On foot and
by horseback, riding stagecoaches and driving motor homes, people have crossed
the desert's dusty miles just about every way imaginable. For most of us these
days, the desert means driving, and lots of it. Thousands of miles of highways
and back roads lead to many interesting places in our deserts. Below are a few tours that can be taken.
Pines to Palms to Pines Again
This approximately 520-mile round trip offers visitors the
opportunity to enjoy some of California's most spectacular and interesting
scenery. Suggested time: 3 days.
START. LOS ANGELES. Take the Pomona Freeway/State Highway 60 east to...
>> 65 MI. (106 KM.) RIVERSIDE.Take State Highway 60 to the San Jacinto turnoff (Gilman Springs Rd.). Continue south passing San Jacinto Wildlife Area to the west before
joining State Highway 79, and drive south to...
>> 18 MI. (28 KM.) HEMET. Turn left on State Highway 74,
which is the...
>>PALMS-TO-PINES SCENIC BYWAY. This scenic driving tour climbs from the desert through the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains, before descending again to the desert. The route passes through a series of areas preserved for animal habitat, ranging from desert oasis to snow-capped mountains, and parts of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument and San Bernardino National Forest. Drivers can pull off the winding and often steep road at a number of pulloffs or lookout points. Continue around the
10,804-foot-high Mt. San Jacinto, one of Southern California's tallest peaks.
Green pines give way to desert vegetation, the shimmering blue of Salton Sea, palm gardens, and the colorful rock mountains. Zigzag down the face, to reach
the...
>> 55 MI. (88 KM.) COACHELLA VALLEY. This area, at the junction with State
Highway 111, begins at Palm Desert. The date palms here are descendants of date
palms brought from Arabia and the Sahara around the turn of the century. The
climate is also ideal for grapefruit, which grow below the date palms in what
is called "two-story" agriculture. The valley, said to receive the
most sunshine of any place in the U.S., is a year-round recreational paradise.
Drive on to...
>> 18 MI. (30 KM.) PALM SPRINGS AND THE DESERT
RESORTS AREA. For a
spectacular view of the valley, take the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway up 5,873
feet to Mt. San Jacinto and the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument. Return to the valley to State
Highway 111 heading south, and tunr left onto Ramon Rd.. Continue across Interstate 10 to...
>> 19 MI. (30 KM.) THOUSAND PALMS. Visit Coachella Valley National Wildlife Refuge and Coachella Valley Preserve. For thousands of years, particles of sand from the San Bernardino Mountains and Indio Hills washed into the Coachella Valley, forming a system of dunes. Today, these dunes are part of the Coachella Valley Preserve System, a 20,000-acre sanctuary that is home to several species of increasingly rare wildlife.Return back via Ramon Rd. to State Highway 111 to...
>> 37 MI. (60 KM.) LA QUINTA. Return to State Highway 111 south and travel through Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, and La Quinta. Turn right on Monroe St. go south to Ave. 58. Take a right on Ave. 58 and continue two miles to Lake Cahuilla Park. It has a 135-acre stocked lake, centrally located showers, a dump station, equestrian and hiking trails and picnicking. Return back to State Highway 111 and continue south to...
>> 33 MI. (53 KM.) SALTON SEA. Created early in the 1900s when a
dike burst and the Colorado River plunged into the nearby desert, 234 feet
below sea level. Two years later, when the break was finally repaired, a
35-mile-long, 15-mile-wide, landlocked sea had been formed. Through the years,
the lake has leached salts from the ground and now is saltier than the ocean.
The locale includes the Salton Sea State Recreation Area , Dos Palmas Preserve and the 36,000-acre Sonny Bono National Wildlife
Refuge. Continue to...
>> 51 MI. (82 KM.) BRAWLEY. Turn west on State Highway 78, which
leads past Ocotillo Wells State Vehicle Recreation Area into the Anza-Borrego Desert SP and some of the finest desert wildflower
fields in California. During the winter and spring, the valley and canyons are
painted with a rainbow of color. Exit via State Highway
78 west. Proceed into the mountains and the Cleveland NF to reach ...
