The desert region of California truly offers attractions for every visitor: mountain peaks and the lowest point in the U.S., desert flowers and rolling dunes, desert hikes and rock climbing, or golf resorts and spas. Deserts California are divided into two zones: High Desert and Low Desert. Each zone offers its own mixture of landscapes, fauna and flora.
The High Desert
The Mojave National Preserve, Death Valley National Park and Joshua Tree National Park provide the major attractions in the High Desert. The Mojave National Preserve encompasses 5,000 square miles and is the largest national park in the continental U.S. The preserve includes Badwater Basin with the lowest point in the U.S. at 282 ft below sea level and Dante’s View rising to 5,475 feet.
Death Valley provides winding narrow canyons, extinct volcanic craters, rolling sand dunes and palm oases lying under a seldom-shrouded hot sun or bright moon. In summer, the midday 120°F temperatures discourage travelers except for those in air-conditioned vehicles. Winter and spring bring “comfortable “ temperatures, even cold in winter, and areas of spring wildflowers spread across the desert floor.
Joshua Tree National Park offers roaming herds of Bighorn sheep and a fascinating collection of small animals, reptiles and migrating birds. The parks namesake Joshua trees spread their twisted arms out and provide a ghostly presence when viewed under the incredibly star-fill night skies. Dramatic granite monoliths provide a challenge to rock climbers, and rugged canyons provide exceptional hiking trails. However, it should be noted that six kinds of rattlesnake call the park home.
The Low Desert
The low desert includes the Colorado Desert and part of the vast Sonoran Desert extending is boarded by Mexico, Arizona, San Diego County and California’s Inland Empire Region. Anza-Borrego State Park is California’s largest and features a unique spring display of desert wildflowers. Blooming can begin as early as mid-January with its peak in March, but timing can be tricky depending on winter rains. Anza-Borrego provides its own diverse array of wildlife, including magnificent golden eagles, and provides hiking trails and 500 miles of dirt roads for viewing it.
Palm Springs is slightly east of the park, and the Palm Springs Aerial Tram offers a 12 minute ride rising from the desert floor to its 8,516-foot top in the San Jacinto Mountains. In summer, the temperature can drop 30 degrees during the assent. In the winter, snow often blankets the peaks and trails can be explored on rented snowshoes or cross-country skis. In Greater Palm Springs, one can enjoy biking, hiking, golf, tennis, swimming and a spa in one of the many area resorts.
