Grand Canyon
Widely recognized as one of the natural wonders of the world, the gargantuan gash in the Earth northwest of Flagstaff can wow you for an afternoon - or a lifetime. Hikers, river rafters and tourists peering into the Canyon's depths witness a geologic spectacle unlike any other on the planet.
Sonoran Desert
It's a trove of prickly biodiversity - spanning vast reaches of Southeastern Arizona and showcased at Saguaro National Park on the eastern and western edges of Tucson. The iconic saguaro cactus is the superstar, but the desert's other plants, along with its animals and land forms, make it a unique ecosystem.
Meteor Crater
Something dropped in on Arizona from far out yonder some 50,000 years ago and made one heck of an impact. A huge meteorite slammed into the Earth west of where Winslow now stands at about 26,000 miles an hour - leaving a crater that today is nearly a mile across and 550 feet deep.
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San Pedro River
It would be a modest watercourse in many parts of the world, but this wet ribbon is vital lifeblood in these parts. One section of the river - protected as the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area east of Sierra Vista - is known for its diverse, abundant bird life.
Kartchner Caverns
A subterranean world of almost unbelievable complexity and beauty hides from daylight at the base of the Whetstone Mountains south of Benson. The caverns, discovered in 1974, hold a limestone treasure of cave formations and serve as home to bats.
- Selected by Doug Kreutz