At 3.4 million acres large, Death Valley National Park is the largest national park in the lower 48 states. It’s also the hottest, driest, and lowest national park; it famously recorded temperatures of 134° at the Badwater Basin, a dry salty lakebed expanse that’s 282 feet below sea level.
For those desert wanderers really looking to get away from the crowds, the Anza-Borrego region should be on your bucket list. Located 150 miles southeast of Los Angeles (and only 80 miles northeast of San Diego), come for the quirky town of Borrego Springs and make it your launching point to further explore the natural offerings of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
Forget Disney World—if there was vote on the real “most magical place on earth,” Sedona, AZ would surely be a top contender. From its iconic rugged rock landscapes to its mysterious vortexes, the energy in Sedona is undeniably special. Add a vibrant arts and culinary scene to boot, and we’re all in.
If you’re looking for some desert seclusion with a mix of accessible amenities, make the 130 mile journey east to Joshua Tree National Park. The majority of services for those visiting the park are found in the nearby communities of Joshua Tree, Yucca Valley, or Twentynine Palms.
165 miles from LA, the town of Kernville sits in the southern Sierra Nevada. For years, visitors have flocked to the region enjoying a range of adventures from whitewater rafting, kayaking and tubing on the Kern River — to biking, hiking, camping, and climbing its rocky terrain. Kernville is also a fishing destination; anglers from everywhere come to fish the Kern River for its native trout.