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Gems in Deserts - 24

Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Add Your Gems

gem Favorite Curved space, if not time, exists at Mesquite Sand Dunes.

Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes

(50) Badwater, CA
gem Favorite Amazing views! Death Valley - Zabriskie Point.

Zabriskie Point

(50) Badwater, CA
gem Favorite Badwater Basin

Badwater Basin

(43) Badwater, CA
gem Favorite Droves of cholla are highlighted by the setting sun at Cholla Cactus Garden. Photo credit: NPS/Brad Sutton.

Cholla Cactus Garden

(45) Twentyn…, CA
gem Favorite Artist Palette

Artist's Palette

(43) Badwater, CA
gem Favorite Eastside or backside of Baker Dam facing N. Nice reflections in the water. Lots of people taking photos of each other.

Barker Dam

(34) Twentyn…, CA
gem Favorite Dante's View. Death Valley National Park.

Dante's View

(24) Badwater, CA
gem Favorite Milky Way over Arch Rock

Arch Rock

(26) Twentyn…, CA
gem Favorite The clouds erupt in wonderful colors as we reach the summit of Mt. Ryan.

Ryan Mountain

(21) Twentyn…, CA
gem Favorite Devil's Golf Course at midday.

Devil's Golf Course

(31) Badwater, CA
gem Favorite Keys View, Joshua Tree National Park.

Keys View

(27) Sky Valley, CA
gem Favorite Skull Rock peeks up through the surrounding boulders. Photo credit: NPS/Robb Hannawacker.

Skull Rock

(40) Twentyn…, CA
gem Favorite The inside of the main tube.

Mojave Lava Tubes

(2) Fort Irwin, CA
gem Favorite The view of Death Valley from the old mine high in the Funeral Range.

Keane Wonder Mine

(5) Badwater, CA
gem Favorite The view of the canyon is astounding.

Banshee Canyon

(3) Needles, CA
gem Favorite To preserve this historic area, visitors are limited to the National Park Service guided tours. Photo Credit: NPS/Lian Law.

Keys Ranch

(3) Twentyn…, CA
gem Favorite View from the trail

Wall Street Mill

(8) Twentyn…, CA
gem Favorite Kelso Dunes

Kelso Dunes

(8) Needles, CA
gem Favorite A beautiful rock face to the north west of Ryan Ranch.

Ryan Ranch

(4) Twentyn…, CA
gem Favorite Beginning of the Trail

Cottonwood Spring Oasis

(11) Indio, CA
gem Favorite The Approach to Calico Peak

Calico Peak

(2) Barstow, CA
gem Favorite The Doran Canyon Double Arches

Doran Double Arches

(1) Barstow, CA
gem Favorite Descent view of Indian Wells.

The Cross Trail

(1) Palm De…, CA
gem Favorite A hiker admires the top of Fossil Falls.

Fossil Falls

(2) Inyokern, CA

Recommended Routes in Deserts - 39

Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Add Your Recommended Routes

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Joshua Tree National Park.
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate

Hidden Valley Nature Trail

1.0 mi 1.7 km • 112' Up 34.11 m Up • 111' Down 33.97 m Down

Twentyn…, CA
Explore in 3D
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite The clouds erupt in wonderful colors as we reach the summit of Mt. Ryan.
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

Ryan Mountain Trail

2.9 mi 4.7 km • 1,029' Up 313.74 m Up • 1,028' Down 313.4 m Down

Twentyn…, CA
Explore in 3D
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Palm Springs under a firey sunrise.
Difficult Difficult

Cactus to Clouds: Palm Springs - Mt. San Jacinto

14.4 mi 23.3 km • 10,444' Up 3183.21 m Up • 172' Down 52.29 m Down

Palm Sp…, CA
Explore in 3D
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Eastside or backside of Baker Dam facing N. Nice reflections in the water. Lots of people taking photos of each other.
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate

Barker Dam Nature Trail

1.3 mi 2.1 km • 49' Up 14.81 m Up • 48' Down 14.77 m Down

Twentyn…, CA
Explore in 3D
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Badwater at Sunset
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate

