The Verde River in Montezuma's Castle National Monument

Photographic Opportunities in Southern Arizona

	Desert USA -- Life in the desert southwest. Let us help you discover places to go and the things to do in the desert. National & State Parks, backcountry roads, wildflowers, deserts animals and plants.
	Tohono Chul Park -- The Park's mission is to enrich people's lives by providing them the opportunity to find peace and inspiration in a place of beauty, to experience the wonders of the Sonoran Desert, and to gain knowledge of the natural and cultural heritage of this region. Tohono Chul Park is the Southwest center where nature, art, and culture connect. Ramble through winding nature trails and gardens.
	Sonora Desert Museum -- The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a world-renowned zoo, natural history museum and botanical garden, all in one place! Exhibits re-create the natural landscape of the Sonoran Desert Region so realistically you find yourself eye-to-eye with mountain lions, prairie dogs, Gila monsters, and more. Within the Museum grounds, you will see more than 300 animal species and 1,200 kinds of plants.
	Reid Park Zoo -- The Mission of Reid Park Zoo is to encourage human commitment to the conservation of biological diversity; to provide a healthy and enriching environment for a collection of animals from around the world; and to provide educational and fun experiences for visitors of all ages.
	Coronado National Forest -- The Coronado National Forest covers 1,780,000 acres of southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. Elevations range from 3000 feet to 10,720 feet in twelve widely scattered mountain ranges or "sky islands" that rise dramatically from the desert floor, supporting plant communities as biologically diverse as those encountered on a trip from Mexico to Canada. Included in the Coronado National Park is Madera Canyon, east of Green Valley, a world class birding area.
	Saguaro National Park -- The staff at Saguaro National Park invite you to “Experience Your America” in a way that only the Sonoran Desert can offer. This unique desert is home to the most recognizable cactus in the world, the majestic saguaro. While most visitors to Saguaro National Park choose a leisurely drive on one of our scenic loop drives, those eager for an escape from the rigors of city life often opt to explore the park on one of our many trails.
	Arizona Bureau of Land Management -- BLM Arizona administers 12.2 million surface acres of public lands, and another 17.5 million subsurface acres within the state. This includes a number of National Monuments, several National Conservation Areas, Wilderness areas, as well as managing several herds of wild horses and wild burros.
	Desert Botanical Garden -- in Phoenix. Nestled amid the red buttes of Papago Park, the Desert Botanical Garden hosts one of the world’s finest collections of desert plants. One of only 44 botanical gardens accredited by the American Association of Museums, this one-of-a-kind museum showcases 50 acres of beautiful outdoor exhibits. Home to 139 rare, threatened and endangered plant species from around the world, the Garden offers interesting and inspiring experiences to more than 250,000 visitors each year.
	Arizona Folklore Center -- Located in Ramsey Canyon near Sierra Vista, AZ. The Folklore Center features performances by Dolan Ellis, Arizona's Official State Balladeer. Ramsey Canyon is a narrow green gorge on the eastern slopes of the Huachuca Mountain near Sierra Vista, Arizona. It is just a stone's throw from Mexico. It is known as "The Hummingbird Capital of the United States" because it has more varieties of hummingbirds than any other spot in the country.
	Pima Air Museum -- The Pima Air & Space Museum is the largest Air & Space Museum in the Western United States. Ride the Morphis Simulator, climb aboard President Kennedy's Air Force One and gaze at the spectacular, supersonic, SR-71 Blackbird "Spy Plane". Visit the 390th Memorial Museum with its B-17 Bomber.
	American Southwest Historic Sites -- There are 58 registered historic sites listed at this web site. They are in either Arizona or New Mexico. Just click on "Next Site" to page through them. Some of interest in southern Arizona are Coronado National Memorial, Fort Huachuca, Tumacacori, Tubac Presidio, San Xavier, Casa Grande Ruins, and in Tuson you will find El Presidio, Barrio Libre, and La Casa Cordova,
	Arizona State Parks -- The Arizona State Park system includes historic parks such as Yuma Prison, Tubac Presidio and Fort Verde. It also contains natural areas including Picacho Peak, Tonto Natural Bridge, and Karchner Caverns. And, of course, there are fishing sposts like Patagonia Lake and Lake Havasu. The parks also has its "Trail of the Month" program featuring a different trail each month.
	The Nature Conservancy -- Our conservation victories are varied and stretch across five broad landscapes. Within these landscapes are the Conservancy's 14 preserves in Arizona. Six of the preserves are open to the public. These are Patagonia-Sonoita Creek, Ramsey Canyon, Muleshoe Ranch, Aravaipa Canyon, Hassayampa River, and Hart Prairie.
	National Forests -- Arizona. There are six national forests in Arizona. They are Apache-Sitgreaves, Coconino, Coronado, Kaibabi, Prescott, and Tonto. All provide recreational opportunities and provide excellent places to photograph landscapes, plants, birds, and other wildlife.

Photographing the Tumacacori Mission

B-17 Bomber at the
Pima Air Museum

Tonto Natural Bridge