Arizona/California
On the Road: Saguaro, Joshua Tree & Death Valley National Parks
Program No. 13480RJ
Explore the warmth of the great American Sonoran and Mojave deserts, as well as the Saguaro, Joshua Tree and Death Valley National Parks, on the journey of a lifetime.
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10 days
9 nights
25 meals
9B 8L 8D
4
Algodones Dunes, Salton Sea, Arrive Palm Springs
Palm Springs, CA
5
Joshua Tree National Park Viewpoints, Hidden Valley
Palm Springs, CA
6
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Downtown Palm Springs
Palm Springs, CA
7
Death Valley National Park Through the Mojave Desert
Death Valley, CA
8
Explore Death Valley's Badwater, Zabriskie Point
Death Valley, CA
9
Explorations in Death Valley National Park
Death Valley, CA
10
To Las Vegas, Program Concludes
Las Vegas, NV
At a Glance
Deserts are this nation's unexplored wilderness, harboring rare and endangered plants and animals and sheltering hidden oases. And deserts are landscapes changed by humans — to be made to bloom, to be mined for wealth, to tame its wild rivers. With stories of fortunes won and lost, conflict and controversy, these landscapes have been formed and reformed by nature's time and human struggle. Explore these great American deserts — the Sonoran and Mojave — cut by the life-giving Colorado River, and experience their warmth and richness in a journey of a lifetime.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to two miles on varied terrain. Elevations up to 3,000 feet.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Enjoy in-depth, expert-led exploration of Saguaro, Joshua Tree and Death Valley National Parks.
- Visit the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson, Yuma’s Territorial Prison and picturesque Zabriskie Point and Badwater Basin in Death Valley.
- Ride the thrilling Palm Springs Aerial Tramway and enjoy a festive Palm Springs street fair.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Renee Brown
Renee Brown received her B.A. in social science with an emphasis on history, political science, and sociology from Chapman University in 2008. Formerly a journalist and educator, she is now the associate curator and archivist at the Palm Springs Historical Society. She is a lifelong resident of Palm Springs and loves to tell the stories of the people who built the city.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Renee Brown
View biography
Renee Brown received her B.A. in social science with an emphasis on history, political science, and sociology from Chapman University in 2008. Formerly a journalist and educator, she is now the associate curator and archivist at the Palm Springs Historical Society. She is a lifelong resident of Palm Springs and loves to tell the stories of the people who built the city.
Suggested Reading List
(6 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
On the Road: Saguaro, Joshua Tree & Death Valley National Parks
Program Number: 13480
Joshua Tree National Park Geology
This book explores the geology and evolution of the Joshua Tree National Park landscape. Includes sections on plate tectonics, regional geology and the seismic activity that continues to shape this remarkable desert setting. Written for visitors, climbers and students of geology. With many full-color photographs and more than fifty diagrams that clearly illustrate geologic events.
A Natural History of the Sonoran Desert
"Once in a generation, a guide to understanding a major North American landscape comes along. This book is such a touchstone, sure to become a classic. The emphasis here is on biodiversity, mutualism, co-evolution, and, especially, ethno-relationships—the long history of connection between desert peoples and their homeland, on both sides of the border.
Death Valley and the Northern Mojave
Features a lively interpretive text that is complimented by maps, detailed directions and 215 color photos. It is the indispensable book to help you explore and enjoy this extraordinary place.
Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water
The story of the American West is the story of a relentless quest for a precious resource: water. It is a tale of rivers diverted and dammed, of political corruption and intrigue, of billion-dollar battles over water rights, of ecologic and economic disaster. In Cadillac Desert Marc Reisner writes of the earliest settlers, lured by the promise of paradise, and of the ruthless tactics employed by Los Angeles politicians and business interests to ensure the city's growth. Cadillac Desert is a stunning expose and a dramatic, intriguing history of the creation of an Eden--and Eden that may be only a mirage. 608pp
Unquenchable: America's Water Crisis
In the middle of the Mojave Desert, Las Vegas casinos use billions of gallons of water for fountains, pirate lagoons, wave machines, and indoor canals. Meanwhile, the town of Orme, Tennessee, must truck in water from Alabama because it has literally run out. Robert Glennon captures the irony—and tragedy—of America’s water crisis in a book that is both frightening and wickedly comical. Unquenchable reveals the heady extravagances and everyday inefficiencies that are sucking the nation dry.
Cactus Tracks and Cowboy Philosophy
A complete compilation of all the stories and poetry you've heard Baxter do on NPR, with the unforgettable flavor of Baxter's own brand of cowboy philosophy. Over 250 pages of that bizarre humor that had you laughing out loud while driving to work. Some of you even complained to us about having to pull off the road to avoid a "laughter disaster". You'll also find poignant, more dramatic pieces that brought a smile to your face, or that far away look in your eyes.