Badwater Basin Crossing

6.5 mi 10.4 km • 25' Up 7.58 m Up • 12' Down 3.63 m Down

Badwater, CA
Explore in 3D
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite View from the trail
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

Ladder Canyon Hike

4.5 mi 7.2 km • 863' Up 262.94 m Up • 866' Down 263.88 m Down

Mecca, CA
Explore in 3D
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Lost palms are not lost any more. We have found them!
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

Lost Palms Oasis

7.3 mi 11.8 km • 1,012' Up 308.33 m Up • 1,011' Down 308.17 m Down

Indio, CA
Explore in 3D
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Mosaic Canyon in Death Valley National Park
Intermediate Intermediate

Mosaic Canyon Trail

3.5 mi 5.7 km • 969' Up 295.33 m Up • 969' Down 295.2 m Down

Badwater, CA
Explore in 3D
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Darwin Falls cascades peacefully down the rocks into a pool below.
Intermediate Intermediate

Darwin Falls

2.1 mi 3.4 km • 425' Up 129.44 m Up • 425' Down 129.39 m Down

Searles…, CA
Explore in 3D

Deserts Hiking

  • 746 Miles 1,200 Kilometers of Trail
  • 39 Recommended Routes
  • 24 Gems Gems
  • 80 Easy Trails Easy Trails
  • 182 Intermediate Trails Intermediate Trails
  • 32 Difficult Trails Difficult Trails
Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Share what you know about this area!
Share Your Local Tips!

Areas Within Deserts

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Trails in Deserts - 255

Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Add Your Trails

2.8 mi 4.5 km #1Golden Canyon Trail
Intermediate Intermediate
Badwater, CA
Intermediate Intermediate
Badwater, CA 37 
3.0 mi 4.8 km #2Gower Gulch Trail
Intermediate Intermediate
Badwater, CA
Intermediate Intermediate
Badwater, CA 26 
8.3 mi 13.3 km #3Boy Scout Trail
Intermediate Intermediate
Joshua Tree, CA
Intermediate Intermediate
Joshua Tree, CA 14 
4.5 mi 7.3 km #4South Lykken Trail
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Palm Springs, CA
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Palm Springs, CA 10 
0.6 mi 0.9 km #5Dante's View Trail
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate
Badwater, CA
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate
Badwater, CA 12 
37.6 mi 60.5 km #6California Riding and Hiking Trail
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate
Yucca Valley, CA
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate
Yucca Valley, CA 9 
0.9 mi 1.5 km #7Eagle Cliff Mine
Intermediate Intermediate
Twentynine Palms, CA
Intermediate Intermediate
Twentynine Palms, CA 2 
0.8 mi 1.2 km #8Antelope Trail South Loop
Easy Easy
Green Valley, CA
Easy Easy
Green Valley, CA 2 
2.2 mi 3.6 km #9Ubehebe Peak Trail
Difficult Difficult
Lone Pine, CA
Difficult Difficult
Lone Pine, CA 2 
2.7 mi 4.3 km #10Sidewinder Canyon
Difficult Difficult
Badwater, CA
Difficult Difficult
Badwater, CA 2 

Photos of Deserts - 957

Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Add Your Photos

Amazing views! Death Valley - Zabriskie Point.
Jan 27, 2016 near Badwater, CA
The clouds erupt in wonderful colors as we reach the summit of Mt. Ryan.
Feb 23, 2017 near Twentyn…, CA
Admiring a Pink Sunset
Sep 27, 2017 near Badwater, CA
Milky Way over Arch Rock
Feb 1, 2018 near Twentyn…, CA
Sunset at Zabriskie Point - Death Valley National Park
Mar 31, 2020 near Badwater, CA
Badwater at Sunset
Mar 31, 2020 near Badwater, CA
Sunset at Joshua Tree National Park.
Apr 2, 2020 near Twentyn…, CA
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
Nov 18, 2023 near Badwater, CA
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