Finland (Hobgoblin’s Playground) is a plateau of wind-carved Aztec Sandstone fins in Gold Butte National Monument, Clark County. Delicate red fins and…
Little Finland (Hobgoblin Playground) — Clark County, NV
Little Finland—also called Hobgoblin Playground—is a pocket of wind-carved Aztec Sandstone fins, mushrooms, and windows in Gold Butte National Monument. The …
Lone Mountain — Clark County, NV
Lone Mountain is a freestanding desert summit inside the Las Vegas metro area with a short trail to 360-degree valley views. Sunrise and sunset light the Str…
Magruder Mountain — Esmeralda County, NV
Bald 9,000-ft summit on the Magruder–Palmetto massif with long views into Death Valley country and the White Mountains. Class-2 desert peak bag with roughly …
Mail Box / Black Mailbox Site — Lincoln County, NV
The Black Mailbox site on Nevada’s Extraterrestrial Highway (SR-375) is a decades-old pull-off where UFO watchers gather near the Groom Lake Road corridor. T…
Marlette Lake — Washoe County, NV
High forest reservoir above Lake Tahoe’s east shore that historically supplied Virginia City’s water via the Marlette Lake Water System. Reached by non-motor…
Mary Jane Falls — Clark County, NV
Popular waterfall hike in Kyle Canyon on Mount Charleston: a short, steep trail to twin seasonal falls against limestone cliffs in the Spring Mountains NRA. …
Massacre Lake — Washoe County, NV
Remote seasonal playa lake in far northwestern Washoe County near the California line, named for a supposed 1850 emigrant massacre that historians later ques…
Mount Augusta — Churchill County, NV
High summit of the Clan Alpine Mountains in eastern Churchill County, an official Board on Geographic Names peak rising above remote BLM basin-and-range coun…
Mount Callaghan — Lander County, NV
High Toiyabe-range summit (~10,200+ ft class) north of Austin in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, overlooking Callaghan Canyon and the Reese River count…
Mount Jefferson North Summit — Nye County, NV
Highest of the three summits of Mount Jefferson in the Toquima Range (North Summit ~11,941 ft), inside Alta Toquima Wilderness / Humboldt-Toiyabe National Fo…
Mount Moriah — White Pine County, NV
12,067-ft high point of the Mount Moriah Wilderness in the northern Snake Range, north of Great Basin National Park. Trails climb to The Table — a broad suba…
Mount Rose — Washoe County, NV
Highest peak in the Mount Rose Wilderness (10,776 ft) on the Carson Range above Reno and Lake Tahoe. The classic summit trail from the SR-431 Mount Rose High…
Mount Siegel — Douglas County, NV
Dominant summit of the Pine Nut Mountains east of Carson Valley, rising above open sage and pinyon-juniper slopes. Offers broad views across the Pine Nuts to…
Pahranagat Lakes — Lincoln County, NV
Pahranagat’s Upper and Lower lakes form a green wetland ribbon along US-93 in the Mojave–Great Basin transition. The National Wildlife Refuge draws migratory…
Pinyon Trail — Douglas County, NV
BLM–Douglas County–Carson Valley Trails Association multi-use loop in the Pine Nut Mountains east of Gardnerville. A moderately challenging ~5.3-mile circuit…
Powerline Overlook (Area 51) — Lincoln County, NV
Drive-up overlook in the Tikaboo Valley with wide views toward Groom Lake airspace. Popular with radio scanners and photographers — far easier than Tikaboo P…
Prison Hill Recreation Area — Carson City, NV
About 2,500 acres of Carson City open space on the southeast edge of the capital: high-desert hills with loop trails for hiking, mountain biking, and equestr…
Red Rock Canyon NCA — Clark County, NV
Dramatic Aztec sandstone escarpment thrust over grey limestone just 17 miles from Las Vegas. World-class rock climbing, ancient petroglyphs, and desert torto…
Round Mound — Douglas County, NV
Forested knoll on Tahoe’s east shore near Round Hill Pines / Nevada Beach with a short public loop trail to a granite-crowned summit. Classic lake overlook o…
Ruby Dome — Elko County, NV
Highest summit of the Ruby Mountains (~11,387 ft), a glaciated alpine peak above Lamoille Canyon. Scramble/hike approaches via Hennen Canyon and other draina…
Sand Harbor — Washoe County, NV
Signature beach unit of Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park on Tahoe’s east shore — granite coves, clear alpine water, boat launch, and the Sand Point Nature Trail.…
Sand Mountain — Booming Dune — Churchill County, NV
Sand Mountain is a lone ~600-foot dune of Lake Lahontan beach sand rising from the flats southeast of Fallon. On still dry days avalanching sand can boom or …
Skunk Harbor — Carson City, NV
Secluded USFS beach cove on Lake Tahoe’s east shore reached by a ~1.5-mile walk down a gated dirt road from Highway 28. Historic stone cabin ruins at the sho…
Snow Valley Peak — Carson City, NV
Carson City county highpoint (~9,214 ft) on the Carson Range, commonly reached via the Tahoe Rim Trail from Spooner Summit. Open summit with broad views over…
Spooner Lake — Douglas County, NV
Aspen-ringed reservoir and trailhead hub of Spooner Lake & Backcountry (Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park). Visitor center, amphitheater, a flat ~2-mile lakeside …
Sportsmans Beach — Mineral County, NV
Primary developed recreation site on the west shore of Walker Lake, a rare perennial Great Basin lake along US-95 north of Hawthorne. BLM Walker Lake Recreat…
Spring Valley State Park — Lincoln County, NV
Nevada State Park on Eagle Valley Reservoir northeast of Pioche—light volcanic tuff and sediment walls, trout fishing, boating, camping, and short hikes amon…
Star Peak — Pershing County, NV
Highest and most prominent summit of the Humboldt Range and Pershing County highpoint (~9,836 ft / ~5,400 ft prominence — a Lower 48 ultra). Steep public-lan…
Stateline Peak Overlook — NV/CA Border
Historic fire-lookout site on the NV/CA line above Crystal Bay. A short paved FS Rd 1601 walk reaches a free interpretive overlook with telescopes and broad …
Tahoe Meadows — Washoe County, NV
High alpine meadow complex on the Mount Rose Highway (NV-431) just east of the Mount Rose Summit pass, within Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest / Lake Tahoe B…
Tikaboo Peak — Lincoln County, NV
Tikaboo Peak is the closest legal public viewpoint toward Groom Lake, reached by a long dirt approach and a steep ridge hike. From the summit you look across…
Topaz Lake Recreation Area — Douglas County, NV
Douglas County park on the Nevada shore of Topaz Lake, a Sierra-front reservoir on the NV/CA line along US-395. Public boat ramp, developed and primitive cam…
Valley of Fire — Clark County, NV
Nevada's oldest state park — 40,000 acres of blazing red Aztec sandstone, ancient petrified trees, and dense petroglyph sites. Fire Wave, White Domes, and th…
Van Sickle Bi-State Park — Douglas County, NV
Nevada State Parks unit (with California Tahoe Conservancy partnership) just above Stateline/Heavenly Village, with easy-to-moderate forest trails, picnic si…
Walker River State Recreation Area — Lyon County, NV
Nevada State Parks unit protecting more than 12,000 acres and nearly 30 miles of the East Walker River south of Yerington — former historic ranches closed to…
Water Canyon Recreation Area — Humboldt County, NV
BLM recreation area in a green canyon rising nearly 2,000 feet above Winnemucca on the west flank of the Sonoma Range. Picnic sites, camping, and a trail net…
Wheeler Peak — White Pine County, NV
Second-highest summit in Nevada (13,063 ft) and the high point of Great Basin National Park, rising above alpine lakes, rock glacier, and ancient bristlecone…
White Domes Slot Canyon — Clark County, NV
North-end Valley of Fire loop from the White Domes day-use parking area through soft sand, a 1960s film-set ruin, and a short slot of banded sandstone. The l…
Whitney Pocket — Clark County, NV
Primary developed staging area in Gold Butte National Monument: a red-rock sandstone pocket with picnic sites, vault toilets, and dispersed camping amid dram…
Wilson Canyon — Lyon County, NV
