Know Before You Go

—By Megan Brief
Behold the natural wonders of Utah’s Bryce Canyon National Park—with vistas so dramatic, you might think you’ve been transported to a world galaxies away.

—By Cathy Brown
Two billion years of the Earth’s history are represented in the landscape of the American Southwest.

—By Michelle Peters
Here, we take a look at the best spots for sunset and sunrise views, as well as stargazing in our favorite Southwest national parks.

—By Megan Brief
Have you ever seen a greater short-horned lizard scrape its crown of spines along a canyon rim? Heard the love songs of a northern pygmy-owl duet? These are just a few of the secrets told by the deserts of the American Southwest, and there are many more—if you look and listen closely.

—By Emily Goodheart
The Grand Canyon is steeped in human history. Indigenous peoples have inhabited the region for more than 12,000 years, and it was officially designated a national park in 1919.

—By Candice Gaukel Andrews
Castleton Tower, a red-rock formation northeast of Bryce Canyon National Park, is pulsating at about the rate of a human heartbeat—and we can hear it.

—By Candice Gaukel Andrews
The best obelisks and pillars, spires and towers, in the Southwest Canyons are made of ice, wind, rain and rock. They glow with crimsons, reds and scarlets.

—By Candice Gaukel Andrews
In Zion, rock canvases and stone sculptures in colors of cream and pink seem crafted by some ancient Michelangelo rather than by the fancy and whim of nature.

—By Candice Gaukel Andrews
Once you’ve chosen which national park is right for you, use the following tips to make the most of your adventure!

—By Hannah Wagner
Signed into being the 15th National Park by Woodrow Wilson on February 26, 1919, the Grand Canyon is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

—By Candice Gaukel Andrews
While continental drift helped sculpt one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks, it was the liquid and fluid fingers of an artistic river that finally produced the exquisite results we have today.

—By Court Whelan
When it comes to Canyon Country, the Grand Canyon stands alone. While there are many other iconic desert landscapes within short drives from both the North...