Northern Arizona stands in contrast to the southern part of the state. The high Colorado Plateau, which stretches across large portions of four states, covers almost the entire northern half of Arizona.

It begins at the Mogollon Rim, which runs across the state from northwest to southeast, where the land rises abruptly in a line of ridges and cliffs. Near the Rim, the small city of Flagstaff is surrounded by forested mountains, including Arizona's highest: 12,634-ft. Humphrey's Peak. Flagstaff sits at an elevation of 7,000 feet, and is cooler than Phoenix by about 20°F--making it a popular destination for southern Arizonans in summer.

It sometimes seems as though Northern Arizona consists of an unbroken string of scenic attractions. The biggest--literally--is of course the Grand Canyon, one of the greatest tourist attractions in the country. But the list of others is truly staggering: Meteor Crater, Petrified Forest National Park, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Lake Mead National Recreational Area, Hoover Dam, Glen Canyon National Recreational Area, and Monument Valley all vie for attention.