A West Walker River canyon and BLM multi-use recreation area on NV-208 west of Yerington, with river pullouts, picnic sites, fishing access, and an extensive…

California (74)

Afton Canyon — San Bernardino County, CA
The Mojave River's dramatic cut through rainbow badlands — locally called the Grand Canyon of the Mojave — protected as a BLM ACEC inside Mojave Trails Natio…
Aguereberry Point — Inyo County, CA
West-side Death Valley overlook (~6,433 ft) in the Panamint Range, reached via Emigrant Canyon Road and a rough spur past Pete Aguereberry’s historic camp. B…
Alabama Hills Movie Road — Inyo County, CA
Movie Road threads the Alabama Hills National Scenic Area among rounded granite outcrops with Mount Whitney on the skyline—the classic Western film backdrop.…
Alpine Butte Wildlife Sanctuary — Los Angeles County, CA
Los Angeles County Parks 320-acre high-desert wildlife sanctuary on the southern slope of Alpine Butte in the Antelope Valley. Creosote scrub, Joshua tree wo…
Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest (Schulman Grove) — Inyo County, CA
World-famous stand of Great Basin bristlecone pines on the White Mountains crest at ~10,000 ft—some of the oldest living trees on Earth. Schulman Grove visit…
Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve — Los Angeles County, CA
California State Parks high-desert grassland reserve west of Lancaster protecting the state’s most consistent wildflower display country. Eight miles of trai…
Arch Rock (Joshua Tree) — Riverside County, CA
Short, family-friendly lollipop hike to a natural monzogranite arch near White Tank Campground in Joshua Tree National Park. Trailhead at Twin Tanks parking …
Arroyo Tapiado — San Diego County, CA
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park wash system known for fragile mud caves, slot-like passages, and badlands eroded into soft sediments of the Carrizo Badlands e…
Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park — Los Angeles County, CA
Undeveloped California State Parks unit on Lancaster Road preserving a remnant Joshua tree–California juniper woodland that once covered much of the western …
Badwater Basin — Death Valley, CA
Badwater Basin is North America's lowest land point at about 282 feet below sea level, a broad salt pan of polygonal crusts on the Death Valley floor. A shor…
Bishop Peak — San Luis Obispo County, CA
Highest of the Nine Sisters (~1,559 ft) and San Luis Obispo’s signature open-space hike: a steep 3.5-mile round-trip trail through oak woodland and rocky vol…
Borrego Palm Canyon — San Diego County, CA
Signature oasis canyon of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park: a maintained trail climbs from the Borrego Palm Canyon Campground into a rocky gorge with Californi…
Bristol Lake — San Bernardino County, CA
Broad dry lake on the Mojave Desert floor near Amboy—salt-flat and playa scenery east of Amboy Crater. A natural-feature stop on the Route 66 / Amboy corrido…
Cadiz Dunes — San Bernardino County, CA
Nearly 20,000-acre BLM wilderness inside Mojave Trails National Monument preserving some of the cleanest free-standing sand dunes in the eastern Mojave, betw…
Carrizo Badlands — Imperial County, CA
Expansive eroded badlands of clay hills, mudstone, and fossil-bearing sediments on the Imperial / Anza-Borrego desert margin east of the Coyote Mountains. A …
Carrizo Plain National Monument (Goodwin Education Center) — San Luis Obispo County, CA
BLM visitor hub for California’s vast inland grassland national monument—the Carrizo Plain, often called the state’s Serengeti—rimmed by the Temblor and Cali…
Caruthers Canyon — San Bernardino County, CA
Botanically rich canyon in the New York Mountains of Mojave National Preserve—a chaparral “island” of oaks, manzanita, yerba santa, and pinyon–juniper at mid…
Castle Peaks — San Bernardino County, CA
Jagged rhyolite spires on the northeast edge of Mojave National Preserve, overlooking Castle Mountains National Monument and the Ivanpah Valley. The peaks fo…
China Lake Overlook (NAWS boundary views) — Inyo County, CA
Views toward the massive Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake — the Navys primary desert test range. Remote desert ridgelines and dry lakebeds dominate the v…
Cholla Cactus Garden — Riverside County, CA
Dense stand of teddybear cholla (Cylindropuntia bigelovii) on Pinto Basin Road in Joshua Tree National Park, where the Mojave and Colorado deserts meet. A sh…
Corn Springs — Riverside County, CA
BLM fan-palm oasis deep in a Chuckwalla Mountains canyon—year-round spring, California fan palms, migratory birds, and a small developed campground. Desert C…
Cottonwood Spring — Riverside County, CA
Earthquake-fed oasis near Joshua Tree National Park’s southern entrance — native cottonwoods, later fan palms, Cahuilla bedrock mortars, and gold-era mill re…
Crowley Lake Columns — Mono County, CA
Thousands of bizarre stone pillars formed by volcanic ash erosion along the lake shore — one of the strangest formations in California. :contentReference[oai…
Crucifixion Thorn Natural Area — Imperial County, CA
A fenced BLM natural area in the Yuha Desert preserving one of California’s largest stands of crucifixion thorn (Castela emoryi), a rare Sonoran Desert shrub…
Culp Valley — San Diego County, CA
High desert valley and campground corridor on Montezuma Grade (S-22) in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, roughly 3,400 ft above the Borrego Valley floor. Piny…
Dantes View — Death Valley, CA
Panoramic overlook 5,476 ft above Badwater Basin — one of the most dramatic elevation contrasts in North America. You can see the entire salt flat and Telesc…
Darwin Falls — Inyo County, CA
Rare desert waterfall hidden in a lush canyon near Panamint Valley. A permanent spring-fed oasis with flowing water year-round — extremely unusual for Death …
Desert Lily Sanctuary — Riverside County, CA
BLM Area of Critical Environmental Concern (~2,000 acres) in Chuckwalla Valley northeast of Desert Center set aside for desert lily (Hesperocallis undulata) …
Desolation Canyon — Death Valley, CA
Colorful badlands canyon on the west flank of the Black Mountains south of Furnace Creek—an unmarked NPS cross-country route with Artist’s Palette–style mine…
Devils Cornfield — Death Valley, CA
Roadside Death Valley National Park landscape of tall arrowweed (Pluchea sericea) clumps that early travelers likened to shocks of corn. Wind-scoured sand pi…
Dumont Dunes — San Bernardino County, CA
Large BLM Open Area of wind-blown sand dunes in the northern Mojave east of Hwy 127 between Baker and Death Valley Junction. Popular OHV and sandboarding des…
Elephant Trees Area — San Diego County, CA
Named Anza-Borrego Desert State Park unit protecting a northern outlier stand of elephant trees (Bursera microphylla) reached by a short nature trail off Spl…
Eureka Dunes — Inyo County, CA
Tallest sand dunes in California (rising ~680 ft above Eureka Valley’s playa) inside northern Death Valley National Park. An isolated dune field at ~3,000 ft…
Fall Canyon — Death Valley, CA
Official Death Valley National Park day hike into a deep Grapevine Mountains canyon of banded Bonanza King dolomite, polished narrows, and a terminal dryfall…
Father Crowley Vista Point — Inyo County, CA
Signed pullout and short walk above Rainbow Canyon (Star Wars Canyon) on the western approach to Death Valley, with sweeping views into the multi-colored vol…
Fortynine Palms Oasis — San Bernardino County, CA
Fan-palm oasis in a rocky canyon on the northern edge of Joshua Tree National Park, reached by a ~3-mile round-trip trail over a barrel-cactus ridge from a d…
Golden Canyon & Red Cathedral — Death Valley, CA
Classic Death Valley hike through golden badlands leading to the dramatic red cliffs of Red Cathedral. One of the park’s most popular and visually striking c…
Great Falls Basin — Inyo County, CA
Granite canyon and seasonal waterfalls on the east face of the Argus Range west of Trona—BLM Wilderness Study Area with a short approach to the lower falls a…
Haystack / Crowley Overlook — Mono County, CA
