Tonto National Forest, Arizona

Arizona has got diversity handled like a boss. Take Tonto National Forest and its 3 million acres of wild land for instance. You’ve got your surreal saguaro cactus-covered desert landscapes, including the Superstition Mountains, and then you’ve got your evergreen-covered forests jutting up 7,900 feet above the desert to the Mogollon Rim. All that elevation change makes for some killer recreation opportunities year-round. Eight different wilderness areas offer getaways galore, and the Verde River, Arizona’s only designated wild and scenic river, is an amazing oasis for float trips and water recreation. Lakes and trails dot the landscape, and camping aplenty is available so you can take your time exploring. All of this is located just outside the booming Phoenix metropolitan area, making it one of the most visited urban forests in the country. Ding ding ding, we have a winner, folks!