Natural Places of the Southwestleads you to extraordinary, inspiring places most visitors never find. You’ll discover unforgettable hikes, rustic inns and ranches, and magnificent campsites with panoramic views—but how to get there and where to stay are just the beginning. Evoking theessenceof each place, author Fraser Bridges describes in vivid detail the history, legendry, wildlife, ecology, and natural setting of 11 spectacular areas, including: • Grand Canyon—North Rim • Bryce Canyon • Chaco Canyon • Sedona and the Verde Valley • North San Pedro and Santa Cruz Basins • The Enchanted Circle and Taos • Death Valley and the Amargosa • Saguaro National Park Turn these pages and you will find yourself inclined to commune with the prehistoric ghosts or contemplate the magic of high desert geology. You may reflect on ancient ways as you stroll beneath creaking pines, relax in a natural hot spring, or fish in a deep, peaceful pool. From savoring the solitude of the open desert to observing the birds that call it home,Natural Places of the Southwesttakes you to the source of natural wonder. “This book is about those natural places that bring us into a new realm of discovery: of natural life, of the earth itself, of history and culture of peoples unknown.”—Fraser Bridges