Hikes in the California Desert

Below is a list of over fifty trails in the California desert. These hikes are listed from north to south, but the table may also be sorted alphabetically or by distance to help you pick your next trek. Each trail links to its own report complete with photos, maps, directions, and all the other information needed to locate and enjoy these trails. An interactive map is also provided.

Highlights of the California Desert

Death Valley Sand DunesDeath Valley Natural BridgeDeath Valley badlandsJoshua Tree Lost Palms OasisJoshua Tree Ryan MountainNew York Peak MojaveLava Tue MojaveHellhole CanyonAnza-Borrego Narrows

 

Hiking the California Desert

Death Valley National Park, Mojave National Preserve, Joshua Tree National Park, and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park combine to protect 8,500 square miles of California desert. Within these parks lie volcanic craters, sand dunes, oases, and some of the most fascinating geology in the United States. The best way to see may of these features is on foot. Choose a trail from the list below and begin exploring the California desert.

Trail or
Attraction
DescriptionDistanceLatitude,
Longitude
050Ubehebe Crater in Death Valley
A parking lot along the rim provides a great view of the crater, and there are also three trails to choose from.
0 - 2 miles

37.012327,
-117.455034
060Mosaic Canyon in Death Valley
This out and back hike starts up a smooth marble slot canyon and exposes visitors to unique Death Valley geology.
1 - 4 miles36.570411,
-117.143455
070Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley
This hike explores the most visible (but not the largest) sand dunes in Death Valley
1 - 3 miles36.618876,
-117.1136
080Grotto Canyon in Death Valley
This out and back hike requires a bit of climbing and is a lesser-visited trail in Death Valley.
2 - 4 miles36.583024,
-117.104058
090Salt Creek in Death Valley
This easy out and back hike crosses a short boardwalk bordering a little creek.
1 mile
36.605937,
-116.990891
100Harmony Borax in Death Valley
This short walk around the Harmony Borax plant offers a window into the mining past of Death Valley.
0.25 miles36.479987,
-116.873517
110Golden Canyon – Gower Gulch Loop in Death Valley
This loop visits some of the most stunning terrain in Death Valley.
4 miles36.420525,
-116.847839
120Badlands Loop in Death Valley
This loop offers a great immersion into the terrain beneath Zabriskie Point.
2.5 miles36.419884,
-116.812431
130Zabriskie Point in Death Valley
Zabriskie Point offers a stunning panorama of the badlands near Furnace Creek.
0.25 miles36.419884,
-116.812431
140Twenty Mule Team Canyon in Death Valley
This 2.8-mile one way road lets visitors experience a fine canyon right from the driver’s seat.
0 miles36.406155,
-116.793594
150Artist’s Drive in Death Valley
This 9-mile drive crosses a sloping mountainside composed of vibrant soil colored by rich metals.
0 - 0.5 miles36.368588,
-116.802878
155Darwin Falls in Death Valley
This out and back hike visits a refreshing year-round waterfall on the western side of Death Valley.
2 miles36.320721,
-117.523908
160Wildrose Peak in Death Valley
This out and back hike summits a 9,064-foot peak in the Panamint Mountain Range, which runs down the western side of Death Valley.
8.4 miles
2,200 feet
36.276135,
-117.079504
155Charcoal Kilns in Death Valley
These conical constructions converted lumber to charcoal for area miners from 1879 to 1882.
0 - 0.5 miles36.246617,
-117.075984
165Natural Bridge Canyon in Death Valley
This is a great out and back hike for those interested in learning about the geological history of Death Valley.
2 miles36.283208,
-116.771135
170Badwater Basin in Death Valley
This is the lowest place in North America -- a required stop for first time visitors to Death Valley.
0 - 1 miles36.230242,
-116.767634
180Dante’s View in Death Valley
This towering overlook above Badwater Basin offers panoramic views of Death Valley.
0 - 1 miles36.221239,
-116.726232
190Sidewinder Canyon in Death Valley
This out and back hike visits narrow slot canyons full of pour-overs, carve outs, and dark passages that beg to be explored.
4 - 7 miles36.065292,
-116.745064
198Ashford Mill in Death Valley
These ruins, where gold was once processed for the Ashford Mine, provide an example of how tough life can be in this harsh desert.
0.1 miles35.918925,
-116.683303
300Teutonia Peak in Mojave National Preserve
The out and back hike crosses a Joshua tree forest to summit a short peak with a great view of Cima Dome.
4 miles
700 feet
35.300458,
-115.563498
310New York Peak in Mojave National Preserve
This out and back hike summits the highest point of the New York Range in the northeast corner of the preserve.
7 - 9 miles
2400 feet
35.258600,
-115.306377
315Lava Tube in Mojave National Preserve
This short out and back hike drops underground into an old lava tube lit by holes in the surface.
0.6 miles
150 feet
35.216347,
-115.751525
317Petroglyphs in Mojave National Preserve
This faint path visits ancient engravings in the volcanic rock at the western rim of the cinder fields just off Kelbaker Road.
0.25 miles35.205572,
-115.872077
320Hole-in-the-Wall in Mojave National Preserve
This loop takes visitors through a landscape of pocketed rocks. Ringbolts allow fun passage through narrow canyons.
1.5 miles35.043746,
-115.398252
330Fountain Peak in Mojave National Preserve
This off trail trek summits a peak with commanding views over the Providence Mountains.
5 miles
2700 feet
34.945976,
-115.537555
340Kelso Dunes in Mojave National Preserve
This out and back hike climbs the highest point in this 45 square mile dune field.
3 miles
470 feet
