Part I of the Sonoran Desert Series
In this article:
How to get there & best times to visit
Introducing the Sonoran Desert
Arizona’s and California’s Sonoran Desert - a surreal stretch of land filled with extremes. Rugged and harsh yet incredibly diverse and full of life. From dense saguaro & organ pipe cactus forests - iconic symbols of the American West - and countless isolated sky islands that rise from the plains to vast sandy desert regions the Sonoran Desert encompasses large parts of California’s and Arizona’s far South. Often referred to as the “Green Desert” it boasts an unexpectedly wide range of exciting wildlife and unique landscapes, setting this desert apart from any other North American desert. This great variety of landscapes and wildlife is protected by a large number of state parks as well as Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and Saguaro National Park - all of which contain some of the most colorful landscapes of the U.S. Southwest!
The U.S. part of the Sonoran Desert spans across two states and reaches almost 400 miles or 650 km from Palm Springs, California to Tucson, Arizona. In between you will find both, extremely remote stretches that require long drives to get there as well as major cities, international airports, and interstates which will allow you to easily reach at least some of the region’s best outdoor destinations. While the latter makes traveling to and through the Sonoran Desert considerably more comfortable it is still important to plan ahead, know your travel routes, and be prepared for extreme and potentially dangerous weather conditions - depending on the time of year you are planning to visit - in order to make the most out of your outdoor desert adventure while staying safe!
All in all you can expect an exciting mix of both, cultural as well as natural sights and highlights that offer plenty of outdoor activities. So, no matter what kind of outdoor enthusiast you are - you can look forward to some prime destinations for hiking, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, or simply getting away from everyday life and enjoying the peace and quiet of this serene wilderness. And no matter if you are staying in one of the region’s major cities or small desert towns - you will be surprised to learn how rich the history of this seemingly inconspicuous part of the U.S. Southwest is!
In the following sections, I will take you along to explore some of my favorite parks in Southern Arizona as well as Southern California. Here I will draw from the experiences I have made on my multiple visits to the area, and highlight the best sights, hikes, and travel routes, as well as the areas that must not be missed for the most spectacular desert sunset views. Also, I will lay out some of the busiest wildlife hotspots for the best chances to spot some of the region’s desert wildlife!
Getting there & best times to visit
Major international airports located in the Arizona part of the Sonoran Desert include Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport serving as a major hub for low-cost airlines, and Tucson International Airport. Traveling by car, you will be able to reach both cities via I10 from the east or I17 from the north. The greater Phoenix and Tucson areas both offer convenient starting points to explore some of the most scenic outdoor highlights of Arizona’s Sonoran Desert, including:
Greater Phoenix (detailed description in Part II):
South Mountain Park and Preserve
Papago Park
Usery Mountain Regional Park
Lost Dutchman State Park
Goldfield Ghost Town
Greater Tucson (detailed description in Part III):
Saguaro National Park
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
The western portion of the Sonoran Desert is situated in Southern California and can be best reached by flying into either Los Angeles International Airport, San Diego International Airport, or Palm Springs International Airport. If you travel by car you will reach this area via I10 or I8, both coming from the west. This will take you to the best outdoor destinations of the Coachella and Imperial Valleys in Southern California which include the following highlights:
Coachella Valley (detailed description in Part IV):
Anza Borrego Desert & Coachella Valley
Imperial Valley (detailed description in Part IV):
Salton Sea & Imperial Valley
Algodones Sand Dunes
Due to the large size of the area covered by the Sonoran Desert throughout the southernmost parts of Arizona and California there are some differences when it comes to the climate and with it the best times to visit. The further east you travel the climate changes from mostly hot and dry in the westernmost regions around the Salton Sea to comparably cool and wet in the areas around Phoenix and Tucson. This brings with it also a dramatic change of scenery as you travel from west to east. Starting with California’s dry and sandy desert the landscape gradually changes into the comparably lush “Green Desert” of Arizona which harbors those iconic desert residents that have become a symbol of the American Wild West - the giant saguaro and the majestic organ pipe cactus.
However, it is safe to say that the entire Sonoran Desert offers a warm to hot climate with mild winters and hot summers. The only important fact to consider when planning your journey through these parts is that there are distinct wet seasons that have an impact on the entire American Southwest. The monsoon season brings with it high humidity and strong thunderstorms in between late June and early September and the winter months in between late November and late February are generally characterized by the occasional cold front passing through. That being said, winter will also offer warm and sunny weather - especially the further west you travel. All in all, for those seeking more stable weather and tolerable temperatures, the absolute best times to visit are the shoulder seasons around April and September / October. Just make sure to steer clear of those extremely hot and humid summer months in between June and August and you will most likely be on the safe side!
For a visual Sonoran Desert guide check out my video below. For more detailed information feel free to continue reading through the next parts of this series at the bottom of this page.
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