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Petroglyph Canyon is the Valley of Fire’s most popular attraction, carrying as it does the park’s largest concentration of petroglyphs – primarily symbols incised by prehistoric Native Americans from the Lost City. The purpose of the petroglyphs is unclear: some may have been no more than the road signs of their day, while others might have had a religious or mystical significance. Trail markers point out interesting sites along the way.

Petroglyph Canyon

Artifacts salvaged from Pueblo Grande de Nevada – now known as the Lost City – before it was inundated by Lake Mead are displayed at this pueblo-style museum. Exhibits include a reconstruction of the village, hunting weapons, and pottery.

Also called Kolob Terrace Road, this makes for a great scenic drive, taking in the multicolored Moenkopi Formation rocks, North Creek, Tabernacle Dome (a mass of red rock), cinder cones, canyons, valleys, and forests.

This makes for another splendid scenic drive, ending at the Temple of Sinawava. Of special interest is a mass of debris caused by a landslide 4,000 years ago. If you can stay, head for Zion Lodge, and, if you have no air-conditioning, gaze longingly at the shady groves of cottonwood, velvet ash, and box elder. Near the end of the drive is a turning that affords excellent views of the Great White Throne.

The North Rim of Grand Canyon may be more remote than the South Rim, but it is worth the effort. From Bright Angel Point (situated on an ancient trail) are spectacular canyon views.

For a visual introduction to Grand Canyon geology, you can scarcely beat the view from Yavapai Observation Station. Look down to the canyon floor for views of the Phantom Ranch lodge and the Colorado River. The river flows along the bottom of the canyon, no less than 5,000 ft (1,500 m) below the rim. From this great height it doesn’t look very threatening, even with binoculars, but from the canyon floor it’s a wildly impressive sight.

A fanciful recreation of an Ancestral Pueblo, this landmark structure was designed by regional architect Mary Colter in 1932. The upper floor of the stone-built tower is decorated with Hopi murals. A gift store and refreshments are available. Other Colter designs in the area include Hopi House, Hermit’s Rest, the Lookout Studio, and the cabins at Phantom Ranch lodge.

Less of a castle than a Mediterranean-style mansion, the main man-made visitor attraction at Death Valley was built in the 1920s by the Chicago insurance magnate Albert Johnson. But Wild West show cowboy and conman Walter Scott had a habit of bragging that the spread was his, and it came to be called Scotty’s Castle after him. A nice twist to the tale is that, in his last years, Scott was befriended by Johnson and spent his last years at the coveted castle. Tours of the interior are available year round: fine craftsmanship is evident in the intricate wood carvings, wrought iron, and ornate tiling. It is also possible to take a self-guided tour of the grounds.

High in the Panamint Mountains, the point offers panoramic views across most of Death Valley, taking in Furnace Creek, the snow-capped Sierra Nevada, Devil’s Golf Course, and other landmarks. The point is accessible by mountain bike, but you’ll need excellent bike-handling skills to make the climb; there is a 13-mile (21-km) loop ride for those who want to try it.

On the crest of the Black Mountains, this is one of the most spectacular overlooks in Death Valley. It is approximately 5,475 ft (1,668 m) above the Badwater salt flats – the lowest point in Death Valley – and is a wonderful place for watching sunrise. The name was inspired by Dante’s Inferno .