The next time you are in California, leave the beaches behind and head over to the deserts. In particular, Palm Springs is a good spot to have a little bit of a desert adventure in California. Here’s what you should do if you are ready to conquer the sand and the heat.
Agua Caliente Indian Canyons
A great way to see the desert, and some of California’s canyons, is to do it by horseback at Agua Caliente Indian Canyons. There are three different canyons to explore, with trails ranging from easy to difficult. The landscape of each trail is fairly different since there are more than 150 different species of plants located here. If you are lucky, you might even spot the endangered bighorn sheep grazing and climbing about here.
Joshua Tree National Park
Even if you’ve been to national parks before, you’ve probably never experienced one like this. It features 800,000 acres of desert. Half of the park has cooler temperatures and receives some rain so the Joshua tree is easily grown here. The other half of the park is very dry and consists of bushes and cactus. Throughout the park, there is a variety of wildlife including ground squirrels and jackrabbits.
Mojave National Preserve
One of the main reasons why those looking for a desert adventure visit here is the sledding or sandboarding opportunities. Located at the park’s southern end, the Kelso Dunes provide ample opportunities to enjoy sandboarding or sledding. The old rail depot and the old town are also worth checking out while at the park.
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
If you aren’t in the mood to do a lot of climbing to see the view, head over to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. It takes riders over 8,000 feet above sea level. The ride starts at the Valley Station at the Sonoran Desert and lasts about 10 minutes. An interesting feature of the tram is that the floor rotates, allowing for a 360-degree view of the cliffs, canyons, and biomes. Riders will get off at Mount Jacinto State Park and can enjoy a donkey ride, nature hike, or grab a bite to eat at one of the two different restaurants located here.
The San Andreas Fault Line
This fault line is very impressive. Visitors can easily access the 810-mile area by car. A popular place to visit is the San Bernardino National Forest. There is also plenty to see here including impressive rock formations that have quite a bit of unnatural looking color inconsistencies.
