Looking for an inexpensive and nearby getaway? Consider camping at these desert locations! Costs include a $30 entrance fee to the parks and a variable ($12-17/night) camping spot fee. Reservations are accepted at this site for most campgrounds but fill up quickly.

This is a moderate, well-traversed, out-and-back hike best traveled between October and May to view wildflowers. Spanning 3 miles, this trail has a 1,069 ft elevation gain. Save yourself at least a couple hours to complete this journey.

This famous Joshua Tree landmark can be found after an easy, 1.2 mile trail located near Twentynine Palms. Go closer to sunset to see a beautiful and dynamic palette of colors.

This 7.8 mile hike is well-worth it as it shows you so much of what Death Valley has to offer. Move through canyons, pass by Red Cathedral, and take a break halfway to view Zabriskie Point. With minimal shade, start this hike early.

If you don’t feel like hiking, take a drive down Badwater Road and stop at Devil’s Golf Course and Badwater Basin to see two of the most iconic salt formations the park has to offer.

This 1.4 mile out-and-back trail is one of the most popular and quick canyon trails in Death Valley. Traverse past the natural bridge to find polished conglomerate falls.

Want to feel like you’re on another planet? Walk this 2.7 mile out-and-back trail located near Amboy, CA and experience incredible sand dunes.

This popular, 1.3 mile loop is best for bird watching, sightseeing, and hiking. Looking for something more strenuous? Try rock climbing the rings!

This lovely canyon gets its name because throughout the site there are ladders that one can climb. This canyon gives you a true perception of how truly small we are to the rest of the world. Not only that, the beautiful rock formation reminds you of the past geological history.

This is a popular landmark located near the Salton Sea. Although this is not a natural landmark it is still a thing of beauty regardless of your religion. The bright colors pop against the desert grabbing any drivers attention and this provides a cool photo opportunity .

If you are more into a hiking well this is the spot for you. The tallest point of this mountain is 10,000 feet above sea level. This hike is considered difficult and usually takes anywhere from 5-7hrs to complete so plan on taking lunch and water. There are other small trails also located on the mountain for those who just want to enjoy a casual walk.

We have heard of stories of people surviving in a desert by finding a body of water in the middle of nowhere. Well the same story applies here. This is a body of water found in the middle of nowhere that is surrounded by the native California Palm tree. This is just a beautiful location to observe the very California Palm tree in great abundance.

This small canyon probably provides one of the most exciting hikes that you can do in Anza-Borrego National park. This hike is less than a mile but its gravity defying rock formations will leave you amazed. Be careful because there are no marked trails.

This is for those that are hardcore nature lovers or really want a challenge. This is a 35 mile canyon so if you are up for a multiday hike make sure you pack very well. This is also available for off roading to visit the beautiful scenery that the desert offers.

If you are looking for an exciting photo opportunity, stop by the popular metal sculptures created by Ricardo Brecada. Approximately 130 metal sculptures of real and imaginary creatures create a fantastical landmark.

The Alpine Lakes Loop Trail covers a distance of approximately 2.7 miles (or 4.4 kilometres), and as the name suggests is a loop that starts and ends at the same place and an elevation gain of about 600 meters. That being said, a major point of interest along the trail are the Stella and Teresa Alpine Lakes.

Unlike the previous one, the Lexington Arch trail is not a loop and follows a linear path. The total walking distance of this trail is 5.4 miles (or 8.8 kilometres) with a elevation gain of 255 meters. Be aware that this trail has some steep sections throughout its entire length so careful footing is necessary on some parts. At the end of the trail you will see the Lexington Arch which is a naturally formed arch composed primarily of limestone.

Of the various trails that can be taken throughout the park, the Sky Islands Trail is arguably the least intensive. The trail itself only 0.4 miles in a circular loop, and there is no elevation gain which means that the route is relatively level throughout the trail. This trail will take you through conifer forests of the alpine regions of the Great Basin Region.

As opposed to the Sky Islands Forest Trail, the Wheeler Peak Summit trail is considered one of the more intensive trails present in the park. The total distance covered by the trail is 8.6 miles (or 14 kilometers), and has among the highest elevation relative to the rest of the trials at 890 meters. At the end of the trail, you are awarded by a magnificent view of the surrounding landscape.

The Lehman Creek trail can be classified as one of the less intense trails though some effort is required to make it to the end. The overall distance of the hike is 6.8 miles (or 11 kilometers), and has an intermediate elevation gain of approximately 620 meters. Large portions of the trail will be parallel to the creek itself, allowing you to enjoy the surrounding landscape.