Photographers and aviation spotters use high dirt spurs above Crowley Lake for Sierra backdrop views across the Long Valley caldera. There is no single offic…
Heber Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area — Imperial County, CA
California State Parks OHMVR Division unit (~343 acres) of creosote-studded sand dunes, fine-sand hills, and hard-packed dry-lake clay three miles north of t…
Hole-in-the-Wall — San Bernardino County, CA
Mojave National Preserve hub of sculptured volcanic rhyolite walls at 4,400 ft. Rings Loop climbs Banshee Canyon with metal rings set in rock; information ce…
Ibex Dunes — Death Valley, CA
Tall star and linear dunes stacked against the Ibex Hills in the remote southeast corner of Death Valley National Park. Quieter alternative to Mesquite Flat …
Imperial Sand Dunes (Gecko Road) — Imperial County, CA
North America's largest sand-dune system (Algodones/Glamis) in the Colorado Desert — endless ridges of wind-sculpted sand managed by BLM as the Imperial Sand…
Jawbone Canyon — Kern County, CA
Broad Mojave-side canyon and recreation gateway in the Eastern Kern County BLM / Jawbone-Butterbredt area west of CA-14, where desert washes cut into the El …
Juan Bautista de Anza Overlook — Imperial County, CA
BLM overlook on the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail with a panoramic view across the Yuha Desert ACEC south of I-8 near Ocotillo. The Yuha is C…
Kelso Dunes — San Bernardino County, CA
One of the tallest dune fields in the Mojave, rising hundreds of feet above the desert floor inside Mojave National Preserve. The main trailhead on Kelso Dun…
Keys View — Riverside County, CA
Paved overlook at ~5,185 ft on the crest of the Little San Bernardino Mountains in Joshua Tree National Park, with panoramic views across Coachella Valley, t…
Koehn Lake — Kern County, CA
Large dry-lake / playa basin in the Fremont Valley of the western Mojave, near the historic Saltdale salt works approaches. Classic high-desert lakebed scene…
Lost Palms Oasis — Riverside County, CA
One of five California fan-palm oases in Joshua Tree National Park—a secluded canyon grove reached by a long day hike from Cottonwood Spring through yucca, o…
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes — Death Valley, CA
Most accessible dunes in Death Valley, rising to 100 ft near Stovepipe Wells. Star, transverse, and barchan dune types all present. Dawn photography is extra…
Mitchell Caverns (Providence Mountains SRA) — San Bernardino County, CA
California State Parks limestone cavern complex in the Providence Mountains, surrounded by Mojave National Preserve. Ranger-guided tours visit El Pakiva and …
Mopah Peaks — San Bernardino County, CA
Paired rhyolitic volcanic plugs (Mopah Range) rising above bajadas in BLM Turtle Mountains Wilderness. Signature skyline landmarks of the southern Mojave/Col…
Mosaic Canyon — Death Valley, CA
Near Stovepipe Wells in Death Valley National Park, Mosaic Canyon opens from a gravel parking area into polished Noonday Dolomite narrows and natural breccia…
Mountain Palm Springs — San Diego County, CA
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park oasis complex with native California fan palm groves in Surprise, Palm Bowl, and Southwest Grove canyons — short desert hikes …
Natural Bridge Canyon — Death Valley, CA
Short canyon walk off Badwater Road to a large natural bridge cut by flash-flood erosion through layered Death Valley sediments. The trailhead sits at the en…
North Algodones Dunes Wilderness — Imperial County, CA
BLM wilderness (~26,000+ acres) protecting the tall, vehicle-free northern Algodones / Imperial Sand Dunes north of State Route 78. Hiking and horseback only…
Owens Lake — Inyo County, CA
Owens Lake is a vast mostly dry playa south of Lone Pine where alkali flats, dust control berms, and shallow ponds create stark minimalist landscapes. Mirror…
Racetrack Playa — Sailing Stones — Death Valley, CA
Perfectly flat dry lakebed where rocks slide across clay leaving trails up to 820 ft long. The mechanism — thin winter ice sheets pushed by wind — was only c…
Ryan Mountain — Riverside County, CA
Popular Joshua Tree National Park summit hike to a 5,457-ft peak with panoramic views over Lost Horse Valley, Wonderland of Rocks, and the Pinto Basin — clas…
Saddleback Butte State Park — Los Angeles County, CA
State park protecting a granite butte and classic Antelope Valley Joshua tree woodland on the western Mojave — day-use picnic area, nature trail, and peak hi…
Short Canyon — Kern County, CA
BLM Area of Critical Environmental Concern on the Sierra Nevada desert fringe west of Ridgecrest, famous for spring wildflower displays (200+ species reporte…
Sidewinder Canyon — Inyo County, CA
NPS-described wilderness canyon hike off Badwater Road in southern Death Valley — a demanding route into narrow, dark slot tributaries with boulder squeezes,…
Skull Rock — Riverside County, CA
Iconic granite boulder in Joshua Tree National Park whose twin hollows resemble eye sockets — formed by chemical weathering and rainwater pooling in small de…
Soda Lake Overlook — San Luis Obispo County, CA
Primary public viewpoint over Soda Lake — a vast seasonal alkaline playa (~3,000 acres) at the heart of Carrizo Plain National Monument. Short Overlook Hill …
South Tufa Area (Mono Lake) — Mono County, CA
Primary public shoreline of Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve: calcium-carbonate tufa towers rising from the hypersaline alkaline lake on the east side of…
Spooners Cove (Montaña de Oro) — San Luis Obispo County, CA
Signature cove and trail hub of Montaña de Oro State Park — rugged coastal bluffs, sandy beach, tide pools, and trailheads for Valencia Peak, Bluff Trail, an…
Stateline Peak Overlook — NV/CA Border
Historic fire-lookout site on the NV/CA line above Crystal Bay. A short paved FS Rd 1601 walk reaches a free interpretive overlook with telescopes and broad …
Superstition Mountain — Imperial County, CA
Isolated desert mountain mass rising from the Imperial Valley west of the Salton Sea, a landmark for west-county BLM lands and popular high-clearance / OHV t…
Telescope Peak — Death Valley, CA
Highest point in Death Valley National Park at 11,049 ft. A strenuous hike with alpine views overlooking the lowest point in North America — a 11,300 ft vert…
The Slot (Anza-Borrego) — San Diego County, CA
Short, sinuous mudstone slot canyon in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park — a walk-through narrows carved in soft Borrego Badlands sediments east of Borrego Spri…
White Mountain Peak — Mono County, CA
Highest summit of the White Mountains east of the Owens Valley—one of California’s premier high-desert alpine day hikes via the White Mountain Road and resea…
Wonderland of Rocks — San Bernardino County, CA
Labyrinth of monzogranite boulder piles and corridors in central Joshua Tree National Park—the park’s core climbing and cross-country hiking maze. Jointed pl…
Yuha Desert — Imperial County, CA
Broad Colorado Desert plain west of El Centro managed largely as BLM ACEC and route network, known for fossil oyster-shell beds, the historic Yuha Well on th…
Zabriskie Point — Death Valley, CA
Zabriskie Point overlooks golden badlands carved from ancient lake beds in Death Valley National Park. Sunrise lights the ridgelines amber and orange; a shor…

Arizona (56)

Aker Lake — Greenlee County, AZ
Secluded Apache-Sitgreaves fishing lake west of US-191 south of Alpine (FR 8312). Small high-elevation water with catch-and-release Apache trout and Arctic g…
Alamo Lake State Park — La Paz County, AZ
Remote state park on a desert reservoir in the Bill Williams River valley north of Wenden — mountain-ringed bass fishery, dark-sky stargazing, and year-round…
Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness — Graham County, AZ
BLM wilderness straddling Graham and Pinal counties where perennial Aravaipa Creek cuts a deep Sonoran Desert canyon lined with cottonwood-willow gallery for…
Atascosa Lookout Trail #100 — Santa Cruz County, AZ
