Southern California Desert Day Trips

There are numerous arches in the Death Valley National Park, some big, most small. The most famous arch is Natural Bridge due to its easy access. Natural Bridge is just one of many remarkable attractions in Death Valley. Natural Bridge is made of sedimentary rock that has been carved out by the … [Read more...]

Shields Date Garden is a historic landmark that has been at the exact location since 1924. Opening its doors on Christmas Day of that year, they have continuously offered quality date, citrus, and organic food products to customers worldwide. Inside Shields Date Garden’s store, visitors can step … [Read more...]

Burro Schmidt was a determined fellow and spent 32 years of his life burrowing through the rock to create a shortcut to bring gold ore to the smelters near Mojave. Burro never found any gold ore, but he did finish his tunnel. Schmidt was entered into "Ripley's Believe It or Not" as the "human … [Read more...]

Integratron is a hidden gem in the desert near Yucca Valley, California. It’s not much to look at from the outside, but inside it is something out of this world that provides visitors a far-out vibe. Constructed by NASA physicist George Van Tassel, who said aliens supplied him with instructions … [Read more...]

Once the home of the Whitewater Trout Farm, the Whitewater Preserve in Palm Springs has become a sanctuary of the Southern California Wildlands Conservancy. Abutting the San Gorgonio Wilderness and part of the 33,000 acre Sand to Snow Preserve System, it is a great place to visit and a great … [Read more...]

Tahquitz Canyon should be on your list if you're looking for a peaceful getaway close to home. It is genuinely one of southern California's early history crown jewels. Situated just west of Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs, Tahquitz Canyon is home to an idyllic desert environment on the edge of … [Read more...]

Harmony Borax Works is a popular attraction in Death Valley National Park. The site contains the remains of the processing plant and a few buildings that made up the mining camp of Harmony. Harmony Borax Works was only used to process borax between 1882 and 1888. Today the site is listed on the … [Read more...]

Kelso Dunes rise almost 700 feet high out of Southern California's East Mojave desert. These spectacular dunes are the remains of mountains long worn away. Winds created the dunes as they blew sand particles across the Mojave river sink resulting in a 45-square mile sandbox. Kelso Dunes are also … [Read more...]

There are two ways to enter Titus Canyon in Death Valley National Park. The easy way is to park at the west entrance and walk in. The fun route is to drive in from Nevada Highway 374. The 27-mile trip starts near the Nevada town of Beatty and climbs to 5,000 feet before winding down to lower Titus … [Read more...]

Dublin Gulch is not your typical ghost town. Most of the city is underground. In the early 1900s, miners and railroad workers carved out living quarters in the cliffs near Shoshone, California. The cave dwellings served two purposes. To escape the searing summer heat and insulation from the freezing … [Read more...]

Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Day Trip From Bishop. Located in the White Mountains within the borders of the Inyo National Forest. Bristlecone Pine Forest is about an hour's drive uphill from Bishop, California. At an elevation between 10,000 and 11,000 feet, the forest boasts incredible views … [Read more...]

Harvey House Railroad Depot, also known as the Casa Del Desierto, sits by the railroad tracks in Barstow, California. The Barstow Railroad Depot opened in 1911 as a Santa Fee train station and Harvey House. Before there were dining cars, trains would stop at Harvey Houses so passengers could eat … [Read more...]