Cathedral Rock is one of the most famous red rock formations in Sedona, Arizona. Its spires glow brightly at sunset, and Red Rock Crossing at Oak Creek gives a classic reflected view. A short but steep trail climbs to a saddle between the spires. Sedona is also known for galleries and spiritual retreats.

The Grand Canyon South Rim is the most visited part of Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. The canyon, carved by the Colorado River over millions of years, is up to 29 km wide and about 1.8 km deep. Viewpoints such as Mather Point, Yavapai Point and Hopi Point reveal layered rock in shades of red and orange. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona is known for its large deposits of colourful petrified wood, about 225 million years old. The park also includes part of the Painted Desert, with badlands in shades of red, purple and grey. Newspaper Rock displays more than 650 ancient petroglyphs.

Santa Fe Plaza has been the heart of Santa Fe since the city was founded in 1610, making it the oldest state capital in the United States. The Palace of the Governors, where Native American artisans sell jewellery under the portal, faces the plaza. Adobe buildings, galleries and restaurants surround it.

Taos Pueblo in northern New Mexico is a multi-storey adobe settlement that has been continuously inhabited for over 1,000 years. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a living community of the Taos people. Visitors can tour the village and learn about its culture and history.

White Sands National Park in New Mexico protects the world's largest gypsum dune field, covering about 712 square km. The brilliant white dunes look like snow and stay cool underfoot. Visitors hike, picnic and sled down the dunes, and sunsets turn the sand pink and gold.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico protects more than 119 caves formed in an ancient reef. The Big Room is one of the largest cave chambers in North America, filled with stalactites and stalagmites. In summer evenings, hundreds of thousands of bats fly out of the cave entrance.

Saguaro National Park near Tucson protects forests of giant saguaro cacti, a symbol of the American Southwest. These cacti can grow over 12 metres tall and live more than 150 years. The park has two districts on either side of the city, with scenic drives, desert hiking trails and ancient petroglyphs.