WINTER WONDERLAND

Low clouds and a layer of snow cloak the ancient rocks of the Granite Dells at the Prescott area's Watson Lake. Scientists say these coarse-grained rock formations are about 1.4 billion years old.

“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness?” — JOHN STEINBECK

LEFT: Clouds rise from the Grand Canyon after a winter storm leaves behind a fresh blanket of snow. The flat-topped peak in the distance is Cedar Mountain, which reaches an elevation of 7,050 feet. ADAM SCHALLAU RIGHT: Layers of ice display a variety of intricate shapes over the flowing water of the West Fork of Oak Creek. The trail along this waterway, accessible year-round, is one of Arizona's most popular hiking routes. CLAIRE CURRAN

PRECEDING PANEL: Mature saguaro cactuses bask in the light of sunrise along the Finger Rock Trail in the foothills of the Tucson area's Santa Catalina Mountains. Saguaros can endure light snowfall such as this, but heavier snow and prolonged freezing can pose a threat to the cactuses.

RIGHT: Aspens, having discarded their golden leaves, grow in close formation in Hart Prairie, northwest of Flagstaff.

"I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, 'Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.” – LEWIS CARROLL

PRECEDING PANEL: An autumn snowstorm leaves Forest Road 151, west of the San Francisco Peaks, covered in heavy snow. FR 151 is among Arizona's best roads for spotting the golden hues of aspen leaves.

LEFT: A snow-draped yucca and spindly Arizona sycamores combine for a wintry scene in Bear Canyon, part of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Visitors to this range can encounter six different vegetation communities, from desert at the bottom to mixed-conifer forest at the top.

"Despite all I have seen and experienced, I still get the same simple thrill out of glimpsing a tiny patch of snow." – SIR EDMUND HILLARY

LEFT: Maple trees, displaying their fall colors, support a thick layer of snow on the Mogollon Rim. This escarpment, which forms the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau, is known for abundant fall color and diverse plant and animal life. PAUL GILL RIGHT: The day's last light illuminates the strangely textured "brain rock" of White Pocket, part of Vermilion Cliffs National Monument in Northern Arizona. White Pocket is difficult to reach even in good weather, so views of it in snow are somewhat rare. CLAIRE CURRAN

Sandstone cliffs, covered by snow and ice, rise above the frigid water of Oak Creek at Slide Rock State Park. Named for a natural rock waterslide, the park is extremely popular in summer but less visited in winter, for obvious reasons.