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Deserts

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Gems in Deserts - 23

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gem Favorite Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are great fun to explore.

Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes

(48) Badwater, CA
gem Favorite Amazing views! Death Valley - Zabriskie Point.

Zabriskie Point

(48) Badwater, CA
gem Favorite Badwater Basin

Badwater Basin

(40) Badwater, CA
gem Favorite Droves of cholla are highlighted by the setting sun at Cholla Cactus Garden. Photo credit: NPS/Brad Sutton.

Cholla Cactus Garden

(45) Twentyn…, CA
gem Favorite Person screen left following trail drops to valley floor, what a view! Boulders, brush and cactus a plenty oh my! This is trail counter-clockwise and start of W side leg after dam wall. About 315pm so facing W rocks are in shadow.

Barker Dam

(34) Twentyn…, CA
gem Favorite Milky Way over Arch Rock

Arch Rock

(26) Twentyn…, CA
gem Favorite Artist's Palette.

Artist's Palette

(40) Badwater, CA
gem Favorite Dante's View. Death Valley National Park.

Dante's View

(22) Badwater, CA
gem Favorite The clouds erupt in wonderful colors as we reach the summit of Mt. Ryan.

Ryan Mountain

(21) Twentyn…, CA
gem Favorite Joshua Tree tree.

Keys View

(27) Sky Valley, CA
gem Favorite Devil's Golf Course at midday.

Devil's Golf Course

(29) Badwater, CA
gem Favorite Skull Rock peeks up through the surrounding boulders. Photo credit: NPS/Robb Hannawacker.

Skull Rock

(39) Twentyn…, CA
gem Favorite The inside of the main tube.

Mojave Lava Tubes

(2) Fort Irwin, CA
gem Favorite The Path Glitters

Keane Wonder Mine

(4) Badwater, CA
gem Favorite A little arch above the canyon.

Banshee Canyon

(3) Needles, CA
gem Favorite To preserve this historic area, visitors are limited to the National Park Service guided tours. Photo Credit: NPS/Lian Law.

Keys Ranch

(3) Twentyn…, CA
gem Favorite View from the trail

Wall Street Mill

(8) Twentyn…, CA
gem Favorite Kelso Dunes

Kelso Dunes

(7) Needles, CA
gem Favorite A beautiful rock face to the north west of Ryan Ranch.

Ryan Ranch

(4) Twentyn…, CA
gem Favorite The Approach to Calico Peak

Calico Peak

(2) Barstow, CA
gem Favorite The Doran Canyon Double Arches

Doran Double Arches

(1) Barstow, CA
gem Favorite Beginning of the Trail

Cottonwood Spring Oasis

(10) Indio, CA
gem Favorite The "goblin" of Fossil Falls awaits his next visitor.

Fossil Falls

(2) Inyokern, CA

Recommended Routes in Deserts - 38

Trail Run Project is built by runners like you. Add Your Recommended Routes

Favorite Joshua Tree National Park
Easy

Wall Street Mill Trail

2.3 mi 3.7 km 79' Up 24.1 m Up 79' Down 24.04 m Down

Twentyn…, CA
Favorite Droves of cholla are highlighted by the setting sun at Cholla Cactus Garden. Photo credit: NPS/Brad Sutton.
Easy

Cholla Cactus Garden Trail

0.2 mi 0.4 km 12' Up 3.56 m Up 14' Down 4.16 m Down

Twentyn…, CA
Favorite Beginning of the Trail
Intermediate/Difficult

Lost Palms Oasis

7.3 mi 11.8 km 1,012' Up 308.33 m Up 1,011' Down 308.17 m Down

Indio, CA
Favorite View from the trail
Intermediate

Fortynine Palms Oasis Trail

3.1 mi 5.0 km 628' Up 191.54 m Up 629' Down 191.58 m Down

Twentyn…, CA
Favorite Milky Way over Arch Rock
Easy/Intermediate

Arch Rock Nature Trail

1.3 mi 2.1 km 86' Up 26.26 m Up 85' Down 25.95 m Down

Twentyn…, CA
Favorite The view back to Cap Rock at sunset is spectacular. Photo credits: NPS/Brad Sutton.
Easy/Intermediate