Coronado National Forest trail west of Peña Blanca Lake climbing ~2.5 miles to the former Atascosa Peak fire lookout site (lookout lost in the 2011 Murphey C…
Blue Vista Overlook — Greenlee County, AZ
Day-use scenic overlook on the Coronado Trail (US-191) at the edge of the Mogollon Rim in Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. Sweeping views south over the B…
Boyce Thompson Arboretum — Pinal County, AZ
Arizona’s oldest and largest botanical garden (founded 1924) in Queen Creek canyon under Picketpost Mountain west of Superior. Living desert-plant museum, 1.…
Buckskin Mountain State Park — La Paz County, AZ
Arizona State Park on the Colorado River north of Parker with riverfront camping, day-use beaches, and desert-mountain hiking on the Buckskin range. Classic …
Canyon Lake — Maricopa County, AZ
First and most accessible of the Salt River chain lakes on the Apache Trail (SR-88) in Tonto National Forest. Steep desert canyon reservoir with marina, boat…
Cascabel — Cochise County, AZ
San Pedro River valley settlement and corridor north of Benson, a cottonwood-lined reach used by ranching and birding traffic. Field pin for the middle San P…
Catalina State Park — Pima County, AZ
State park at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains north of Tucson with nearly 5,000 saguaros, Romero and Sutherland Canyon trail systems, equestrian rou…
Chloride Cliffs — Mohave County, AZ
This atlas pin sits on remote high ground near the Arizona Strip / Gold Butte latitude with big desert exposure and few visitors. The name Chloride Cliffs do…
Cochise Stronghold — Cochise County, AZ
Granite domes and oak-juniper canyons in the Dragoon Mountains where Chiricahua Apache leader Cochise held out in the 1860s–70s. Coronado National Forest cam…
Colorado River Black Canyon (Emerald Cave) — AZ/NV Border
Emerald Cave is a glowing rock alcove on the Colorado River in Black Canyon below Hoover Dam, typically reached by kayak or guided paddle from Willow Beach. …
Escudilla Mountain Trailhead — Apache County, AZ
Trailhead for the Escudilla National Recreation Trail (#308) on Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests near Alpine—a ~3-mile one-way hike through aspen, spruce, …
Fish Creek Vista — Maricopa County, AZ
Classic Apache Trail (SR-88) overlook into Fish Creek Canyon on the edge of the Superstition Wilderness / Tonto National Forest. A short paved path from the …
Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area — Navajo County, AZ
Arizona State Parks / U.S. Forest Service partnership recreation area on a 150-acre lake at ~6,300 ft among ponderosa pines north of Show Low. Year-round cam…
Fossil Creek — Gila County, AZ
Federally designated Wild and Scenic River on the Mogollon Rim–Verde drainage, famous for constant 70°F spring-fed turquoise water, travertine dams, and ripa…
Frye Mesa Reservoir — Graham County, AZ
Small Coronado National Forest reservoir on the lower Pinaleño Mountains southwest of Safford. Popular trout water when high-elevation Riggs Flat Lake is ice…
Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area (Riverview) — Graham County, AZ
BLM National Conservation Area protecting ~23,000 acres of perennial Gila River and Bonita Creek canyon country northeast of Safford. Cottonwood-willow galle…
Grand Canyon West Skywalk Area — Mohave County, AZ
Grand Canyon West on the Hualapai Reservation offers rim views and the glass Skywalk roughly two hours from Las Vegas—closer than the South Rim for many Stri…
Granite Basin Lake — Yavapai County, AZ
Small ponderosa-rimmed reservoir in the Granite Basin Recreation Area of Prescott National Forest, northwest of Prescott. Five-acre lake with boat ramp, picn…
Granville Recreation Area — Greenlee County, AZ
Wooded canyon campground, picnic area, and trail hub on the Coronado Trail (US-191) about 20 miles north of Clifton at ~6,800 ft. Free dispersed-style FS rec…
Hannagan Meadow — Greenlee County, AZ
High meadow and historic 1926 lodge stop on the Coronado Trail (US-191) in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. Classic White Mountains aspen-fir scenery,…
Horseshoe Bend — Coconino County, AZ
Horseshoe Bend is a nearly 270° entrenched meander of the Colorado River just south of Page, Arizona. A short, sandy walk from the City of Page parking area …
Horsethief Basin Lake — Yavapai County, AZ
Small pine-rimmed reservoir in the Bradshaw Mountains south of Crown King inside Prescott National Forest’s Horsethief Basin Recreation Area—high-country day…
Hualapai Mountain Park — Mohave County, AZ
Hualapai Mountain Park climbs from desert scrub into pine forest above Kingman, a cool-elevation escape with camping, cabins, and ridge trails. The paved Hua…
Ironwood Forest National Monument (Ragged Top) — Pima County, AZ
BLM national monument northwest of Tucson protecting dense ironwood bosque, saguaros, and desert bighorn habitat around Ragged Top peak. Primitive roads, hik…
Little Painted Desert County Park — Navajo County, AZ
Navajo County day-use overlook of Chinle Formation badlands — a compact, free “mini Painted Desert” north of Winslow on AZ-87. Color-banded clay hills drop a…
Lost Dutchman State Park — Pinal County, AZ
320-acre Arizona State Park at the base of the Superstition Mountains on the Apache Trail (SR 88) north of Apache Junction. Named for the legendary Lost Dutc…
Lyman Lake State Park — Apache County, AZ
High-desert reservoir on the Little Colorado River south of St. Johns (~6,000 ft). Wind-blown open water, camping, trails, and petroglyph/interpretive walks …
Lynx Lake — Yavapai County, AZ
Cool-pine Prescott National Forest reservoir just east of Prescott—year-round day-use and camping hub with shoreline trails, trout stocking, small-boat recre…
Margies Cove East Trailhead — Maricopa County, AZ
Primary trailhead into the North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness inside Sonoran Desert National Monument—saguaro-studded bajadas and quiet desert mountain walk…
Nelson Reservoir — Apache County, AZ
Long, narrow high-country reservoir on Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests between Springerville and Alpine (US-180/191 corridor). Developed north boat site w…
Oracle State Park — Pinal County, AZ
4,000-acre oak-grassland park on the north slope of the Santa Catalinas: Kannally Ranch House, multi-use trails, and International Dark Sky Park status. Dese…
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument — Pima County, AZ
330,000-acre Sonoran Desert national monument on the Mexican border protecting the northernmost wild stands of organ pipe and senita cactus among classic sag…
Palm Canyon — Yuma County, AZ
Signature Kofa National Wildlife Refuge hike into a steep desert canyon holding one of Arizona’s few native California fan-palm (Washingtonia filifera) stand…
Paria Canyon — AZ/UT Border
Paria Canyon cuts a multi-day sandstone corridor from the Utah border to Lees Ferry, famous for glowing walls, narrows, and remote camping. The White House T…
Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve — Santa Cruz County, AZ
Nature Conservancy preserve protecting one of the richest cottonwood–willow riparian corridors in southern Arizona along perennial Sonoita Creek. Visitor cen…
Peña Blanca Lake — Santa Cruz County, AZ
Coronado National Forest recreation lake (~50 acres) in Peña Blanca Canyon, foothills of the Atascosa and Pajarito Mountains west of I-19 near Nogales. Named…
Picacho Peak State Park — Pinal County, AZ
Arizona State Park centered on a volcanic basalt peak rising ~1,500 ft above the I-10 corridor between Phoenix and Tucson. Known for spring wildflower displa…
Red Rock State Park — Yavapai County, AZ
Arizona State Parks nature preserve and environmental-education center on Oak Creek SW of Sedona. Loop trails through juniper–manzanita to creek-side riparia…
Redfield Canyon — Pima County, AZ
Remote desert canyon cutting the Galiuro country east of the San Pedro–Aravaipa approaches, protected within Redfield Canyon Wilderness. A thin natural pin f…
