Imagine standing at the very edge of the Grand Canyon s northern rim, just you and a chattering jay in the sweet scented Ponderosa pine. Or, perhaps you are intrigued by the mystical power of a medicine wheel. Or, does the challenge of hiking where there are no maintained trails peak your interest. These are just a few of the adventures possible in the National Forests of Arizona and New Mexico. Yes, there is more to Arizona and New Mexico then sun-drenched dessert - a lot more. In this land of Saguaro and Barrel cactus, Prickly Pear cactus and Desert willow, Ponderosa pine and Mesquite tree, and a scattering of once forgotten ruins of the Ancient Ones, the challenges and satisfactions for the camper are abundant. Solitary mountain ranges rise high to capture every moisture-soaked cloud above the sun-drenched flat land below, offering campers cooler temperatures, shady pine forests, and an amazing diversity of wildlife. Whether you camp in a tent or a recreational vehicle (RV), there are campgrounds in U.S. National Forests to satisfy the needs of most campers. The U.S. National Forest Campground Guide, Southwestern Region, describes 157 developed campgrounds in 12 National Forests located in Arizona and New Mexico. All of the campgrounds were personally visited and researched by the authors of this Guide. There are more than 50 items of information for each campground, narrative descriptions (including authors anecdotes), maps displaying the relative location of the campgrounds, and quick look-up tables to help in the selection of a campground. In addition, there are sidebars throughout the Guide containing useful information about camping, the forests, things to do, and the authors experiences.




