Arizona/California

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

Program No. 13480RJ
Explore the warmth of these great American deserts — the Sonoran and Mojave — and the National Parks of Saguaro, Joshua Tree and Death Valley on the journey of a lifetime.

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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.

What You'll Learn

  • 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 Bad Water in Death Valley.
  • Ride the thrilling Palm Springs Aerial Tramway and enjoy a festive Palm Springs street fair.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
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Jim Cherry
Jim Cherry was born in Michigan and has a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural engineering from Michigan State University. He spent four years with the Peace Corps, designing and installing irrigation systems in Peru and Tunisia. He has been with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for 33 years with major responsibilities for reclamation projects along the last 275 miles of the Colorado River. In 1995 he transferred to Hoover Dam and oversees operation of the Hoover, Davis, and Parker dams on the Lower Colorado.

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

Profile Image of Jim Cherry
Jim Cherry View biography
Jim Cherry was born in Michigan and has a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural engineering from Michigan State University. He spent four years with the Peace Corps, designing and installing irrigation systems in Peru and Tunisia. He has been with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for 33 years with major responsibilities for reclamation projects along the last 275 miles of the Colorado River. In 1995 he transferred to Hoover Dam and oversees operation of the Hoover, Davis, and Parker dams on the Lower Colorado.
Profile Image of Renee Brown
Renee Brown View biography
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.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.





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