4 National Parks & Monuments to Tour in Southwest America

Touring the Incredible Landscapes of Southwest America

You may know the American Southwest for its incredible desert landscapes. From Arizona and New Mexico to Colorado and other states, this region is a treasure trove of awe-inspiring canyons, captivating rock formations, vast desert expanses, and orange and red hues. But these landscapes aren’t just incredible sights. Many are places that people have considered sacred or called home for hundreds or thousands of years — places that carry the heritage of ancestral peoples and remain deeply intertwined with Indigenous cultures today.

If you’re looking to witness epic landscapes and glimpse some of this rich culture, these four parks and monuments across New Mexico and Arizona offer unforgettable opportunities.

4 Places in Southwest America to Explore Indigenous Heritage and Natural Wonders

Bandelier National Monument

At Bandelier National Monument, discover the lands that the Ancestral Pueblo people called home between 1150 and 1550 CE. Encompassing part of New Mexico’s Pajarito Plateau, the monument protects more than 33,000 acres of land containing petroglyphs and Ancestral Puebloan village sites. See the remains of a structure that once contained 400 rooms at Tyuonyi, or hike your way to another main village at Tsankawi.

And the Ancestral Puebloans weren’t the only ones to inhabit this landscape of canyons and mesas. Evidence suggests that people have lived here for over 10,000 years, with nomadic hunter-gatherers being the first.

Canyon de Chelly

Dramatic canyon walls, red sandstone cliffs, and vibrant bursts of green vegetation paint a picture of natural beauty at Canyon de Chelly, a national monument located in northeastern Arizona on the Colorado Plateau. But unlike some other national monuments, like Bandelier, Canyon de Chelly has been continuously inhabited for over 5,000 years—and people still live there today. Contained within the Navajo Nation, it remains a current-day home for Navajo, or Dine’, families. It is managed by both the National Park Service and the Navajo Nation.

Framed by those impressive canyon walls, visitors can see ancient cliff dwellings beside the contemporary Navajo community, who farm the land and raise livestock as they have for generations.

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park

Head north from Canyon de Chelly to where Arizona and Utah meet, and you’ll find another beautiful desert landscape: Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. This one, too, sits within Navajo Nation. But rather than steep canyon walls, this site boasts towering sandstone formations that stand like giants in the valley. With the vastness of the desert land and the commanding presence of those rock skyscrapers, which rise up to 1,000 feet in the air, it’s a majestic scene—and it’s said to be one of the most photographed places on earth.

The Grand Canyon

Another place to experience the spirit of this region? Of course, the Grand Canyon, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. At 277 miles (or 446 kilometers) long and thousands of feet deep, the Grand Canyon is one of those places that can truly leave you breathless. Carved out by the Colorado River, it’s an awe-inspiring portrait of colour and sculpted rock, one that astounds with its sheer magnitude.

But it isn’t just a natural wonder; it’s a homeland. People have lived in and around the Grand Canyon for thousands of years, and the area holds a deep significance for associated Native American tribes. Today, people from these tribes still reside in the canyon or the surrounding area.

Tour Coming Soon: Discover the Spirit of the American Southwest on a Guided Tour

With our coming tour, you’ll get to explore these epic landscapes—and encounter some of the Indigenous cultures and histories intertwined with the region.

Go off the beaten path, learning about the Ancestral Puebloan people at Bandelier National Monument, touring Canyon de Chelly with a Dine’ guide, and engaging with the history of the Navajo people at Monument Valley. As our product designer, Vinette, says, “It’s going to be a very adventurous, exciting trip with a lot of cultural learning and discovery.”

If you’re ready to experience the spirit of the American Southwest, sign up for tour alerts and stay tuned: your opportunity is coming soon.