Trip: Desert Trails –

The Desert Trails Trip

10 Days in Nevada, California, and Arizona

This trip makes an enjoyable loop around the desert landscapes of southern California and Arizona. It hits some great highlights, like Death Valley, Joshua Tree National Park, Saguaro National Park, and Sedona, and ends with an incredible drive to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

Day 1

To Death Valley

Rhyolite Ghost Town & Goldwell Open Air Museum

If you arrive in Las Vegas by mid-afternoon, you should have just enough time to reach Beatty, Nevada by sunset. ...

Nevada

Sep 17, 2016

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Day 2

Exploring Death Valley

Stovepipe Wells Sand Dunes, Death Valley

I grew tired of walking up and down the sides of sand dunes, and eventually decided that the highest dune ...

California

Sep 17, 2016

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West Side Road, Death Valley

After leaving Badwater, I had to make a choice: either head south, connect with the West Side Road, and circle ...

California

Sep 17, 2016

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Badwater Basin – Death Valley National Park

Slow down as you approach the deepest place in the western hemisphere: Badwater. Here, the salt flats of Death Valley ...

California

Sep 17, 2016

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Natural Bridge Trail, Death Valley

If you’re in the mood for another short hike, you can take a dirt road up to the trailhead for ...

California

Sep 17, 2016

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Devil’s Golf Course, Death Valley

Next on your trip southward toward Badwater is what must be one of the most unusual scenes in Death Valley. ...

California

Sep 17, 2016

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Golden Canyon Trail – Death Valley National Park

As you head south, the next point of interest is Golden Canyon. You’ll find a fairly easy trail which will ...

California

Sep 17, 2016

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Harmony Borax Works Interpretive Site

As you continue to head south, the next attraction you’ll pass is the Harmony Borax Works. The park has arranged ...

California

Sep 17, 2016

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Keane Wonder Mine – Death Valley National Park

After crossing Daylight Pass, you’ll quickly drop down into Death Valley. When you reach the information kiosk, pay your admission ...

California

Sep 17, 2016

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Day 3

More Time in Death Valley

Father Crowley Point, Death Valley

After you’ve cut across the Panamint valley (a smaller, but similarly desolate version of Death Valley), you will once again ...

California

Sep 17, 2016

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Aguereberry Point, overlooking Death Valley

Continue driving on Aguereberrry Point Road, and you’ll pass from a wide open high-desert landscape to a narrow canyon. Tight ...

California

Sep 17, 2016

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Aguereberry Mining Camp & Eureka Mine

As you head west on highway 190, you’ll climb your way out of Death Valley. Just eight miles after leaving ...

California

Sep 17, 2016

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Ubehebe & Little Hebe Craters

The other big attraction at the northern end of Death Valley is the giant Ubehebe Crater. This huge, steep sided ...

California

Sep 17, 2016

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Scotty’s Castle, Death Valley

Continue north through the park and you’ll pass the ranger station at Grapevine, followed by the intersection with Rte. 267, ...

California

Sep 17, 2016

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Titus Canyon, Death Valley

Devote your second full day in Death Valley to the northern half of the park. If you’re driving in from ...

California

Sep 17, 2016

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Day 4

Exploring Southern California

Joshua Tree National Park

With the sun quickly setting, my time at Joshua Tree was limited. I thought Keys View sounded promising for a ...

California

Sep 17, 2016

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Roy’s Motel & Cafe, on Old Route 66

Just a couple of miles past the Amboy Crater, you’ll come across a true relic of Route 66’s heyday: Roy’s ...

California

Sep 17, 2016

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Pisgah and Amboy Craters, on Old Route 66

After you leave Barstow on Interstate 40, you have several opportunities to exit the freeway, and onto a very old ...

California

Sep 17, 2016

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Fossil Falls, along US 395

Here’s an interesting natural attraction that you could easily miss. Fossil Falls is just a short drive off the highway, ...

California

Sep 17, 2016

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Lone Pine, California: Sierra Nevada & Alabama Hills

The drive from Death Valley to Lone Pine takes you from the lowest point in the western hemisphere to the ...

California

Sep 17, 2016

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Day 5

Phoenix to Tucson

Globe, Arizona

The town of Globe has a nice, walkable downtown district that has kept much of its old west feel. The ...

Arizona

Sep 18, 2016

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Roosevelt Dam, on the Apache Trail

As you approach the end of the scenic portion of the Apache Trail, you come to the Roosevelt Dam. The ...

Arizona

Sep 18, 2016

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Apache Trail: Weaver’s Needle, Tortilla Flat

There’s not a lot to see or do along I-10 between the Arizona/California border and Phoenix. I had hoped that ...

Arizona

Sep 18, 2016

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Day 6

To the Wonderland of Rocks

Massai Point, Chiricahua National Monument

If you don’t have enough time to hike a trail in Chiricahua, there’s one place you must stop: Massai Point. ...

Arizona

Sep 18, 2016

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Sugarloaf Mountain, Chiricahua National Monument

About a half hour from Willcox, Arizona is what may be one of the country’s most beautiful and largely unknown ...

