Mapped: State and national parks in Arizona

Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park

Founded in the 1920s by Col. William Boyce Thompson, a mining magnate, this is Arizona's oldest botanical garden. It is in Superior, Ariz., in Pinal County.

Canyon de Chelly National Monument

Located in Chinle, Ariz., in Apache County, the canyon has been inhabited for almost 5,000 years.

According to the National Park Service website, the name of Canyon de Chelly came about from the misspelling and mispronunciation of the Navajo word for the canyon, "Tseyo." The Navajos pronounce it 'say-ee.' For everyone else the word is now pronounced as 'de-shay.'

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

The Casa Grande Ruins are located in Coolidge, Ariz., in Pinal County.

The Casa Grande, or great house, is a four-story, 11-room structure built about 700 years ago. The ruins are believed to be what is left of structures built by the Hohokam people, an ancient Sonoran Desert culture, but their purpose is unknown.

Catalina State Park

Catalina State Park is just north of Tucson, Ariz., in Pima County.

The park is filled with saguaros and other desert plants and wildlife. It is open for camping, hiking, horseback riding, birding and other outdoor pursuits.

Cattail Cove State Park

Cattail Cove is in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., in Mohave County.

With access to Lake Havasu, it is popular for water sports and is also frequently visited by rock hounds.

Chiricahua National Monument

Located southeast of Willcox, Ariz., in Cochise County, the park is known for impressive vertical rock formations.

It is part of the "Sky Island" chain and named for the native American Chiricahua people.

Coronado National Memorial

This memorial is near Hereford, Ariz., in Cochise County.

It commemorates the Francisco Vásquez de Coronado Expedition of 1540-1542, and celebrates our ties with Mexico. The memorial has two sister parks in Mexico.

Fort Bowie National Historic Site

The fort is near Willcox, Ariz., in Cochise County, and was named for Col. George Washington Bowie, who established it.

Fort Bowie commemorates the conflict between Chiricahua Apaches and the U.S. military and provides insight into the culture clash between them.

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

Glen Canyon is near Page, Ariz., in Coconino County, and in Utah.

The area encompasses Lake Powell, made when the Glen Canyon Dam was completed. Its purpose is recreation and preservation of the natural resources.

Grand Canyon National Park

Arizona's most famous park covers almost 2 million square miles and is in Mohave and Coconino counties. Woe be to those who say it is in Utah or Nevada.

The South Rim is open all year and the north rim in late spring and summer. The canyon is a mile deep and up to 18 miles wide.

Homolovi State Park

Homolovi State Park is in Navajo County near Winslow, Ariz.

It is a center for the study of the Hopi people. The name Homolovi means "Place of the little hills" in Hopi. The Hopi consider the place to be sacred.

Jerome State Historic Park

The park is in Yavapai County in Jerome, Ariz.

A central feature is the Douglas Mansion, built by James S. Douglas in 1916 above his Little Daisy Mine. Mines are all about the area.

Kartchner Caverns State Park

Kartchner Caverns is a series of live cave formations near Benson, Ariz., in Cochise County.

The caverns were discovered in 1874 but didn't become public knowledge until 1988 when the purchase for a state park was approved.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Lake Mead is located in Mohave County, Arizona, and Clark County, Nevada.

It is home to thousands of desert-hardy plants and animals. The area is meant for recreation and preservation.

Lost Dutchman State Park

The park is named for the famous gold mine. It is located in the Sonoran Desert east of Phoenix near Apache Junction, Ariz., in Pinal County.

The park has bike loops, hiking trails and enough rain for spring wildflowers most years.

Oracle State Park

The park is near Oracle, Ariz., in Pinal County.

Oracle State Park is a Wildlife refuge in the foothills of the Catalina Mountains. The Kannally Ranch House in the park is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is near Ajo, Ariz., in Pima County.

It is an International Biosphere Reserve that is home to thriving plants and animals, most notably the Organ Pipe cactus.

Patagonia Lake State Park

This park is in Patagonia in Santa Cruz County.

This park has plenty of recreational opportunities and is great for wildlife watching.

Petrified Forest National Park

The park is in Apache and Navajo counties near Holbrook, Ariz.

It is named for the large deposits of petrified wood. It is known for its fossils, but still has an abundance of living flora and fauna.

Picacho Peak State Park

Picacho Peak is in Pinal County near Eloy, Ariz.

Picacho Peak's unique shape has been used by travelers as a landmark for years. It is also known as the site of a Civil War battle.

Red Rock State Park

Red Rock State Park is near Sedona, Ariz., in Yavapai County.

The 286-acre nature preserve is frequented by bird watchers, hikers, photographers and nature lovers of all types.

Roper Lake State Park

Roper Lake is near Safford, Ariz., in Graham County.

This is a vibrant recreation area popular for fishing, swimming, camping and other outdoor activities.

Saguaro National Park

Saguaro National Park is found in two parcels east and west of Tucson in Pima County, Ariz.

Filled with majestic examples of the giant saguaros, the symbol of the southwest, this park is a popular hiking and biking spot.

Slide Rock State Park

Slide Rock is located near Sedona, Ariz., in Coconino County.

The park was originally a homestead and historic apple farm started by Frank L. Pendley after his arrival in 1907. The first apple orchard was planted in 1912.

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

Sunset Crater Volcano is near Flagstaff, Ariz., in Coconino County.

The volcano erupted approximately 900 years ago changing the landscape. It is the youngest in the San Francisco volcanic field. The area contains Ponderosa Pines and a variety of wildlife.

Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park

Tombstone Courthouse is in Cochise County.

We all know Tombstone is the town that wouldn't die. The courthouse was built in 1882 in the shape of a Roman cross. It is now a museum dedicated to Tombstone's history as a silver mining boomtown.

Tonto National Monument

This national monument is in the Superstition Mountains in Gila County near Roosevelt, Ariz.

It includes two Salado-style cliff dwellings and artifacts of a culture that lived there about 700 years ago.

Tonto Natural Bridge State Park

This natural bridge is near Payson, Ariz., in Gila County.

This is believed to be the largest natural travertine bridge in the world. The valley and bridge were discovered in 1877 by prospector David Gowan as he was chased by Apaches. He eluded them and claimed squatter's rights on area.

Tubac Presidio State Historic Park

This park is in Tubac, Ariz., in Santa Cruz County.

Tubac began as a small Piman village. The presidio was founded in June, 1752. When the garrison was moved to Tucson in 1776, most of the unprotected colonists left their homes in Tubac. The presidio was reactivated in 1787 and changed hands several times.

Tumacácori National Historical Park

This park is in Tumacácori, near Nogales, Ariz., in Santa Crus County.

Father Kino established Mission Tumacácori in 1691 and three missions were eventually in the area. Mission San José de Tumacácori replaced Mission San Cayetano de Tumacácori, the oldest mission. Mission Los Santos Ángeles de Guevavi was the second oldest.

Walnut Canyon National Monument

This national monument is near Flagstaff, Ariz., in Coconino County.

Here you'll find ancient cliff dwellings and many hiking trails. The vliff dwellings were made by the Sinagua, and pre-Columbian culture of the area.

Wupatki National Monument

This national monument is near Flagstaff, Ariz., in Coconino County.

Wupatki has ancient pueblos and red-rock outcroppings.

Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park

The prison is in Yuma, Ariz., in Yuma county.

The prison was built by the first inmates who were locked in in 1876. In 1909, another prison was built. This one became a high school for a short time. One of the famous — or infamous — prisoners here was Pearl Hart.