Encompassing the cooler north-central intermountain and mountain shadow areas, broken by continental mountain ranges, and the warmer south desert region of the western United States, the ARID ecoregion stretches from the Canadian border down to the Mexican border.
Its terrestrial biomes primarily include the following:
- Desert and Semidesert
Mountainous parts of this ecoregion consist of altitudinal biomes of the following:
- Coniferous Forest landscape
- Tundra landscape
- Alpine Mountain landscape
Aquatic biomes are limited due to the arid climate and terrain, but the region does support some large well known Freshwater rivers and lakes fed by and born from mountain moisture.
See below for a list of National Parks and other parks, natural areas, and forests within this ecoregion represented in my photos.
White Sands National Monument NEW MEXICO
Death Valley National Park CALIFORNIA
• National Park Name or Park/Forest/Monument/Refuge Name I PHOTO GALLERY NAME (click on the photo gallery name below to view photos)
Great Plains
COLORADO
- Pawnee National Grassland I THE GREAT PLAINS
KANSAS
- Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area I THE GREAT PLAINS
- Monument Rocks National Natural Landmark I THE GREAT PLAINS
MINNESOTA
- Pipestone National Monument I THE GREAT PLAINS
MONTANA
- Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge I THE GREAT PLAINS
- Custer National Forest I THE GREAT PLAINS
- Greycliff Prairie Dog Town State Park I THE GREAT PLAINS
- Pompeys Pillar National Monument I THE GREAT PLAINS
- Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument I THE GREAT PLAINS
NEBRASKA
- Agate Fossil Beds National Monument I THE GREAT PLAINS
- Chimney Rock National Historic Site I THE GREAT PLAINS
- Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge I THE GREAT PLAINS
- Homestead National Monument of America I THE GREAT PLAINS
- Oglala National Grassland I THE GREAT PLAINS
- Scotts Bluff National Monument I THE GREAT PLAINS
NEW MEXICO
- Capulin Volcano National Monument I THE GREAT PLAINS
- Kiowa National Grassland I THE GREAT PLAINS
NORTH DAKOTA
- Lewis and Clark State Park I THE GREAT PLAINS
- Little Missouri National Grassland I THE GREAT PLAINS
- Theodore Roosevelt National Park I THE GREAT PLAINS
OKLAHOMA
- Black Kettle National Grassland I THE GREAT PLAINS
SOUTH DAKOTA
- Badlands National Park I THE GREAT PLAINS
- Black Hills National Forest I THE GREAT PLAINS
- Buffalo Gap National Grassland I THE GREAT PLAINS
- Fort Pierre National Grassland I THE GREAT PLAINS
- Grand River National Grassland I THE GREAT PLAINS
- Jewel Cave National Monument I THE GREAT PLAINS
- LaCreek National Wildlife Refuge I THE GREAT PLAINS
- Missouri National Recreational River I THE GREAT PLAINS
- Wind Cave National Park I THE GREAT PLAINS
TEXAS
- Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument I THE GREAT PLAINS
- Caprock Canyons State Park & Trailway I THE GREAT PLAINS
- Palo Duro Canyon State Park I THE GREAT PLAINS
- Rita Blanca National Grassland I THE GREAT PLAINS
WYOMING
- Bighorn National Forest I THE GREAT PLAINS
- Devil’s Tower National Monument I THE GREAT PLAINS
- Thunder Basin National Grassland I THE GREAT PLAINS
Rocky Mountains
COLORADO
- Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
- Arapaho National Forest I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
- Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
- Browns Canyon National Monument I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
- Dinosaur National Monument I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
- Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
- Garden of the Gods Park (municipal park) I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
- Garden Park Fossil Area I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
- Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
- Maroon Bells – Snowmass Wilderness I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
- Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
- Pike National Forest I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
- Rocky Mountain National Park I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
- San Isabel National Forest I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
- San Juan National Forest I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
- Uncompahgre National Forest I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
- White River National Forest I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
IDAHO
- Sawtooth National Forest I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
- Sawtooth National Recreation Area I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
MONTANA
- Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
- Flathead National Forest I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
