It would take a lifetime to see all the wonders of the 1.87 million-acre Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, but you can see a lot in one short visit.
Deborah Wall
Deborah Wall is the author of "Great Hikes, a Cerca Country Guide," and "Basecamp Las Vegas: Hiking the Southwestern States," published by Stephens Press. Email: deborabus@aol.com
Canyon de Chelly National Monument in Arizona is about 460 miles from Las Vegas, in the Four Corners region of Arizona.
Capitol Reef National Park in Utah boasts some of the finest rock formations and geologic wonders in the West and is a top hiking location.
With 8,000 rock climbing routes, 191 miles of hiking trails and five palm oases to visit, the national park attracts more than 2.8 million visitors a year.
Fort Piute makes a wonderful day outing to a remote area in the extreme eastern region of the Mojave National Preserve in California.
The Sonoran Desert is tough on plants, yet the saguaro is a master of survival. It is one of many plants protected by the Native Plant Protection Act.
Established in 1939, the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge encompasses more than 665,000 acres and protects more than 400 desert bighorn sheep and other wildlife.
Zion National Park is one of our favorite landscapes any time of year, but in winter its stark mountains, stripped of summer foliage, will be all the more breathtaking.
Grapevine Canyon is one of the finest petroglyph sites in Southern Nevada. It is also one of the easiest to visit on a day trip.
The Blythe Intaglios are so large that they were not noticeable to non-Indigenous people until 1932. That year, pilot George Palmer spotted them while flying from Las Vegas to Blythe, California.
From sandy walks to scenic drives, how to pack the most into your Death Valley day trip.
Arizona’s Upper and Lower Antelope canyons offer easy access to dramatic rockscapes
The Rings Trail to Banshee Canyon is a short but adventurous outing in California’s Mojave National Preserve.
Colorful fall foliage, plus spectacular geology, is a short drive away, in Utah.
One favorite hike is to two slot canyons, Spooky and Peek-A-Boo. Both can easily be visited in one half of a day.