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Arizona/California

On the Road: Saguaro, Joshua Tree & Death Valley National Parks

Program No. 13480RJ

Explore the warmth of the great American Sonoran and Mojave deserts, as well as the Saguaro, Joshua Tree and Death Valley National Parks, on the journey of a lifetime.

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10 days

9 nights

25 meals

9B 8L 8D

Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner

Tucson, AZ

Saguaro National Park West, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

Tucson, AZ

Yuma Territorial Prison Park, Colorado River Views

Yuma, AZ

Algodones Dunes, Salton Sea, Arrive Palm Springs

Palm Springs, CA

Joshua Tree National Park Viewpoints, Hidden Valley

Palm Springs, CA

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Downtown Palm Springs

Palm Springs, CA

Death Valley National Park Through the Mojave Desert

Death Valley, CA

Explore Death Valley's Badwater, Zabriskie Point

Death Valley, CA

Explorations in Death Valley National Park

Death Valley, CA

To Las Vegas, Program Concludes

Las Vegas, NV

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At a Glance

Deserts are this nation's unexplored wilderness, harboring rare and endangered plants and animals and sheltering hidden oases. And deserts are landscapes changed by humans — to be made to bloom, to be mined for wealth, to tame its wild rivers. With stories of fortunes won and lost, conflict and controversy, these landscapes have been formed and reformed by nature's time and human struggle. Explore these great American deserts — the Sonoran and Mojave — cut by the life-giving Colorado River, and experience their warmth and richness in a journey of a lifetime.

Activity Level

Keep the Pace

Walking up to two miles on varied terrain. Elevations up to 3,000 feet.

Best of all, you’ll…

Enjoy in-depth, expert-led exploration of Saguaro, Joshua Tree and Death Valley National Parks.
Visit the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson, Yuma’s Territorial Prison and picturesque Zabriskie Point and Badwater Basin in Death Valley.
Ride the thrilling Palm Springs Aerial Tramway and enjoy a festive Palm Springs street fair.

Featured Expert

All trip experts

Renee Brown

Renee Brown received her B.A. in social science with an emphasis on history, political science, and sociology from Chapman University in 2008. Formerly a journalist and educator, she is now the associate curator and archivist at the Palm Springs Historical Society. She is a lifelong resident of Palm Springs and loves to tell the stories of the people who built the city.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Renee Brown View biography

Suggested Reading List (6 books)

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On the Road: Saguaro, Joshua Tree & Death Valley National Parks

Program Number: 13480

Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water

by Reisner, Marc

The story of the American West is the story of a relentless quest for a precious resource: water. It is a tale of rivers diverted and dammed, of political corruption and intrigue, of billion-dollar battles over water rights, of ecologic and economic disaster. In Cadillac Desert Marc Reisner writes of the earliest settlers, lured by the promise of paradise, and of the ruthless tactics employed by Los Angeles politicians and business interests to ensure the city's growth. Cadillac Desert is a stunning expose and a dramatic, intriguing history of the creation of an Eden--and Eden that may be only a mirage. 608pp

Unquenchable: America's Water Crisis

by Glennon, Robert

In the middle of the Mojave Desert, Las Vegas casinos use billions of gallons of water for fountains, pirate lagoons, wave machines, and indoor canals. Meanwhile, the town of Orme, Tennessee, must truck in water from Alabama because it has literally run out. Robert Glennon captures the irony—and tragedy—of America’s water crisis in a book that is both frightening and wickedly comical. Unquenchable reveals the heady extravagances and everyday inefficiencies that are sucking the nation dry.

Cactus Tracks and Cowboy Philosophy

by Black, Baxter

A complete compilation of all the stories and poetry you've heard Baxter do on NPR, with the unforgettable flavor of Baxter's own brand of cowboy philosophy. Over 250 pages of that bizarre humor that had you laughing out loud while driving to work. Some of you even complained to us about having to pull off the road to avoid a "laughter disaster". You'll also find poignant, more dramatic pieces that brought a smile to your face, or that far away look in your eyes.

A Natural History of the Sonoran Desert

by Patricia Wentworth Comus (Editor)

"Once in a generation, a guide to understanding a major North American landscape comes along. This book is such a touchstone, sure to become a classic. The emphasis here is on biodiversity, mutualism, co-evolution, and, especially, ethno-relationships—the long history of connection between desert peoples and their homeland, on both sides of the border.

Death Valley and the Northern Mojave

by Tweed, William C. and Davis, Lauren

Features a lively interpretive text that is complimented by maps, detailed directions and 215 color photos. It is the indispensable book to help you explore and enjoy this extraordinary place.

Joshua Tree National Park Geology

by Trent. D. D. and Hazlett, Richard W.

This book explores the geology and evolution of the Joshua Tree National Park landscape. Includes sections on plate tectonics, regional geology and the seismic activity that continues to shape this remarkable desert setting. Written for visitors, climbers and students of geology. With many full-color photographs and more than fifty diagrams that clearly illustrate geologic events.

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On the Road: Saguaro, Joshua Tree & Death Valley National Parks

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At a Glance

Best of all, you’ll…

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