- Gallatin National Forest I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
- Glacier National Park I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
- Lewis and Clark National Forest I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
NEW MEXICO
- Jemez Historic Site I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
- Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
- Rio Grande del Norte National Monument I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
- Rio Grande Gorge Recreation Area I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
- Valles Caldera National Preserve I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
UTAH
- Ashley National Forest I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
- Dinosaur National Monument I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
- Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
- Timpanogos Cave National Monument I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
- Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
WYOMING
- Bridger-Teton National Forest I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
- Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
- Fossil Butte National Monument I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
- Grand Teton National Park I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
- Shoshone National Forest I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
- Yellowstone National Park I THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
Basin & Range / Columbia Plateau
CALIFORNIA
- Inyo National Forest I CALIFORNIA
- Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve I CALIFORNIA
IDAHO
- Castle Rocks State Park I BASIN & RANGE / COLUMBIA PLATEAU
- City of Rocks National Reserve I BASIN & RANGE / COLUMBIA PLATEAU
- Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve I BASIN & RANGE / COLUMBIA PLATEAU
- Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument I BASIN & RANGE / COLUMBIA PLATEAU
- Shoshone Falls I BASIN & RANGE / COLUMBIA PLATEAU
- Thousand Springs State Park I BASIN & RANGE / COLUMBIA PLATEAU
NEVADA
- Basin & Range National Monument I BASIN & RANGE / COLUMBIA PLATEAU
- Desert National Wildlife Refuge I BASIN & RANGE / COLUMBIA PLATEAU
- Gold Butte National Monument I BASIN & RANGE / COLUMBIA PLATEAU
- Great Basin National Park I BASIN & RANGE / COLUMBIA PLATEAU
- Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest I BASIN & RANGE / COLUMBIA PLATEAU
- Lake Mead National Recreation Area I BASIN & RANGE / COLUMBIA PLATEAU
- Lunar Crater National Natural Landmark I BASIN & RANGE / COLUMBIA PLATEAU
- Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area I BASIN & RANGE / COLUMBIA PLATEAU
- Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument I BASIN & RANGE / COLUMBIA PLATEAU
- Valley of Fire State Park I BASIN & RANGE / COLUMBIA PLATEAU
OREGON
- Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge I BASIN & RANGE / COLUMBIA PLATEAU
- Hells Canyon National Recreation Area I BASIN & RANGE / COLUMBIA PLATEAU
- John Day Fossil Beds National Monument I BASIN & RANGE / COLUMBIA PLATEAU
- Wallowa-Whitman National Forest I BASIN & RANGE / COLUMBIA PLATEAU
WASHINGTON
- Columbia National Wildlife Refuge I BASIN & RANGE / COLUMBIA PLATEAU
- Hanford Reach National Monument I BASIN & RANGE / COLUMBIA PLATEAU
- Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area I BASIN & RANGE / COLUMBIA PLATEAU
- McNary National Wildlife Refuge I BASIN & RANGE / COLUMBIA PLATEAU
- Sacajawea State Park I BASIN & RANGE / COLUMBIA PLATEAU
UTAH
- Antelope Island State Park I BASIN & RANGE / COLUMBIA PLATEAU
- Great Salt Lake Desert (Bonneville Salt Flats) I BASIN & RANGE / COLUMBIA PLATEAU
- Great Salt Lake State Park I BASIN & RANGE / COLUMBIA PLATEAU
Colorado Plateau
ARIZONA
- Canyon de Chelly National Monument I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Coconino National Forest I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Glen Canyon National Recreation Area I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Grand Canyon National Park I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Grand Canyon – Parashant National Monument I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Havasupai Indian Reservation I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Kaibab National Forest I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Navajo National Monument I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Petrified Forest National Park I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Pipe Spring National Monument I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Sunset Crater National Monument I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Vermilion Cliffs National Monument I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Walnut Canyon National Monument I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Wupatki National Monument I COLORADO PLATEAU