34.945976,
-115.537555
350Silver Peak in Mojave National Preserve
This out and back hike summits a 6.365-foot peak in Granite Mountains.
8.5 miles
2,500 feet
34.812283,
-115.695982
400Amboy Crater
This out and back hike travels up and into this "Mojave National Preserve adjacent" crater.
3 miles34.544646,
-115.790627
500Fortynine Palms Oasis in Joshua Tree
The 3-mile round trip hike visits a cool desert oasis.
3 miles34.105651,
-116.10479
510Indian Cove in Joshua Tree
The 101-site campground is home to a 0.6-mile interpretive trail and endless bouldering and rock climbing opportunities.
0.6 - 2 miles (or more)34.094833,
-116.15747
512Contact Mine in Joshua Tree National Park
This out and back hike travels up a wash, a canyon, and an old road to a mountainside mine site.
3.9 miles
700 feet
34.069024,
-116.055543
514Warren Peak in Joshua Tree
This out and back hike summits a peak with impressive views over the west side of Joshua Tree.
5.5 miles
1,000 feet
34.055136,
-116.407381
516Desert Queen Mine in Joshua Tree
This 1.6-mile hike follows a level desert trail to an overlook before crossing a canyon to visits the ruins of an old gold mine.
1.6 miles
34.025433,
-116.078167
519Lucky Boy Vista in Joshua Tree
This level out and back hike visits a modest overlook at the site of an old mine.
2.5 miles
125 feet
34.017818,
-116.082237
521Wall Street Mill in Joshua Tree National Park
This level out and back hike visits a well-reserved gold mill, exploring the mining history of Joshua Tree National Park.
1.55 - 2.15
115 feet
34.036453,
-116.133863
522Wonderland Wash in Joshua Tree National Park
This level out and back hike travels past the ruins of Wonderland Ranch up a use trail into the Wonderland of Rocks.
2.1 miles (or more)
75 feet
34.030444,
-116.139357
524Barker Dam in Joshua Tree
This level loop visits a small foreign-looking reservoir within the Wonderland of Rocks
1.5 miles34.024896,
-116.142061
525Hidden Valley in Joshua Tree
This loop circles the interior of a small valley surrounded by tall rocks that serves as an excellent bouldering arena.
1 mile (or more)34.012743,
-116.168729
530Ryan Mountain in Joshua Tree
This out and back hike offers summit views from the center of Joshua Tree National Park.
3 miles
1,075 feet
34.094833,
-116.15747
535Arch Rock in Joshua Tree
This easy loop visits a natural arch in the granite formations around White Tank Campground.
0.3 miles
30 feet
33.985241,
-116.016487
540Lost Horse Mine in Joshua Tree
This out and back hike visits a well-preserved mine and mill.
4 miles34.094833,
-116.15747
580Inspiration Peak in Joshua Tree
This out and back hike leaves the crowds at Keys View for even grander views from a 5,550-foot summit.
1.2 miles
425 feet
33.931799,
-116.192701
600Cholla Cactus Garden in Joshua Tree
This loop offers a stroll through an intense concentration of Cholla cacti.
0.25 miles33.925302,
-115.928777
605Mastodon Peak in Joshua Tree
This 2.6-mile loop visits a 3,400-foot summit with panoramic views of southeastern Joshua Tree.
2.6 miles
440 feet
33.735165,
-115.799682
610Lost Palms Oasis in Joshua Tree
This out and back hike visits an oasis nestled between mountains in the southeast corner of the park.
7.2 miles33.712768,
-115.762737
810Calcite Mine Trail in the Anza-Borrego Desert
This figure-eight shaped lollipop loop visits enthralling narrows and a mine site important to history of the park.
4 - 4.25 miles
600 feet
33.281126,
-116.096372
817Borrego Palms Canyon Trail in the Anza-Borrego Desert
This loop visits a popular palm tree oasis in a canyon west of Borrego Springs.
3.25 miles
450 feet
33.269838,
-116.418042
823Maidenhair Falls in the Anza-Borrego Desert
This out and back hike visits a 20-foot waterfall in a canyon near Borrego Springs, making it the perfect place to cool off on a hot day in the California Desert.
5.5 miles
1,000 feet
33.248037,
-116.40594
830The Slot in the Anza-Borrego Desert
This out and back hike crosses a narrow canyon beneath a natural rock span that is among the most photographed landmarks in the park.
1.2 miles
100 feet
33.182132,
-116.214176
833Narrows Earth Trail in the Anza-Borrego Desert
This short self-guided loop explores the geology of the park.
0.5 miles
50 feet
33.13072,
-116.301549
840Elephant Trees Trail in the Anza-Borrego Desert
This easy loop offers a lesson in desert botany including the rare elephant tree.
1 mile
50 feet
33.068153,
-116.1168
842Pictograph Trail in the Anza-Borrego Desert
This out and back hike visits rock paintings drawn by Kumeyaay Indians who lived in the Anza-Borrego Desert thousands of years ago.
1.8 miles
150 feet
33.019574,
-116.359625
844Morteros Trail in the Anza-Borrego Desert
This brief hike visits a village of boulders once occupied by Kumeyaay Indians who left behind Morteros, grinding bowls carved into the rock.
0.6 miles
40 feet
33.008959,
-116.378478
850Wind Caves in the Anza-Borrego Desert
This short hike climbs to a sandstone formation that begs to be explored.
1.25 miles
250 feet
32.991103,
-116.112556
860Rainbow Canyon in the Anza-Borrego Desert
This out and back hike follows an undeveloped trail up a colorful canyon full of vibrant rock formations and desert plants.
2.2 miles
250 feet
32.997806,
-116.447558

 



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Joshua Tree Trail
Nature Valley - Preserve The Parks
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Trail
Maidenhair Falls Hellhole Canyon Trail Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Trail
Borrego Palms Canyon Trail Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Trail
Rainbow Canyon Trail Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Trail
Pictograph Trail Anza-Borrego Desert State Park