Riggs Lake — Graham County, AZ
Eleven-acre alpine lake at the end of the Swift Trail (AZ-366) atop the Pinaleño Mountains (Mount Graham). Stocked brown and rainbow trout, day-use and small…
Roper Lake State Park — Graham County, AZ
Desert lake park at the foot of Mount Graham south of Safford: lakeside camping and cabins, seasonal fishing, birding, and a small natural hot-spring soak po…
Saguaro National Park (Red Hills Visitor Center) — Pima County, AZ
Tucson Mountain District of Saguaro National Park—classic Sonoran Desert bajada forests of giant saguaro, cholla, and palo verde west of Tucson. Red Hills Vi…
Salt River Canyon Rest Area — Gila County, AZ
ADOT rest area between mileposts 292–293 on US 60 at the bottom of Salt River Canyon—the 'mini Grand Canyon' highway descent between Globe and Show Low. Pede…
Shiprock Viewpoint — San Juan County, NM/AZ border
Roadside views of Shiprock (Tsé Bitʼaʼí), a ~1,580-ft volcanic neck sacred to the Navajo Nation. Stay on paved US 491 / Indian Service roads for photography—…
Spider Rock Overlook — Apache County, AZ
South Rim overlook in Canyon de Chelly National Monument where twin sandstone spires rise ~800 ft from the canyon floor. A short paved path from the parking …
Sycamore Canyon Trail #40 — Santa Cruz County, AZ
Coronado National Forest trail into a perennial Madrean canyon in the Pajarito Mountains west of Peña Blanca Lake — one of extreme southern Arizona’s richest…
Texas Canyon — Cochise County, AZ
Striking granite boulder field where Interstate 10 cuts the Little Dragoon Mountains. Balanced rocks and stacked tors frame both eastbound and westbound ADOT…
Thumb Butte — Yavapai County, AZ
Prescott National Forest day-use recreation area under ponderosa pine at the base of Prescott’s signature 6,514-ft butte—picnic ramadas, potable water, and t…
Toroweap Overlook — Mohave County, AZ
Remote North Rim Grand Canyon viewpoint in the Tuweep area with a nearly sheer ~3,000-ft drop to the Colorado River and no guardrails. Rough multi-hour dirt …
White Pocket — Coconino County, AZ
White Pocket is a pocket of swirling white, red, and orange Navajo Sandstone on the Paria Plateau in Vermilion Cliffs country. Honeycombed domes and brain-ro…
Windy Point Vista — Pima County, AZ
Signed overlook at ~6,600 ft on the Mount Lemmon / Catalina Highway Scenic Byway (mile ~14), with sheer granite cliffs, hoodoo-like rock formations, and swee…
Wire Pass Slot Canyon — Coconino County, AZ
Wire Pass is a short, dramatic slot that feeds into Buckskin Gulch on the Paria Plateau—among the Southwest’s deepest narrows systems. From the House Rock Va…
Workman Creek Falls — Gila County, AZ
Roadside waterfall and gorge overlook on the Sierra Ancha side of Tonto National Forest along Forest Road 487 off the Desert to Pines Highway (AZ-288). Seaso…

Utah (90)

Alstrom Point — Kane County, UT
Classic Lake Powell overlook on a high sandstone peninsula in Glen Canyon NRA. A rough high-clearance/4WD spur off Smoky Mountain/Croton roads ends at a clif…
Anderson Meadow Reservoir — Beaver County, UT
High Tushar Mountain reservoir (~8 acres, ~9,400 ft) on Fishlake National Forest’s Beaver Ranger District, with shoreline and non-motorized small-boat fishin…
Angels Landing — Washington County, UT
Iconic fin summit in Zion Canyon: a paved-then-chained sandstone spine rising above the Virgin River with exposure on both sides and vast red-wall views. Per…
Anticline Overlook — San Juan County, UT
BLM Canyon Rims Recreation Area overlook on the east rim of the Colorado River corridor opposite Island in the Sky. Sweeping view of the eroded anticline, me…
Balanced Rock — Grand County, UT
Iconic 128-foot Entrada Sandstone boulder perched on a Dewey Bridge mudstone pedestal beside the main park road in Arches National Park. A short 0.3-mile pav…
Browne Lake — Daggett County, UT
High mountain reservoir and USFS campground (~8,200 ft) in Ashley National Forest west of Flaming Gorge — pine-shaded camping, fishing, canoeing/kayaking, an…
Bryce Point — Garfield County, UT
Signature south-rim overlook in Bryce Canyon National Park with a panoramic view into the main amphitheater of orange Claron hoodoos, fins, and amphitheater …
Bull Valley Gorge — Kane County, UT
Deep slot canyon in Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument along the Skutumpah Road south of Cannonville. A historic bridge spans a narrow choke point; …
Capitol Gorge — Wayne County, UT
Historic Waterpocket Fold corridor at the end of Capitol Reef’s Scenic Drive — a deep, nearly level canyon walk through Navajo and Kayenta walls once used by…
Cascade Springs — Wasatch County, UT
Large natural spring complex on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest where millions of gallons of clear water rise daily into terraced pools and small cas…
Cassidy Arch — Wayne County, UT
Large freestanding natural arch perched above Grand Wash in Capitol Reef National Park, reached by a steep slickrock trail from the Grand Wash / Cassidy Arch…
Castleton Tower — Grand County, UT
Iconic free-standing Wingate Sandstone tower rising ~400 ft from a Chinle/Moenkopi cone above Castle Valley east of Moab. Officially Castle Rock in GNIS; wor…
Cathedral Valley — Wayne County, UT
Remote northern district of Capitol Reef National Park: a high-clearance dirt-road loop through bentonite hills, Entrada monoliths, Upper/Lower Cathedral Val…
Cedar Breaks Amphitheater — Iron County, UT
National Park Service monument: a huge natural amphitheater of pink-and-orange Claron Formation cliffs and hoodoos carved into the western Markagunt Plateau …
Cedar Wash Narrows — San Juan County, UT
Remote sandstone narrows in the Glen Canyon country of southeastern Utah near Lake Powell. Slot-like walls and low visitation reward careful navigation on un…
Chesler Park — San Juan County, UT
Grassland basin ringed by the colorful sandstone spires of Canyonlands’ Needles District. Reached by the classic Chesler Park / Joint Trail network (viewpoin…
Chimney Rock (Capitol Reef) — Wayne County, UT
Prominent Chinle/Moenkopi spire and trailhead just off UT-24 in Capitol Reef National Park west of Fruita. Roadside views of the namesake pillar plus the pop…
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park — Kane County, UT
Utah State Park of rust-to-coral Navajo Sandstone dunes between Kanab and Mount Carmel Junction. Wind funneled between the Moquith and Moccasin Mountains dro…
Corona Arch — Grand County, UT
Large freestanding sandstone arch (and nearby Pinto Arch) on BLM land west of Moab above the Colorado River. Popular ~3 mi round-trip hike from Potash Road (…
Crystal Geyser — Grand County, UT
Cold CO₂-driven geyser on the bank of the Green River southeast of Green River, Utah. Irregular eruptions build colorful travertine terraces around a histori…
Dead Horse Point State Park — San Juan County, UT
Sheer 2,000-foot overlook of a Colorado River gooseneck and the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands. Utah State Park on SR-313 with rim walks, visitor …
Delicate Arch — Grand County, UT
Utah’s freestanding sandstone icon and license-plate symbol, a 52-foot Entrada Sandstone arch at the end of a 3-mile round-trip slickrock hike in Arches Nati…
Devils Garden (Escalante) — Garfield County, UT
BLM hoodoo and arch garden along Hole-in-the-Rock Road south of Escalante — short easy loops among sandstone fins, Metate Arch, and picnic sites. A classic f…
Diamond Fork Arch — Utah County, UT
A thin freestanding sandstone arch a short walk from Red Ledges Picnic Site & Trailhead in Diamond Fork Canyon. Red ledges, sandy social trails, and picnic t…
Double Arch — Grand County, UT
Tallest arch in Arches National Park (112 ft) and second-longest span (144 ft), two joined freestanding openings in the Windows Section. Easy 0.6-mile round-…
Dowd Mountain Overlook — Daggett County, UT
USFS overlook on Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area with broad views across both the Utah and Wyoming arms of the reservoir. A maintained gravel spur (FS…