>> 73 MI. (117 KM.) JULIAN. A quaint 1870s gold mining town.
Continue northwest via State Highway
79 through Warner Hot Springs, Rancho California, and historic Temecula. At
Temecula, turn north on Interstate15 and west on State Highway 60 to ...
Dry weather aficionados will enjoy this 390- mile round trip
through desert country. Suggested time: 3 days.
START. LOS ANGELES. Take Interstate 5 north, then State Highway 14 to the...
>> 62 MI. (99 KM.) PALMDALE / LANCASTER. The Antelope Valley is the location of several desert highlights.A stop at the Mojave Desert Information Center offers maps & brochures about the area. A few miles off State Highway 14 (via State Highway 138) is the Antelope Valley California Poppy Preserve aglow with orange flowers during early spring. Five miles west on Lancaster Road from the preserve is the Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland SP which protects and preserves an impressive stand of native Joshua Trees. Saddleback Butte SP is also nearby. Continue on State Highway 14 to...
>> 34 MI. (55 KM.) MOJAVE. Stay on State Highway 14 north, traveling past Mojave,
to...
>> 20 MI. (33 KM.) THE RED ROCK-RANDSBURG ROAD
JUNCTION. The left
fork takes you into Red Rock Canyon State Park where many westerns were filmed and features scenic desert cliffs, buttes and spectacular rock formations. The park is located where the southernmost tip of the Sierra Nevada converge with the El Paso Range. Each tributary canyon is unique, with dramatic shapes and vivid colors. Continue to the junction of State Highways 14 & 178. Take State Highway 178 east to...
>> 48 MI. (78 KM.) KRAMER JUNCTION. Turn left onto State Highway 58 and continue east to...
>> 21 MI. (34 KM.) HARPER DRY LAKE. Turn left on Harper Dry Lake Road and and travel for about six miles then turn to the right on Lockhart Road, a partially-maintained dirt road, and drive two miles to the site. Harper Dry Lake Marsh, located at the edge of one of the largest dry lakebeds in the Mojave Desert, is an important resting site for thousands of migrating birds. Back on State Highway 58, drive east onto Interstate 15 to...
>> 30 MI. (45 KM.) BARSTOW. Founded in 1886 as a railroad depot,
Barstow developed into a booming mining town. While in Barstow, you can visit Rainbow Baisin Natural Area 8 miles north off Irwin Road. Many visitors come to see exciting multi-colored rock formations and walk the scenic canyons. Another popular destination is Stoddard Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Area a diverse landscape for off-highway vehicle recreation. It is characterized by steep rocky mountains, rolling hills, open valleys, and winding sandy washes. Continue north on Interstate 15 to...
>> 12 MI. (16 KM.) CALICO GHOST TOWN. A silver mining town in the 1880s, Walter Knott, of
Knott's Berry Farm fame, acquired the old town and restored the remaining
buildings. The town includes a mercantile store, train rides, mine tour, and
museums. Nearby is the Calico Early Man Site, possibly the earliest known place
where human artifacts have been found in North America. Return to Interstate 15,
and go south over Cajon Pass to Interstate10 west, and return
to...
This 615-mile tour takes you through California's vast Mojave Desert and returns through historic gold and silver mining country. Suggested time:
3-5 days
START. LOS ANGELES. Take Interstate10 east through Redlands and the San Gorgonio
Pass to the Colorado Desert. At Whitewater, take State Highway 62/Twentynlne Palms Scenic Byway north to Yucca Valley, gateway to Joshua Tree NP. Along the way, Big Morongo Canyon Preserve will be on the right side, 10.5 miles north of Interstate 10. Nestled among the Little San Bernardino Mountains, the desert oasis at Big Morongo Canyon is one of the 10 largest cottonwood and willow riparian (stream) habitats in California. The upstream end of the canyon lies in the Mojave Desert, while its downstream portion opens into the Colorado Desert. Continue beyond Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms to...