COLORADO
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Canyons of the Ancients National Monument I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Chimney Rock National Monument I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Colorado National Monument I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Mesa Verde National Park I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Yucca House National Monument I COLORADO PLATEAU
NEW MEXICO
- Aztec Ruins National Monument I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Bandelier National Monument I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Chaco Culture National Historical Park I COLORADO PLATEAU
- El Malpais National Monument I COLORADO PLATEAU
- El Morro National Monument I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Petroglyph National Monument I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Santa Fe National Forest I COLORADO PLATEAU
UTAH
- Arches National Park I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Bear Ears National Monument I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Bryce Canyon National Park I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Canyonlands National Park I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Capitol Reef National Park I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Cedar Breaks National Monument I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Dixie National Forest I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Glen Canyon National Recreation Area I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Hovenweep National Monument I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Natural Bridges National Monument I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Rainbow Bridge National Monument I COLORADO PLATEAU
- Zion National Park I COLORADO PLATEAU
Deserts
ARIZONA
- Agua Fria National Monument I AMERICAN SOUTHWEST
- Casa Grande Ruins National Monument I AMERICAN SOUTHWEST
- Chiricahua National Monument I AMERICAN SOUTHWEST
- Coconino National Forest I AMERICAN SOUTHWEST
- Coronado National Forest I AMERICAN SOUTHWEST
- Ironwood Forest National Monument I AMERICAN SOUTHWEST
- Kofa National Wildlife Refuge I AMERICAN SOUTHWEST
- Montezuma Castle National Monument I AMERICAN SOUTHWEST
- Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument I AMERICAN SOUTHWEST
- Painted Rocks Petroglyph Site I AMERICAN SOUTHWEST
- Prescott National Forest I AMERICAN SOUTHWEST
- Red Rock State Park I AMERICAN SOUTHWEST
- Sabino Canyon Recreation Area I AMERICAN SOUTHWEST
- Saguaro National Park I AMERICAN SOUTHWEST
- Sonoran Desert National Monument I AMERICAN SOUTHWEST
- Tonto National Forest I AMERICAN SOUTHWEST
- Tonto National Monument I AMERICAN SOUTHWEST
- Tuzigoot National Monument I AMERICAN SOUTHWEST
CALIFORNIA
- Amboy Crater National Natural Landmark I CALIFORNIA
- Angeles National Forest I CALIFORNIA
- Anza-Borrego Desert State Park I CALIFORNIA
- Blythe Intagios I CALIFORNIA
- California Desert National Conservation Area I CALIFORNIA
- Castle Mountains National Monument I CALIFORNIA
- Cleveland National Forest I CALIFORNIA
- Death Valley National Park I CALIFORNIA
- Desert Tortoise Natural Area I CALIFORNIA
- Imperial Sand Dunes Recreational Area I CALIFORNIA
- Inyo National Forest I CALIFORNIA
- Joshua Tree National Park I CALIFORNIA
- Mojave National Preserve I CALIFORNIA
- Mojave Trails National Monument I CALIFORNIA
- Rainbow Basin Natural Area I CALIFORNIA
- Red Rock Canyon State Park I CALIFORNIA
- San Bernardino National Forest I CALIFORNIA
- San Gabriel Mountains National Monument I CALIFORNIA
- Sand to Snow National Monument I CALIFORNIA
- Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument I CALIFORNIA
- Sequoia National Forest I CALIFORNIA
- Trona Pinnacles National Natural Landmark I CALIFORNIA
NEW MEXICO
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park I AMERICAN SOUTHWEST
- Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument I AMERICAN SOUTHWEST
- Gila National Forest I AMERICAN SOUTHWEST
- Kilbourne Hole Volcanic Crater National Natural Landmark I AMERICAN SOUTHWEST
- Lincoln National Forest I AMERICAN SOUTHWEST
- Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument I AMERICAN SOUTHWEST
- Prehistoric Trackways National Monument I AMERICAN SOUTHWEST
- Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument I AMERICAN SOUTHWEST
- White Sands National Monument I AMERICAN SOUTHWEST
- White Sands National Park I AMERICAN SOUTHWEST
TEXAS
- Big Bend National Park I AMERICAN SOUTHWEST
- Davis Mountains State Park I AMERICAN SOUTHWEST
- Guadalupe Mountains National Park I AMERICAN SOUTHWEST