Druid Arch — San Juan County, UT
Angular double-opening sandstone arch in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park, reached by a strenuous ~10.8-mile round-trip hike via Elephant Hi…
Dutchman Arch — Emery County, UT
Compact natural arch in the San Rafael Swell’s Head of Sinbad country just north of I-70: easy roadside geology stop among Navajo Sandstone knobs, with nearb…
Factory Butte — Wayne County, UT
Isolated flat-topped butte rising from grey Mancos Shale badlands west of Hanksville. Popular photography and OHV backdrop on surrounding BLM clay flats. Sta…
Fairyland Point — Garfield County, UT
Northernmost paved rim viewpoint in Bryce Canyon National Park, at the end of a 1-mile spur just inside the park entrance. Overlooks younger hoodoos of Fairy…
Fisher Towers — Grand County, UT
A forest of Cutler–Moenkopi mudstone towers above the Colorado River corridor northeast of Moab—the Titan, Ancient Art corkscrew summit, Kingfisher, and Echo…
Gemini Bridges — Grand County, UT
Twin side-by-side sandstone natural bridges on BLM land west of Moab, a signature Moab-area geologic stop reachable by high-clearance road or mountain-bike s…
Goblin Valley — Emery County, UT
Utah state park filled with Entrada Sandstone hoodoos—mushroom-like goblins you can walk among on valley-floor trails. Short paved access off SR-24, campgrou…
Gooseberry Mesa — Washington County, UT
BLM mesa above the Virgin River corridor between Hurricane and Zion with National Recreation Trail status and sweeping red-rock panoramas over mesas and cany…
Goosenecks State Park — San Juan County, UT
Utah state park overlooking entrenched meanders of the San Juan River more than 1,000 ft below the rim. Paved access from SR-261 leads to guardrail viewpoint…
Grand View Point — San Juan County, UT
Southern tip of Canyonlands National Park’s Island in the Sky mesa—paved scenic drive end with a short accessible overlook and optional ~1.8 mi RT rim trail …
Great Stone Face — Millard County, UT
Basalt lava-flow pillar on the Sevier Desert west of Delta that profiles a human face from the trail approach—local landmark on the BLM Pahvant Valley Herita…
Grosvenor Arch — Kane County, UT
A striking double sandstone arch rising more than 150 feet above a red-rock valley in Grand Staircase–Escalante, named for National Geographic Society presid…
Hells Backbone Bridge — Garfield County, UT
Narrow historic single-lane bridge (originally 1930s CCC timber; later rebuilt) spanning a knife-edge ridge between deep canyons on Hell’s Backbone Road in D…
Hickman Natural Bridge — Wayne County, UT
A 133-foot-span natural bridge of Kayenta/Navajo sandstone reached by one of Capitol Reef’s most popular short hikes. The trail climbs from the Fremont River…
Kachina Bridge — San Juan County, UT
Middle of the three great natural bridges in Natural Bridges National Monument — a massive Cedar Mesa Sandstone span 210 ft high with a 204 ft opening over W…
Kanarra Falls — Iron County, UT
Permit-required slot-canyon creek hike from Kanarraville into Spring Creek / Kanarra Creek canyon with ladders, waterfalls, and narrow Navajo Sandstone corri…
Kents Lake — Beaver County, UT
High Tushar Mountain reservoir and USFS campground at about 8,800 feet on Fishlake National Forest’s Beaver Ranger District. Roughly 50 acres of trout water …
Kodachrome Basin State Park — Kane County, UT
A Utah State Park of multicolored Entrada sandstone and 67 rare sedimentary “sand pipes” (clastic pipes/spires) named after Kodachrome film by a 1948–49 Nati…
Kolob Arch — Washington County, UT
One of the world’s largest freestanding natural arches (~287 ft span) hidden in the Kolob Canyons / Zion Wilderness section of Zion National Park. Reached by…
Lake Blanche — Salt Lake County, UT
Alpine cirque lake in the Twin Peaks Wilderness above Big Cottonwood Canyon—a classic Wasatch day-hike destination under Sundial Peak. Clear water, talus, an…
Landscape Arch — Grand County, UT
Among the longest natural rock spans on Earth, a thin ribbon of Entrada Sandstone on the easy Devils Garden Trail in Arches National Park. Large rockfalls in…
LeBaron Reservoir — Beaver County, UT
Highest fishing lake in the Tushar Mountains (~9,900 ft) on Fishlake National Forest: a small alpine reservoir (about 23 acres) formed on LeBaron Creek, stoc…
Little Grand Canyon (Utah) — Emery County, UT
Nickname for the deep San Rafael River gorge beneath the Wedge Overlook in Emery County's San Rafael Swell. Rim pullouts drop ~1,200 ft to colorful cliffs an…
Little Reservoir — Beaver County, UT
Small Fishlake National Forest reservoir on the Tushar west slope near Three Creeks country, paired with Little Reservoir Campground for shoreline trout fish…
Little Sahara Recreation Area — Juab County, UT
BLM-managed Sevier Desert dune field of white-to-tan quartz sand in west-central Utah — one of the largest free-use sand recreation areas in the Southwest. O…
Little Wild Horse Canyon — Emery County, UT
Classic San Rafael Swell slot-canyon loop (often combined with Bell Canyon) in the Muddy Creek Wilderness. Narrow Navajo Sandstone corridors, family-friendly…
Lone Rock Beach — Kane County, UT
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area beach and primitive camping shore on Lake Powell’s Wahweap Bay, dominated by freestanding Lone Rock sandstone in the wat…
Lower Calf Creek Falls — Garfield County, UT
A roughly 126-foot desert waterfall plunging into a plunge pool at the head of Calf Creek Canyon in Grand Staircase–Escalante. The popular out-and-back hike …
Mesa Arch — San Juan County, UT
Famous Island in the Sky cliff-edge arch in Canyonlands National Park. An easy 0.5-mile round-trip trail from a signed trailhead on the scenic drive frames s…
Mexican Hat Rock — San Juan County, UT
Iconic Cedar Mesa sandstone caprock shaped like an inverted sombrero beside US-163 north of Monument Valley. Short dirt spur off the highway reaches free BLM…
Millsite State Park — Emery County, UT
Utah State Park on Millsite Reservoir west of Ferron — quiet camping with hookups, boating and fishing, and trail access into Ferron Canyon for OHV and mount…
Minersville Lake Park — Beaver County, UT
Beaver County day-use and campground park on Minersville Reservoir west of Beaver along SR-21 — boat ramp, swim dock, fishing, paddleboard rentals, and a sho…
Moonshine Arch — Uintah County, UT
A freestanding sandstone arch on BLM land north of Vernal, reached by a short family-friendly hike from a signed dirt-road trailhead. The arch spans a dry wa…
Morning Glory Arch — Grand County, UT
243-foot natural bridge — among the longest rock spans in the U.S. — at the head of a side canyon off Grandstaff Canyon east of Moab. Reached by a popular ~4…
Muley Point — San Juan County, UT
A 1,200-foot cliff overlook on the edge of Cedar Mesa inside Glen Canyon National Recreation Area: panoramic views of the entrenched San Juan River, Monument…
Needles Overlook — San Juan County, UT
BLM Canyon Rims overlook with a paved-road drive to a broad mesa-edge vista over the Needles District of Canyonlands—spires, grabens, and the Colorado River …
Notch Peak — Millard County, UT
Limestone summit in the House Range with one of North America's tallest continuous cliff faces—about 2,200 ft of sheer rock above the Tule Valley floor. High…
Otter Creek State Park — Piute County, UT
Utah State Park on Otter Creek Reservoir in the Grass Valley south of Junction — boating, fishing, camping, birding on the Pacific Flyway, and direct access …
Owachomo Bridge — San Juan County, UT
Thinnest and likely oldest of the three great natural bridges in Natural Bridges National Monument (est. 1908). Easy short trail from the Bridge View Drive o…
Pando — Sevier County, UT
World-famous clonal quaking aspen colony in Fishlake National Forest—tens of thousands of genetically identical stems on a single ancient root system spannin…
Paria Canyon — AZ/UT Border
Paria Canyon cuts a multi-day sandstone corridor from the Utah border to Lees Ferry, famous for glowing walls, narrows, and remote camping. The White House T…