Arizona

Sep 18, 2016

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What is THE THING? Tourist Attraction

Between Tucson and Willcox there’s not a lot to see. I think it’s because everything’s hidden behind an endless series ...

Arizona

Sep 18, 2016

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Mount Lemmon Drive, near Tucson

As you make your way across Tucson on Speedway Boulevard, watch for Tanque Verde Road. Take it north to Catalina ...

Arizona

Sep 18, 2016

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Signal Hill Petroglyphs, Saguaro National Park

If you’re looking for a short hike that’s worth the effort, stop at Signal Hill. The hike to the top ...

Arizona

Sep 18, 2016

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Esparanza Trail, Saguaro National Park

If you follow my suggestion and stay in one of the motels off I-10 on the north side of Tucson, ...

Arizona

Sep 18, 2016

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Day 7

A Long, Lonely Scenic Drive

The Wigwam Motel: Holbrook, Arizona

Not far from the Painted Desert on Interstate 40, Holbrook, Arizona is home to the quintessential Route 66 motel experience. ...

Arizona

Sep 18, 2016

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Petrified Forest National Park

US 180 takes you to the southern entrance of Petrified Forest National Park. Turn onto Petrified Forest Road, which will ...

Arizona

Sep 18, 2016

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Rose Peak Trail, on the Coronado Trail, Arizona

You’ve roughly reached the Coronado Trail’s halfway point when you crest a hill, and see the small parking area for ...

Arizona

Sep 18, 2016

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Coronado Trail – US 191

A few miles up the road, once you’re almost out of site of the huge copper mine, you’ll find Chase ...

Arizona

Sep 18, 2016

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Morenci, Arizona: Phelps Dodge Mine

US 191’s fun begins as you climb up out of Clifton, through the mostly residential town of Morenci, then past ...

Arizona

Sep 18, 2016

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Clifton, Arizona: Cliffside Jail

Day 7 will be spent almost exclusively on one amazing highway, US 191, the Coronado Trail. Take I-10 east from ...

Arizona

Sep 18, 2016

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Day 8

Route 66 to Sedona

Prescott, Arizona

Between Jerome and Prescott, Historic US 89A takes you on quite a ride. Expect to repeatedly slow down to about ...

Arizona

Sep 18, 2016

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Jerome, Arizona

Jerome is not a ghost town. At least, not anymore. The ruins of historic buildings and pieces of old machinery ...

Arizona

Sep 18, 2016

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Oak Creek Canyon: Historic US 89A to Sedona

To reach Sedona out of Flagstaff, turn from Interstate 40 onto I-17 south, then take the first exit. This will ...

Arizona

Sep 18, 2016

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Sunset Crater National Monument: Lenox Crater

Flagstaff has perhaps the world’s most famous National Park as a neighbor: the Grand Canyon. But there are other areas ...

Arizona

Sep 18, 2016

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Winslow, Arizona on Route 66: Standin’ On The Corner

To begin day 8, head out of Holbrook heading west on I-40. The first stop is Winslow, Arizona. As you ...

Arizona

Sep 18, 2016

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Day 9

Hiking in Sedona

Yes, You CAN Drive Into the Grand Canyon

It may be the best kept secret on old US 66: a side road that takes you to the bottom ...

Arizona

Sep 18, 2016

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Hiking the Vultee Arch Trail, Sedona

After lunch I decided to devote my entire afternoon to one trail. The Vultee Arch Trail looked promising: 1.5 miles ...

Arizona

Sep 18, 2016

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The Chapel of the Holy Cross, Sedona

Most of Sedona’s attractions are natural wonders, but there is one man-made stop you should add to your list: The ...

Arizona

Sep 18, 2016

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Doe Mountain Trail: Hiking in Sedona

To reach the next stop, continue driving down Forest Road 152-C. The pavement will soon turn to dirt, which just ...

Arizona

Sep 18, 2016

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Boynton Canyon, Hiking in Sedona

If you love to hike, you’ll probably want to devote at least one full day to the red rock trails ...

Arizona

Sep 18, 2016

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Day 10

Driving into the Grand Canyon, then back to Vegas

Ending the Vacation in Las Vegas

With just hours before my flight was to leave, I had just enough time to cap off my trip with ...

Nevada

Sep 18, 2016

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Seligman, Arizona, on Route 66

The main objective for the final day of the trip is to make it back to Las Vegas in time ...

Arizona

Sep 18, 2016

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Main Menu

The Desert Trails Trip

10 Days in Nevada, California, and Arizona

This trip makes an enjoyable loop around the desert landscapes of southern California and Arizona. It hits some great highlights, like Death Valley, Joshua Tree National Park, Saguaro National Park, and Sedona, and ends with an incredible drive to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

Day 1

To Death Valley

Day 2

Exploring Death Valley

Day 3

More Time in Death Valley

Day 4

Exploring Southern California

Day 5

Phoenix to Tucson

Day 6

To the Wonderland of Rocks

Day 7

A Long, Lonely Scenic Drive

Day 8

Route 66 to Sedona

Day 9

Hiking in Sedona

Day 10

Driving into the Grand Canyon, then back to Vegas