Must-seeSouthwest
Canyons, deserts and Route 66.
This is a first draft of the Southwest list. The full region guide is being written, and tiers may still change.
The short list
Must-see
Must-see
Must-see
Must-see
Must-seeMonument Valley
The red sandstone buttes of every Western movie, on Navajo land; see them at sunrise or with a Navajo guide.
Guide coming soon
Must-seeArches and Moab
More than 2,000 natural stone arches, with Canyonlands next door and Moab as an adventure base.
Guide coming soon
Worth a detour
Worth a detourAntelope Canyon
A narrow slot canyon of swirling, glowing sandstone near Page, Arizona. Entry is only with a Navajo-led tour.
Guide coming soon
Worth a detourAlbuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
Nine days in early October
Hundreds of hot-air balloons rise together at dawn. Arrive in the dark for the mass ascension.
Guide coming soon
Worth a detourBurning Man
Late August to Labor Day
A temporary city of art in Nevada's Black Rock Desert. Tickets are hard to get, and you bring everything you need.
Guide coming soon
Worth a detourRoute 66
The old Chicago-to-Los Angeles highway; its best-kept stretch of diners and neon runs across Arizona.
Guide coming soon
Worth a detourBryce Canyon National Park
An amphitheater of orange rock spires called hoodoos, best from the rim at sunrise. Easy to pair with Zion.
Guide coming soon
Worth a detourSedona
Red rock buttes, easy hikes and a reputation as a spiritual retreat, two hours from the Grand Canyon.
Guide coming soon
Worth a detourHoover Dam
A 1930s concrete giant across the Colorado River, 45 minutes from Las Vegas.
Guide coming soon
Worth a detourSanta Fe
Adobe buildings, galleries on Canyon Road and New Mexico's green-chile cooking.
Guide coming soon
If you're nearby
If you're nearbyPhoenix
Desert resorts, the Desert Botanical Garden and a base for Sedona and the Grand Canyon.
Guide coming soon
If you're nearbyAlbuquerque
Home of the Balloon Fiesta, with an old Spanish plaza, the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and a long tram up Sandia Peak.
Guide coming soon
If you're nearbyTucson
A desert city between the two halves of Saguaro National Park, known for its Sonoran-Mexican food.
Guide coming soon
On the map
Grey pins: guides still being written.