Park Avenue — Grand County, UT
Signature Arches National Park corridor of towering Entrada sandstone walls and spires, often visitors’ first scenic stop after the visitor center. A short p…
Pine Lake — Garfield County, UT
Dixie National Forest reservoir/lake at ~8,100 ft on the Colorado Plateau east of Bryce/Panguitch country, with Pine Lake Campground (family + group sites), …
Piute State Park — Piute County, UT
Primitive Utah State Park on Piute Reservoir below the Sevier Plateau cliffs — trophy trout and bass fishing, quiet camping, and direct access into the Paiut…
Point Supreme — Iron County, UT
Primary rim overlook at Cedar Breaks National Monument, looking into the 2,000-foot amphitheater of orange-and-cream Claron limestone hoodoos, fins, and clif…
Puffer Lake — Beaver County, UT
High alpine lake (~9,670 ft) in the Tushar Mountains east of Beaver along Scenic Byway 153 / Fishlake National Forest. Natural lake with irrigation drawdown …
Rainbow Bridge — San Juan County, UT
Rainbow Bridge National Monument protects one of the world's largest known natural bridges, sacred to several Native nations. Most visitors arrive by boat on…
Rainbow Point — Kane County, UT
Highest major overlook on the Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive (~9,100+ ft) at the southern end of the park road, looking north over hoodoo amphitheaters, distant p…
Red Canyon Visitor Center (Flaming Gorge) — Daggett County, UT
Ashley National Forest visitor center and rim overlook on the south wall of Red Canyon above Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Floor-to-wall windows and outdoor viewp…
Sand Dune Arch — Grand County, UT
Easy, short Arches National Park hike to a secluded Entrada Sandstone arch tucked between tall fins and set in deep wind-blown sand. One of the coolest shade…
Sipapu Bridge — San Juan County, UT
Largest of the three bridges in Natural Bridges National Monument and the second-largest natural bridge in the United States (span 268 ft, height 220 ft). Fo…
Snow Canyon State Park — Washington County, UT
Snow Canyon State Park protects a compact amphitheater of Navajo Sandstone cliffs, black basalt flows, lava tubes, and sand dunes northwest of St. George. Pa…
Spooky Gulch — Kane County, UT
Ultra-narrow slot canyon off Dry Fork of Coyote Gulch in Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, usually combined with Peek-a-Boo Gulch in a popular loo…
The Jug Handle — Grand County, UT
Roadside natural arch on the Potash Road (UT-279) corridor west of Moab, at the mouth of Long Canyon. Visible from the signed pullout with a short walk to th…
The Wedge Overlook — Emery County, UT
BLM rim overlook on the San Rafael Swell’s northern edge with sheer drop-offs into the San Rafael River’s “Little Grand Canyon.” Graded access roads, day-use…
Three Peaks Recreation Area — Iron County, UT
BLM/Iron County OHV and multi-use recreation area northwest of Cedar City featuring volcanic/igneous rock knobs (The Three Peaks), extensive dirt trail netwo…
Upper Calf Creek Falls — Garfield County, UT
Shorter upper twin of the famous Lower Calf Creek Falls on the Escalante River drainage in Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument. A rough, often cairne…
Valley of the Gods — San Juan County, UT
BLM scenic drive through freestanding red sandstone buttes and pinnacles north of Monument Valley. A ~17-mile dirt loop passes named formations with disperse…
Willis Creek Narrows — Kane County, UT
Family-friendly slot-canyon walk in Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument: a perennial shallow creek threads sculpted Navajo Sandstone narrows off Skut…
Wilson Arch — San Juan County, UT
Large freestanding sandstone arch visible from US-191 about 24 miles south of Moab. BLM turnout with interpretive signs; a short scramble reaches the base of…
Wire Pass Trailhead — Kane County, UT
Primary public gateway into Wire Pass slot and the confluence with Buckskin Gulch—one of the Colorado Plateau’s longest continuous slot systems—on the Utah e…
Wooden Shoe Arch — San Juan County, UT
Sandstone arch shaped like a classic Dutch wooden shoe, visible from a paved roadside overlook on the Needles District main road in Canyonlands National Park…
Yant Flat (Candy Cliffs) — Washington County, UT
Candy-striped Navajo Sandstone slickrock and cliffs on the south edge of the Pine Valley Mountains / Dixie National Forest, reached by a short hike from the …
Yuba State Park — Juab County, UT
Utah State Park on Yuba Reservoir (Sevier Bridge Reservoir) along the I-15 corridor south of Nephi — Oasis-area camping, cabins, boat ramps, swimming beaches…

New Mexico (55)

Aguirre Spring Recreation Area — Doña Ana County, NM
BLM campground and day-use area on the east flank of the Organ Mountains within Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks National Monument. Needle-like rhyolite spires r…
Armijo Canyon Trailhead — Cibola County, NM
BLM trailhead on the southern Cebolla Wilderness boundary in El Malpais National Conservation Area, accessing sandstone canyon country, piñon-juniper, and wi…
Blue Hole (Santa Rosa) — Guadalupe County, NM
Crystal-clear artesian sinkhole pool in Santa Rosa on the historic Route 66 corridor—roughly 80 ft deep with constant ~62°F water and strong inflow that keep…
Bluewater Lake State Park — Cibola County, NM
High-country reservoir state park southwest of Prewitt (I-40 Exit 63) in piñon-juniper country between Grants and Gallup. Boating, cold-water fishing, campin…
Bottomless Lakes State Park — Chaves County, NM
New Mexico’s first state park (1933): a string of deep sinkhole lakes along a gypsum/karst escarpment southeast of Roswell. Lea Lake offers swimming and non-…
Brantley Lake State Park — Eddy County, NM
New Mexico State Park on the Pecos River reservoir north of Carlsbad, opened in 1989 after Brantley Dam replaced older McMillan storage. Rolling southeastern…
Caballo Lake State Park — Sierra County, NM
Chihuahuan Desert reservoir on the Rio Grande about 16 miles south of Truth or Consequences, formed by Caballo Dam in the 1930s. New Mexico State Parks manag…
Carlsbad Caverns National Park — Eddy County, NM
World-famous limestone cave system in the Guadalupe Mountains of the Chihuahuan Desert. Self-guided Big Room and Natural Entrance trails, ranger programs, an…
Catwalk National Recreation Trail — Catron County, NM
Steel catwalks and bridges suspended above Whitewater Creek in a narrow canyon of the Gila National Forest near Glenwood. Originally built for an 1890s minin…
Cedro Peak — Bernalillo County, NM
Manzanita Mountains recreation hub on Cibola National Forest south of I-40 and Tijeras—piñon-juniper ridges with a historic fire lookout summit and 80+ miles…
Cimarron Canyon State Park — Colfax County, NM
Narrow, forested canyon where the Cimarron River cuts between volcanic Palisades walls along US 64 on the Enchanted Circle. Fly-fishing, camping, and short w…
City of Rocks State Park — Grant County, NM
One-square-mile field of sculpted volcanic tuff towers rising from Chihuahuan Desert scrub between Deming and Silver City—camp among the ‘streets,’ hike, sta…
Coal Mine Campground (Mount Taylor) — Cibola County, NM
USFS Cibola National Forest developed campground and picnic area in Lobo Canyon on the north side of Mount Taylor (Tsoodził), a forested high-country natural…
Conchas Lake State Park — San Miguel County, NM
High-plains reservoir on the Canadian River in northeastern New Mexico, created by Conchas Dam. The state park offers boat ramps, campgrounds, and open deser…
Coyote Creek State Park — Mora County, NM
Mountain creek park in the Sangre de Cristo foothills north of Mora along NM-434. Meadows, ponderosa, a stocked creek, fishing, and camping in a quieter nort…
Dripping Springs Natural Area — Doña Ana County, NM
BLM day-use area on the west flank of the Organ Mountains (Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks National Monument) with several miles of easy desert trails through s…
Eagle Nest Lake State Park — Colfax County, NM
