Burping, gurgling geothermal mud pots by the Salton Sea.

At this deceptively beautiful beach, nothing is what it seems.

Version of the French Riviera destroyed by the sea.

While you're unlikely to find riches here these days, this remote mine is a time capsule of the Gold Rush era.

A wondrous place to watch a special flower bloom.

Ancient human, animal, and geometric figures drawn in the earth.

The stone-covered graves lie within the ruins of an Old West ghost town.

The shop's owner has spent decades in the desert wearing nothing but a strategically placed sock.

Some 10,000 works of ancient rock art cover these volcanic basalt outcrops near the Gila River.

A strenuous, unofficial trail leads to spectacular views in one of America's most remote national monuments.

This 40-room dwelling tucked within a cliff was built by the basin's prehistoric residents.

Previously a hot spring, this park remains a site of unique history, wildlife, and geology.

A reproduction of earth's many biomes.

An off-the-beaten path cave with an underground lake.

During World War II this was the site of an "honor camp" used as a prison for draft dodgers, Native American conscientious objectors, and Japanese-Americans—including a man who brought his case against the camp to the Supreme Court.

Hidden on a cattle ranch in Arizona, this bookstore has been celebrating Southwest literature for more than 40 years.

Limestone caves with spectacular showcase chambers.

The biggest solar telescope in the world helps reveal the secrets of our sun.

A park in Mexico offers all the experiences of an illegal border crossing except for one: the border.

This giant steer-skull edifice refuses to die.

After a short-lived attempt to bring America in line with the rest of the world, this road was left in metric.

America's only nuclear missile silo open to the public.

One of the largest open-pit copper mining operations in the entire country.

Run by members of the Tohono O'odham Nation, this community farm nurtures traditional desert cultivars.