southwest

Road trips on lonely and desolate roads are woven into the western experience. But even the most windswept, far-off places have stories to tell. In this month’s Canyon Commentary, author Scott Thybony takes a drive through New Mexico while contemplating cattle drives and fresh-baked pies.

In this month’s Canyon Commentary, author Scott Thybony recounts his many adventures on the rugged Arizona Strip encountering wind-carved Navajo sandstone that can take on familiar-yet-otherworldly forms.

Wells Spicer was a frontier lawyer who led a grueling expedition in the Grand Canyon and also happened to play pivotal roles in two most famous court cases in the American West. Scott Thybony tells his story in this month's Canyon Commentary.

The first white explorer to descend the Colorado River through Grand Canyon published an account of his journey 150 years ago. In this month’s Canyon Commentary Scott Thybony travels to the Vermillion Cliffs to see if he can match the view.

After sunset, the eerie choruses of coyotes are among the most iconic sounds of the American West.

In his latest Canyon Commentary, author Scott Thybony travels to Navajo country with a former working cowboy and friend to get his take on a spectacular rock art panel depicting a horseback raid.

Fire lookout towers didn't exist in Arizona in the early 1900s. Instead, firefighters use tall ponderosa pines near mountain tops or other strategic viewpoints.

The Four Corners potato fed people 10,000 years ago and now the ancient, nutrient-packed spud is drawing new interest.

CO₂ levels topped a record high of 430 ppm in May. It’s bad news for ecosystems, but could mean wetter summers for some regions.

The Las Vegas bearpoppy is incredibly rare and found in scattered locations in northwestern Arizona and near Las Vegas.