Cap Rock Nature Trail

0.4 mi 0.7 km 10' Up 3.19 m Up 11' Down 3.28 m Down

Twentyn…, CA
Favorite Joshua Tree National Park.
Easy/Intermediate

Hidden Valley Nature Trail

1.0 mi 1.7 km 112' Up 34.11 m Up 111' Down 33.97 m Down

Twentyn…, CA
Favorite The fading ruins of Lost Horse Mine.
Intermediate

Lost Horse Mine Loop

6.4 mi 10.4 km 664' Up 202.44 m Up 679' Down 206.96 m Down

Twentyn…, CA
Favorite No Photos
Intermediate/Difficult

Pioneertown Mountain Preserve Indian Loop

6.7 mi 10.8 km 1,080' Up 329.17 m Up 1,080' Down 329.26 m Down

Yucca V…, CA

Deserts Running

  • 739 Miles 1,189 Kilometers of Trail
  • 38 Recommended Routes
  • 23 Gems Gems
  • 80 Easy Trails Easy Trails
  • 179 Intermediate Trails Intermediate Trails
  • 32 Difficult Trails Difficult Trails
Trail Run Project is built by runners like you. Share what you know about this area!

Areas Within Deserts

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Trails in Deserts - 253

Trail Run Project is built by runners like you. Add Your Trails

87.2 mi 140.4 km #1PCT: Tehachapi Pass to Walker Pass
Intermediate
Mojave, CA
Intermediate
Mojave, CA
0.3 mi 0.5 km #2Bajada Nature Trail
Easy
Coachella, CA
Easy
Coachella, CA
8.3 mi 13.3 km #3Boy Scout Trail
Intermediate
Joshua Tree, CA
Intermediate
Joshua Tree, CA 14 
0.9 mi 1.4 km #4Desert Queen Mine Trail
Intermediate
Twentynine Palms, CA
Intermediate
Twentynine Palms, CA
1.1 mi 1.7 km #5Hidden Valley - Barker Dam Connector Trail
Easy/Intermediate
Twentynine Palms, CA
Easy/Intermediate
Twentynine Palms, CA
0.6 mi 1.0 km #6Indian Cove Nature Trail
Intermediate
Twentynine Palms, CA
Intermediate
Twentynine Palms, CA
5.0 mi 8.1 km #7Lost Horse Trail
Intermediate
Twentynine Palms, CA
Intermediate
Twentynine Palms, CA
1.4 mi 2.3 km #8Mastodon Peak Trail
Intermediate
Indio, CA
Intermediate
Indio, CA 13 
2.1 mi 3.3 km #9Pine City Trail
Easy/Intermediate
Twentynine Palms, CA
Easy/Intermediate
Twentynine Palms, CA
3.7 mi 5.9 km #10Queen Valley Trail
Easy
Twentynine Palms, CA
Easy
Twentynine Palms, CA

Photos of Deserts - 934

Trail Run Project is built by runners like you. Add Your Photos

Returning from an out and back on the Boy Scout Trail
Apr 23, 2015 near Joshua…, CA
Amazing views! Death Valley - Zabriskie Point.
Jan 27, 2016 near Badwater, CA
The clouds erupt in wonderful colors as we reach the summit of Mt. Ryan.
Feb 23, 2017 near Twentyn…, CA
Admiring a Pink Sunset
Sep 27, 2017 near Badwater, CA
Milky Way over Arch Rock
Feb 1, 2018 near Twentyn…, CA
Sunset at Zabriskie Point - Death Valley National Park
Mar 31, 2020 near Badwater, CA
Badwater at Sunset
Mar 31, 2020 near Badwater, CA
Sunset at Joshua Tree National Park.
Apr 2, 2020 near Twentyn…, CA