Cool Ponderosa pine forests, ancient life, and volcanism are all within reach this fall in Arizona’s high country. The gateway town of Flagstaff makes a perfect basecamp to visit four national monuments that protect ancient Native American dwellings and tell the stories of their occupants’ lives. Of course, the Grand Canyon to the north is the main draw for many visitors, but take some time to explore these lesser-known sites as well.

Great Basin National Park in Nevada and the Flagstaff Area National Monuments -- Sunset Crater Volcano, Walnut Canyon and Wupatki -- have received certification as International Dark Sky Parks from the International Dark-Sky Association.

A decision by National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis that there are wilderness quality lands in Wupatki National Monument has spurred a request that the Park Service review nine other parks where it has in the past concluded no such lands existed.

Rangers at Wupatki National Monument in Arizona will be leading "Discovery Hikes" through the monument on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month through March 23.