>> 142 MI. (230 KM.) JOSHUA TREE NP. Stop at the visitor center before exploring
the 794,000 acres of Joshua trees, which grow to 40 feet tall. View ecosystems,
with arid stretches of ocotillo and cholla cactus giving way to oases of underground springs and palm trees. Campgrounds are
available. Return to State Highway 62 and travel east passing Sheephole Valley Wilderness to the intersection with US
Highway 95. Turn left and go north passsing Turtle Mountains Wilderness, Stepladder Mountain Wilderness and Chemehuevi
Mountians Wilderness to...
>> 141 MI. (226 KM.) NEEDLES. Founded in 1882 as a railroad town, this historic
city is a gateway to several recreation areas. Havasu National Wildlife Refuge and Moabi Regional Park offer opportunities to enjoy the Colorado River and all it has to offer. The densest concentrations of Bigelow Cholla in the California Desert are found in the nearby Bigelow Cholla Garden Wilderness. From Needles, travel west on Interstate 40...
>> 86 MI. (140 KM.) MOJAVE NATIONAL PRESERVE. Take Kelbaker Road north from
Interstate 40 to the visitor center located in the restored Kelso Depot. The Providence
Mountains State Recreation Area -a state park within a national park- that
includes Mitchell Caverns is located nearby. Tours are conducted daily, mid-September-mid-May.
Return south on Kelbaker Road past Interstate 40 to National Trails Highway, also know as historic Route 66. Turn right and travel west to...
>> 42 MI. (68 KM.) AMBOY CRATER. Designated a National Natural Landmark in 1973, Amboy Crater was recognized for its visual and geological significance. Although Amboy Crater is not unique, it is an excellent example of a very symmetrical volcanic cinder cone.
Return via National Trails Highway to Interstate 40 west to Yermo/Dagget Road. Continue north until it becomes Ghost Town Rd to...
>>78 MI. (124 KM.) CALICO GHOST TOWN. A silver mining town in the 1880s, Walter Knott, of
Knott's Berry Farm fame, acquired the old town and restored the remaining
buildings. The town includes a mercantile store, train rides, mine tour, and
museums. Nearby is the Calico Early Man Site, possibly the earliest known place
where human artifacts have been found in North America. Return to Interstate 15,
and go south
to...
>> 11 MI. (17 KM.) BARSTOW. Founded in 1886 as a railroad depot,
Barstow developed into a booming mining town. While in Barstow, you can visit Rainbow Baisin Natural Area 8 miles north off Irwin Road. Many visitors come to see exciting multi-colored rock formations and walk the scenic canyons. Another popular destination is Stoddard Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Area a diverse landscape for off-highway vehicle recreation. It is characterized by steep rocky mountains, rolling hills, open valleys, and winding sandy washes. Return to Interstate15, and head south to...
>> 35 MI. (56 KM.) VICTORVILLE. This sunny desert community is home
of Mojave Narrows Regional Park, a virtual oasis in the Mojave Desert. Fish, boat, camp, hike nature trails, and enjoy horseback riding on 840 acres along the ancient riverbed of the Mojave River. A short drive from there is the Mojave River Hatchery which is operated by California Department of Fish and Game. The annual production is 780,000 Catchable size half pound trout and 300,000 Sub-Catchable size trout in 50 lakes, rivers and streams in six Southern California Counties. A few miles the other side of Interstate 15, just past US 395 is El Mirage Off-Highway Vehicle Area, an area popular for speed trials and filming. Take Interstate 15 through the Cajon Pass to Interstate 10 west to return to...
>> 210 MI. (337 KM.) LONE PINE. Interagency Visitor Center offers information about the natural attractions in Owens Valley. As you drive west from
town on Whitney Portal Road toward Mt. Whitney (14,495 ft.), the highest point
in the contiguous United States, you will pass through the Alabama Hills, the
location of many Western movies and television commercials (road closed October-April).
At Whitney Portal, west of Lone Pine, enjoy the breathtaking eastern
escarpment of the Sierra Nevada. Return to Lone Pine, and take Hwy. 395 north to...
