Hikes in the California Desert

Joshua Tree National Park, Mojave National Preserve, and Death Valley National Park protect 7,500 square miles of California desert, a land that is full of hiking trails and other attractions. Within these parks lie volcanic craters, sand dunes, oases, and other geological wonders. Use the list below to start exploring the California desert. For information on camping in each park visit:

Hikes in the California Desert

	Death Valley National Park
	Ubehebe Crater Ubehebe Crater is located in the north end of Death Valley near the Eureka Dunes and Scotty’s Castle. A parking lot along the rim provides a great view of the crater, and there are also three trails to choose from.
	Mosaic Canyon This 1 to 4-mile hike starts up a smooth marble slot canyon and exposes visitors to plenty of great Death Valley geology.
	Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes This short hike visits the most visible (but not the largest) sand dunes in Death Valley.
	Salt Creek This easy one mile out-and-back crosses a short boardwalk bordering a little creek
	Harmony Borax The ¼ mile hike around the Harmony Borax plant offers a window into the mining past of Death Valley.
	Dante's View Dante's View towers over Badwater Basin and offers a panoramic overlook of Death Valley.
	Twenty Mule Team Canyon This 2.8-mile one way road is just up the road from Zabriskie Point. The fine canyon that can be experienced right from the driver’s seat.
	Badlands Loop This 2.5-mile Loop offers a great immersion into the terrain beneath Zabriskie Point. Anyone who hiked the Golden Canyon – Gower Gulch Loop and enjoyed the middle section of the trek will love the Badlands Loop.
	Zabriskie Point Zabriskie Point offers a stunning panorama of the badlands near Furnace Creek.
	Golden Canyon - Gower Gulch Loop This 4-mile loop visits some of the most stunning landscapes in Death Valley.
	Artist's Drive and Artist's Palette This 9-mile drive crosses a sloping mountainside composed of vibrant soil colored by rich metals.
	Badwater Basin At 282 feet below sea level, this is the lowest place in North America -- a required stop for first time visitors to Death Valley.
	Natural Bridge Canyon The 2-mile round-trip hike up Natural Bridge Canyon is a great trek for those interested in learning about the geological history of Death Valley. Also, the natural bridge is just cool to walk under.
	Ashford Mill This short walk visit the ruins of a mill where gold was once processed for a nearby mine.
	Charcoal Kilns These conical constructions converted lumber to charcoal for area miners from 1879 to 1882. No hiking required.
	Wildrose Peak This 8.4-mile hike begins from Charcoal Kilns and summits a 9,064-foot peak in the Panamint Mountain Range, which runs down the western side of Death Valley.
	Darwin Falls This 2-mile hike visits a refreshing year-round waterfall on the western side of Death Valley National Park.
	Mojave National Preserve
	Teutonia Peak This peak rises above Cima Dome, the largest symmetric dome in America, The two-mile trail crosses a Joshua Tree forest before climbing to the panoramic peak atop the seventy square mile dome.
	Lava Tube This short 0.6-mile hike drops below the surface into an old lava tube.
	Petroglyphs This quarter-mile path visits engravings in the volcanic rock at the rim of the cinder fields just off Kelbaker Road.
	Kelso Dunes The dunes cover 45 square miles and rise 700 feet above the desert floor. What do you do with such a big pile of sand? Climb it!
	Silver Peak This 8.5-mile hike summits a 6.365-foot peak in the Granite Mountains.
	Hole-in-the-Wall Rings Trail The Hole-in-the-Wall rings trail visits a uniuqe landscape, and is a must see on any visit to Mojave National Preserve.
	Fountain Peak There is no trail up Fountain Peak, but if you are up for making your own way, the views will be worth it.
	Amboy Crater Located southwest of Mojave National Preserve, visitors from Los Angeles may wish to stop at Amboy Crater. The landscape is impressive, especially when decorated with spring flowers.
	Joshua Tree National Park
	Indian Cove Indian Cove offers camping and bouldering on the northwest end of the park.
	49 Palms Oasis This three-mile round-trip hike crosses a scenic desert before relaxing at an out-of-place oasis.
	Warren Peak This 5.5-mile hike summits a 5,103-foot peak on the western edge of the Little San Bernardino Mountains in Joshua Tree National Park. The trail begins at Black Rock Campground.
	Barker Dam This 1.5-mile hike visits a foreign-looking reservoir set in the Wonderland of Rocks.
	Desert Queen Mine This 1.6-mile hike follows a level desert trail to an overlook before crossing a canyon to visits the ruins of one the most profitable gold mines in the California desert.
	Lucky Boy Vista This level 2.5-mile hike visits a modest overlook at the site of an old mine.
	Hidden Valley This one-mile loop offers great bouldering side trips, and a true Joshua Tree experience.
	Lost Horse Mine This two-mile trail terminates at the well preserved Lost Horse Mine ten-stamp mill.
	Inspiration Peak This 1.2-mile hike climbs above Keys View to a summit with even better views over Joshua Tree.
	Cholla Cactus Garden The Cholla Cactus Garden is a true one-of-a-kind. Cute as they are, you don't want to touch these teddy bear cacti.
	Mastodon Peak This 2.6-mile loop summits an easy peak with nice views of the surrounding desert.
	Lost Palms Oasis This 7.2-mile round-trip trail crosses the desert to a palm-filled oasis.