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The desert is a wonderful place to enjoy the outdoors and to spend time in recreational activities. People go to the desert to camp, to hike, to bike, to fish, to explore and to experience the unique environment found only in the American Southwest and its deserts. Sometimes they go just to feel some wide open space around them. Whatever your reason for going, there are plenty of things for you and your traveling companions to do once you get there. Here is a list to get you started.

The following pages are an introduction to some of the most popular outdoor recreational activities in the desert. Also included are safety tips, trail guides, maps and other information that will be useful when you visit desert locations. For desert survival information click here.

You may want to print out the pages you are interested in to take with you on your trip.

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Auto Touring/Exploring - This page shows you areas that you can explore and visit by car or SUV. Some are on paved roads, and some require a 4x4 vehicle. Organized by state, this list of articles and trails can give you ideas for day trips and longer adventures in the desert. See also Off Highway Vehicle Areas section.

Biking & Cycling - Most all of the parks are great places to ride a sturdy bike, provided you carry plenty of water, a tire repair kit, and stay aware of your limits, and desert conditions. This page lists some links to DesertUSA park stories, and some biking articles to enjoy. Rides in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Joshua Tree Park National Park, and out and about in Northern Arizona are included.

Desert Caves and Caving - Underground caves and caverns represent some of the most unique, fascinating (and cool) features of the North American deserts. Many varieties of caves occur in all of the deserts of the Southwest. Two of the most famous are Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico and Lehman Caves in Nevada, but there are plenty more fascinating caves worth taking a trip to see. Check this page out for a list of articles and places to go, organized by state.

Hiking & Climbing - Hikes, both ranger guided and self directed, are available at almost all the parks. Desert slot canyons, sites of ancient petroglyphs, vistas of stands of cactuses - it's all out there to see. Have some kind of plan for where you'd like to hike or climb before you get there. This page lists places and areas that you can explore and visit by hiking for a day or longer.

Horseback Riding - The romance of horseback riding in the desert goes back to the Old West. This page lists places and areas that you can explore and visit by horse for a day or longer, as well as tips on keeping you and your horse healthy and well in the challenging desert environment. Organized by state, the list includes an account of a horseback ride in Canyon de Chelly, as well as an endurance ride on the Outlaw Trail in Utah.

Off-Highway Vehicles (Off-Roading) - This new section lists articles, links, and OHV-allowed areas by state. Find out where to go to for your recreational off-roading!

Desert Photography - Stark contrasts, dramatic shapes and intense lighting make the desert a great canvas for the desert photographer. Get that perfect picture in the desert with our tips on how to shoot this wild, beautiful, and challenging environment. We list articles on digital cameras and all the things you need to know to get great pictures of desert wildflowers and desert landscapes.

Rock and Treasure Hunting - Classic desert activities, rockhounding and treasure hunting are synonymous with the old term desert rat. If you've got a little desert rat inside, you'll want to know the best places to find thunder eggs, geodes, and interesting minerals. The trails of treasures, some grown cold, others perhaps only rumors, may also run through your mind. Here is a list made just for you. Know where you're going, and what you are likely to find there, with our list of articles on mining, minerals and treasure, organized by state.

Water Sports - Fishing - Surprisingly, there are lots of streams, rivers and lakes in the desert southwest. Some, like Pyramid Lake, appear without warning in dry arid areas, like magical mirages. Some are created or made deeper by dams, like Lake Mohave. Great fishing, swimming, rafting and boating areas, these bodies of water are all the more attractive when the weather is warm. Here's a list of links to articles and areas for water recreation of all kinds, organized by state.

Wildlife Viewing - Desert ecosystems vary widely, as do their inhabitants. A fascinating array of adaptations are visible in desert creatures. There are more than 450 wildlife refuges set aside by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services to aid and protect endangered species. These refuges offer a unique opportunity for visitors to view and to learn about these animals and their natural environment. Take a look at our list of desert refuges that you can visit. Also included on this page is a list of links on plants and wildflower viewing.

Desert Maps - A good map will save you a lot of time and trouble. There are lots of different kinds of maps, from the Atlas & Gazeteer series with GPS coordinates, to National Geographic's® tear-resistant, waterproof topographic series. Click here for a list of maps, including online maps available to you right now to plan your trips, or just to explore right from your chair.

If you are planning a trip or would like to learn more about the parks, cities, recreation areas and points of interest in the desert, Places To Go is a great starting point. Here you can explore parks, discover ghost towns, navigate rivers, visit cities, and view historical and cultural sites located in the desert. If you are gathering information for an upcoming trip, make sure to confirm times, date and rates with individual parks etc., since any information could change without notice. Places To Go