California Tourist Guide » Deserts and Inland Empire Vacation and Travel Guide

Death Valley National Park

California Tourist Guide — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 17:22:43 +0000

Open year round, Death Valley National Park is the hottest and driest place in North America, and it contains the second-lowest point in the Western Hemisphere — Badwater Basin at 282 feet below sea level. The area averages less than two inches rainfall per year, and summer temperatures routinely reach — and often exceed — 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The area’s 134-degree day on July 10, 1913, is the second-highest temperature ever recorded, edged out only by Libya’s 136 degrees in 1922.

1849’s California Gold Rush brought the first non-Indians to the area, and it was December of that year when two groups of Gold Country-bound travelers got lost and stumbled upon the valley. It was a harrowing time later detailed by William Lewis Manly in his autobiography, Death Valley in ‘49.

Although the travelers were fortunate to find enough fresh water to survive, they were forced to use the wood of their wagons as fuel to cook and eat several of their oxen. (This occurred at the area now referred to as “Burned Wagons Camp,” which is located near the park’s sand dunes.) Abandoning their wagons, the group eventually hiked out of the valley, and upon leaving one woman turned and said, “Goodbye Death Valley.” Even though only one member of the group actually died in the valley, the moniker stuck.

With wilderness stretching over 4,774 square miles, Death Valley National Park is the largest national park in the lower 48 states and the sixth largest in the country overall. The park’s first documented tourist facilities consisted of a set of tent houses built in the 1920s at Stovepipe Wells current location. Resorts built around natural springs believed to have curative properties were quite popular in the day, and the valley became a well-known winter travel destination.

Death Valley Ranch, better known as Scotty’s Castle, became a hotel in the area in the late 1930s, largely because of the notorious Walter Scott who lived there. Known as “Death Valley Scotty,” this gregarious miner — who falsely claimed to have built the castle with profits from his gold mine — was the human equivalent of a tourist attraction. The property was actually owned by Chicago millionaire Albert Mussey Johnson, who was likewise enamored by his creative caretaker and actually encouraged the myth.

One of Death Valley’s more picturesque areas is 20 Mule Team Canyon, from which borax was extracted via mules between 1882 and 1890. Also, as you plan your time in the park, consider a visit to Ubehebe Crater, either on the way to or from Scotty’s Castle. The road will deliver you to a lovely scenic viewpoint, from which you may choose to embark on a hike through some of the area’s smaller craters, including the perfectly formed Little Hebe.

The park’s visitor center can be found in the Furnace Creek Resort area (State Route 190, P.O. Box 579, Death Valley, CA 92328; 760-786-3200), where rangers present talks and walks during the more temperate December-through-April period. Year-round “living history” tours are available for a fee at Scotty’s Castle, which is located in the far-northern portion of the park. While there is also a visitor center at Scotty’s Castle, it is important to note there is no gasoline available at that location. The area is not nearly as foreboding as it was in 1849, but it is still unforgiving of carelessness. Plan accordingly.

Photo of California’s Death Valley National Park by birdgal5 via flickr (Creative Commons).

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Joshua Tree National Park

California Tourist Guide — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:01:30 +0000

Located about an hour and a half east of Palm Springs (and about three hours east of Los Angeles in good traffic conditions), Joshua Tree National Park includes two deserts — the higher Mojave Desert and the lower Colorado Desert — each of which supports an ecosystem indicative of its elevation.

The tree from which this California National Park takes its name – the Joshua Tree (or Yucca Brevifolia) – was so-named by early Mormon emigrants who thought their outstretched branches resembled supplicating arms of the biblical prophet, Joshua. The tree is abundant in the park’s higher, slightly cooler Mojave Desert area.

Joshua Tree National Park is a popular destination for hikers, cyclists, horseback riders, rock climbers and bird watchers. Rock climbing enthusiasts are particularly intrigued by the geologically unique landscape, featuring hills of bare rock formed from magma that cooled over 100 million years ago.

Spring is a favorite time to visit, when the Yuccas and numerous wildflowers add a vibrant and panoramic splash of color to the otherwise stark desert environs. The Joshua Trees are usually the first to bloom (around late February), followed by an array of annuals sometime in March. Cacti usually follow suit and flower in April or May. Spring is also an excellent time for bird-watchers to plan a visit to the park.

Spring (and fall) high/low temperatures average 85/50 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively, but summer daytime highs often exceed 100 degrees. If you plan to visit during summer months, prepare accordingly. Winter brings cooler days (around 60-degree highs), freezing nights and occasional snow at higher elevations.

Keys View, named after desert loner Bill Keys (who, interestingly, was successfully defended by Perry Mason author and lawyer Erle Stanley Gardner in a notorious 1940s murder trial), offers a 360-degree summit view of the Salton Sea, Mexico and the San Gorgonia and San Jacinto Mountains. It is an ideal spot to enjoy a sunset any time of the year.

The Joshua Tree National Park visitor center is located at the park’s east entrance (74485 National Park Drive, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277; 760-367-5500).

Photo of Joshua Tree National Park by Paraflyer via flickr (Creative Commons).

Related posts:

California Wineries

California Tourist Attractions

California Golf

Things To Do In California

Misc. Travel Resources

Note: Information in this article was accurate
when it was published, but hours, prices, etc.
change constantly. Please confirm details
with local contacts before traveling.

Was this article useful and/or interesting?
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As much as Palm Springs and the other nearby Coachella Valley communities can be all about “pampering” and “seeing and being seen,” the rest of California desert lands are about “roughing it” in predominantly-secluded, wide-open spaces. This cherished California resource is popular for camping, hiking, hunting and enjoying off-road vehicles. (Many of those activities require a permit, by the way.)

The Inland Empire’s mountains have served as a retreat for many years and were first used by the area’s indigenous Native Americans as a respite from the valley heat and a reliable source of food. In later years, the area’s forests were harvested and were used to build much of Los Angeles, and a dam was built to supply water and power to the San Bernardino Valley orange growers.

Presently, the San Bernardino National Forest and its mountain home offer a natural setting just 90 miles east of Los Angeles where you can enjoy fresh air and a myriad of outdoor activities. Popular recreational destinations in the San Bernardino Mountains are Big Bear Lake, Lake Arrowhead and Running Springs, while the San Jacinto Mountains offer Idyllwild and the hiking and rock climbing challenges in nearby Tahquitz.

This section would not be complete without some mention of the infamous Route 66, even though the days of folks getting their travel “kicks” there are now history. The Mojave Desert was the most dreaded section of the route and while services are still few and far between, present-day travel through the area is not nearly as harrowing. A couple of Route 66 historical points of interest still exist in San Bernardino: the site of the world’s first McDonald’s (located at 14th Avenue and E Street and now a museum) and the Wigwam Motel near the city’s border with Rialto. The Wigwam recently received major renovations and was the 2005 Cyrus Avery Award recipient for the best preservation project. Individual teepee shaped units are arranged in a small village-like setting and offer a unique lodging opportunity in what many consider southern California’s most famous hotel.

Are you interested in learning about other California vacation destinations? Check out these articles…

Central Coast Vacation Ideas

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