>> 10 MI. (16 KM.) MANZANAR NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE. Manzanar War Relocation Center was one of ten camps at which Japanese American citizens and resident Japanese aliens
were interned during World War II. Located at the foot of the imposing Sierra
Nevada in eastern California's Owens Valley, Manzanar has been identified as
the best preserved of these camps. Drive north on US Highway 395, note the highly varied
vegetation and topography of the region, ranging from semi-arid desert to
alpine forests. The mountains receive about 45 inches of snow, while the valley
floor receives about six inches of rain a year. Drive north to...
>> 32 MI. (52 KM.) BIG PINE. Access to the Ancient Bristlecone
Pine Forest is due east of the little town of Big Pine. Take State Highway 168
east about 12 miles until you reach the top of Westgard Pass, which is a long flat plateau rather than steep mountain pass. Turn left on the White Mountain Road, which is the only paved road turn off in this area; it is clearly signed to the Bristlecone Pine Forest. Follow this paved road 10 miles until you find the turn off and parking lot to the Schulman Grove Visitor Center and the...
>> 24 MI. (39 KM.) ANCIENT BRISTLECONE PINE FOREST. This area is the site
of the oldest living things in the world, the Great Basin bristlecone pines.
Within the forest is a tree estimated to be 4,766 years old. The visitor center
has extensive information, and there are guided tours into the forest. Retrace
the route back to Big Pine. Return south on US Highway 395; two miles past Lone
Pine, turn southeast on State Highway 136 and then east on State Highway 190. Along the way you will pass Inyo Mountains Wilderness, Coso Range Wilderness, Malpais Mesa Wilderness, Darwin Falls Wilderness, and Argus Range Wilderness. Continue to Stovepipe Wells in...
>> 147 MI. (236 KM.) DEATH VALLEY NP. Nowhere in California is nature's palette
more vividly displayed than in the sweeping expanses of Death Valley NP. From
Dante's View, 5,474 feet above sea level, is a vista encompassingvirtually all of Death Valley. On the floor below is
Badwater, 282 feet below sea level, the lowest point in the U.S. Rising beyond
are the Panamint Mountains, with 11,049-foot Telescope Peak. Prepare for
100-plus degree summer heat, and carry plenty of water. In the northern part of
Death Valley, via State Highway 190 (Death Valley National Scenic Byway), is
Scotty's Castle. This Spanish-Moorish palace was the home of a flamboyant 1920s
prospector. The Death Valley visitor center provides information on the area's
attractions. Furnace Creek, in the heart of Death Valley, features deluxe and
moderately priced lodging, campgrounds, restaurants, a general store, and
swimming. For your return trip, turn left eight miles west of Stovepipe Wells on
Wildrose Road with one very rough, unpaved section. Travel past Surprise Canyon Wilderness and Manly Peak Wilderness until the road becomes State Highway
178, and drive south to...
>> 71 MI. (114 KM.) TRONA. Roughly two miles past Trona, watch for the Trona Pinnacles National
Natural Landmark turnoff on your left, the most impressive tufa towers in North America. Some of the 500 magnificent tufa spires reach up to 140 feet high and are
featured in many television commercials and films, including Star Trek V.
Follow the road to the "Y" and continue right until you reach Trona
Pinnacles. (Check road conditions and carry plenty of water.) Return to State Highway
178 to reach...
>> 21 MI. (34 KM.) RANDSBURG. A living ghost town and active mining
camp. West from town, take the Red Rock-Randsburg Rd. Turn left off the Red Rock-Randsburg
Rd., just before the junction with State Highway 14, on Neuralia Rd., and
follow the road to California City Blvd. Go east (left), and follow California City Blvd. to Randsburg-Mojave Rd. Tthis dirt road lead to the Desert Tortoise Natural Area. A kiosk provides information about California's state reptile and
self-guided tours. Desert tortoises are most active in the spring. Return by Randsburg-Mojave Rd. to California City. Continue
west to the junction with State Highway 14. Continue south on State
Highway 14 to Interstate 5 and return to...
Wildflowers
are ephemeral by nature. The variety and intensity of blooms varies from
year to year with some years being better than others. The best way to
see wildflowers is to check below to find out what is currently blooming,
and where current hot spots are. You can arrange a tour tailored to
your time and the season. Listed below are several popular destinations during wildflower season:
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