High-alpine (≈8,300 ft) New Mexico State Park on a 2,400-acre reservoir in a glacial valley beneath the Wheeler Peak massif, outside the village of Eagle Nes…
Echo Amphitheater — Rio Arriba County, NM
Natural sandstone amphitheater in Carson National Forest along US-84 north of Abiquiu — a deep curved alcove famous for multi-second echoes, short interpreti…
Elephant Butte Lake State Park — Sierra County, NM
New Mexico’s largest reservoir state park on the Rio Grande, created by the 1916 Bureau of Reclamation Elephant Butte Dam. Chihuahuan desert shores, sandy be…
Embudito Canyon Trailhead — Bernalillo County, NM
Sandia Mountain Wilderness gateway on Albuquerque’s northeast foothills: Embudito Trail #192 climbs a granite canyon from City of Albuquerque Open Space into…
Emory Pass Vista — Sierra County, NM
Developed Gila National Forest observation site on NM-152 at Emory Pass (~8,200 ft) in the Black Range. Day-use vista with vault toilet and trailhead parking…
Fenton Lake State Park — Sandoval County, NM
Quiet Jemez Mountains state park around a 37-acre reservoir on the Rio Cebolla (~7,650 ft). Ponderosa forest camping, canoeing, and trout fishing (rainbows s…
Fourth of July Campground — Torrance County, NM
Cibola National Forest campground and day-use area in Fourth of July Canyon on the west slope of the Manzano Mountains — famous for one of New Mexico’s best …
Hermit Peak Trailhead (El Porvenir) — San Miguel County, NM
Primary visitor trailhead for Hermit Peak (Hermits Peak Trail #223) at El Porvenir Campground in Santa Fe National Forest west of Las Vegas, NM. The forested…
Hyde Memorial State Park — Santa Fe County, NM
New Mexico’s first state park (1938), nestled along Little Tesuque Creek in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains ~8 miles northeast of Santa Fe on Hyde Park Road (…
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument — Sandoval County, NM
BLM national monument of cone-shaped volcanic tuff “tent rocks” and a slot canyon on the Pajarito Plateau south of Cochiti Pueblo. The Slot Canyon Trail thre…
Lake Roberts Recreation Area — Grant County, NM
USFS recreation area on ~70-acre Lake Roberts in the Gila National Forest north of Mimbres / Silver City country. Upper End and Mesa campgrounds, fishing (ra…
Latir Peak — Taos County, NM
High peak in the Latir Peak Wilderness of the northern Sangre de Cristo—remote alpine basins, lakes, and ridges north of Taos country. A natural-field destin…
Manzano Mountains State Park — Torrance County, NM
Quiet 160-acre New Mexico State Park at ~7,250 ft on the eastern slope of the Manzano Mountains, ~16 miles north of Mountainair via NM-55/NM-131. Ponderosa/m…
Mescalero Sands North Dune OHV Area — Chaves County, NM
BLM recreation area of active gypsum/quartz sand dunes (some crests 90+ ft) along US 380 between Roswell and Tatum on the eastern Chihuahuan/Llano fringe. Da…
Morphy Lake State Park — Mora County, NM
Small high-mountain lake state park in the Sangre de Cristo foothills above Mora. Trout fishing, primitive camping, and forested shoreline at about 8,000 fee…
Narrows Rim Trail (South Narrows Picnic Area) — Cibola County, NM
BLM El Malpais National Conservation Area day-use site on NM 117 where a young basalt flow squeezes against a 500-foot sandstone mesa. The Narrows Rim Trail …
Oasis State Park — Roosevelt County, NM
Shaded cottonwood oasis among shifting sand dunes and a small fishing lake on the Llano Estacado north of Portales. New Mexico State Parks day-use and campin…
Orilla Verde Recreation Area — Taos County, NM
BLM recreation area inside Río Grande del Norte National Monument along the Río Grande Wild and Scenic River near Pilar. Cottonwood-lined gorge camps, put-in…
Picacho Peak Recreation Area — Doña Ana County, NM
BLM recreation area on a 4,959-ft rhyolite volcanic peak just northwest of Las Cruces, with 15+ miles of hiking, mountain-bike, and equestrian trails. The sh…
Quebradas Backcountry Byway — Socorro County, NM
BLM scenic byway (~24 mi unpaved) through colorful badlands, arroyos, and desert mesas east of Socorro—red and white sedimentary bluffs, wide basin views, an…
Quemado Lake Recreation Area — Catron County, NM
USFS recreation complex on ~130-acre Quemado Lake in the Gila National Forest (Quemado Ranger District), about 16 miles south of Quemado. Piñon and Juniper c…
Rio Grande Gorge Bridge — Taos County, NM
Iconic US 64 deck-truss span ~600 ft above the Rio Grande, with free rest-area overlooks into the basalt gorge of Río Grande del Norte country northwest of T…
San Lorenzo Canyon — Socorro County, NM
BLM/USFWS primitive canyon northwest of Socorro with sculpted sandstone cliffs, arches, hoodoos, and cottonwood bottoms. Millions of years of sedimentary sec…
Sandia Crest — Bernalillo County, NM
10,678-foot crest of the Sandia Mountains reached by the Sandia Crest Scenic Byway (NM-536). USFS day-use summit complex with vast views over Albuquerque and…
Santa Rosa Lake State Park — Guadalupe County, NM
State park on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Santa Rosa Dam reservoir (completed 1979) in the upper Pecos valley. Flood-control and sediment-storage lake w…
Shiprock Viewpoint — San Juan County, NM/AZ border
Roadside views of Shiprock (Tsé Bitʼaʼí), a ~1,580-ft volcanic neck sacred to the Navajo Nation. Stay on paved US 491 / Indian Service roads for photography—…
Sitting Bull Falls Recreation Area — Eddy County, NM
Desert oasis in the Guadalupe Mountains of Lincoln National Forest: spring-fed Sitting Bull Falls drops ~150 ft over tufa terraces into clear pools. CCC-era …
Snow Lake Recreation Area — Catron County, NM
High-elevation (~7,300–7,450 ft) USFS reservoir and recreation area on the Reserve Ranger District, Gila National Forest. About 90 acres of water with Dippin…
Soledad Canyon Day Use Area — Doña Ana County, NM
BLM day-use trailhead on the west flank of the Organ Mountains inside Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks National Monument. Bar Canyon / Soledad Canyon loop trails…
Storrie Lake State Park — San Miguel County, NM
State park on the east shore of Storrie Lake (~1,100-acre irrigation reservoir) four miles north of Las Vegas, NM, at the Sangre de Cristo foothills. Camping…
Sugarite Canyon State Park — Colfax County, NM
State park in a forested canyon on the Colorado border combining trout lakes (Maloya, Alice), hiking, and the ruins of the early-1900s Sugarite coal camp. Vi…
Sumner Lake State Park — De Baca County, NM
State park on Bureau of Reclamation Lake Sumner (Sumner Dam) where the Pecos River and Alamogordo Creek meet northwest of Fort Sumner. Large plains reservoir…
Taiban Peak — De Baca County, NM
Isolated high-plains summit and landmark above the Taiban corridor in eastern De Baca County, marking resistant mesa-edge topography along the transition fro…
The Cap Rock — De Baca County, NM
Prominent high-plains escarpment and cliff line in eastern De Baca County where resistant caprock marks the edge of mesa country above the lower Pecos draina…
Tree Spring Trailhead — Bernalillo County, NM
Fee trailhead on the Sandia Crest Scenic Byway (NM-536) for Tree Spring Trail 147 — a popular ~2-mile one-way climb through mixed conifer to the South Crest …
Ute Lake State Park — Quay County, NM
New Mexico State Park on a Canadian River reservoir west of Logan in the high plains/canyon country of far eastern NM. Red-rock shoreline bluffs, boating, ca…
Villanueva State Park — San Miguel County, NM
Compact state park set between high red and yellow sandstone bluffs along the Pecos River near the historic Spanish village of Villanueva. Cottonwood bosque,…
White Sands National Park — Otero County, NM
World’s largest gypsum dunefield — brilliant white crystal sands in the Tularosa Basin, fully surrounded by White Sands Missile Range. Dunes Drive reaches de…
Wild Rivers Recreation Area — Taos County, NM
BLM-developed hub of Río Grande del Norte National Monument where the Red River joins the Rio Grande in an ~800-ft basalt gorge. Zimmerman Visitor Center, ri…