MOJAVE DESERT & SONORAN DESERT

California's 25,000 square miles of desert can be divided into two basic zones; the Mojave desert, or high desert, and the Colorado desert, or low desert, which is part of the Sonoran Desert.  California's deserts are home to two National Parks--Death Valley and Joshua Tree, East Mojave National Reserve, and Anza- Borrego State Park, the largest park in the state parks system.

California deserts have some of the lowest elevations in the U.S. and the hottest temperatures. They also home to the world's oldest tree. The most famous vacation desert is Palm Desert, often associated with Palm Springs. Summers are nearly unbearable and are considered the "off" tourist season. Vacationing launches around October and continues into April each year. The desert nearly always has sunshine and very little rain.

CALIFORNIA DESERT STORIES, IDEAS

Death Valley Badwater Basin Salt Flats, California

Caruthers Canyon in California Mojave Desert

California Desert Directory List of Desert Vacations

California Desert Directory List of Desert Vacations

Death Valley Mesquite Sand Dunes Vacation

California Desert Directory List of Desert Vacations

Sonoran Desert in California

Palm Desert California Travel Guide | Palm Springs, Joshua Tree

Palm Desert is the oasis of golfing, vacation homes, swimming pools, and is where the movie stars used to go to get away from their demanding fans, and daily routines. The Palm Desert is now within reach of every vacationer.

Jeep tours, art galleries, shopping, fine dining, hiking and golf are a few diversions to keep you busy enough in Palm Desert.

Other desert regions of California include the Mojave Desert. The desert area stretches from San Diego, San Bernardino and Riverside County in the southern portion of California to the Central California region.

Since California is bordered by Nevada and Arizona, both known as deserts, the state has lots of dry, cactus-laden landscapes, and some beautiful sand dunes to visit in California's national parks located in the desert.

One favorite activity is photographing the cacti in bloom and wildflowers after the spring rains and monsoons.   The stark contrast between the dry earth and bright flowers makes the picture-taking even more interesting and dynamic.