With nearly 8% of North America classified as desert, there are plenty of national parks in the U.S. that feature desert landscapes. Desert parks highlight the spectacular beauty and diversity found within these beautiful climates. In this post, we’ll give you a rundown of all of the desert national parks in the U.S., with the essentials you need to know about when to visit, where to go, and the top trails you won’t want to miss. It’s the perfect springboard to start planning your next trip to one of these special places.
How Many National Parks Are in the Desert?
According to our count, there are nineteen desert national parks. However, if you add in national monuments, national forests, and other locations operated by the National Park Service, the tally would be far larger.
States with Desert National Parks
The U.S. has four major deserts within its borders: the Mojave, the Great Basin, the Chihuahan, and the Sonoran. Each of these desert ecosystems has at least one national park, and some have many. Desert national parks are found in the western U.S. in the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, California, Nevada, and New Mexico. Although some national parks on the list fall outside of the four major desert systems in the U.S., their arid environment makes them well-qualified to satisfy desert-loving hikers!
The Complete List of Desert National Parks
>Here’s the 411 on the nineteen desert national parks found in the U.S. Time to get your backpack loaded and your boots laced!
North Dakota
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Location: Medora, North Dakota
Best time of year to visit: Spring and fall
Top trails: The Maltese Cross Cabin Trail, Wind Canyon Trail, Buck Hill Trail, and the Petrified Forest Trail
South Dakota
Badlands National Park
Location: Interior, South Dakota
Best time of year to visit: Spring and fall
Top trails: Fossil Exhibit Trail, Door Trail, Window Trail, Notch Trail, and Saddle Pass Trail
Wind Cave National Park
Location: Hot Springs,South Dakota
Best time of year to visit: Spring and fall
Top trails: Rankin Ridge Trail, Lookout Ridge Trail, Cold Brook Trail, and Wind Cave Canyon Trail
Utah
Zion National Park
Location: Springdale, Utah
Best time of year to visit: Spring, fall, and winter
Top trails: Angels Landing Trail, Zion Narrows Trail, The Subway Trail, Emerald Pools Trail, and the Watchman Trail
Check out these top places to stay near Zion National Park.>
Capitol Reef National Park
Location: Torrey, Utah
Best time of year to visit: Spring, fall, and winter
Top trails: Hickman BridgeTrail, Cassidy Arch Trail, Grand Wash Trail, Chimney Rock Loop Trail, and Goosenecks and Sunset Point Trail
Canyonlands National Park
Location: Moab, Utah
Best time of year to visit: Spring, fall, and winter
Top trails: White Rim Overlook Trail, Aztec Butte Trail, Chesler Park Viewpoint Trail, False Kiva Trail, and Green River Overlook Trail.
Learn more: 9 Amazing Hikes in Canyonlands National Park (All Levels)
Arches National Park
Location: Moab, Utah
Best time of year to visit: Spring, fall, and winter
Top trails: Delicate Arch Trail, Devils Garden Trail, Landscape Arch Trail, Double Arch Trail, and Park Avenue Trail
Bryce Canyon National Park
Location: Bryce, Utah
Best time of year to visit: Spring and fall
Top trails: Navajo Loop and Queens Garden Trail, Fairyland Loop Trail, Peekaboo Loop Trail, and Wall Street Trail
Don’t miss out on these 6 great hikes in Utah.
Arizona
Grand Canyon National Park
Location: Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
Best time of year to visit: Spring, fall, and winter
Top trails: South Kaibab Trail, Bright Angel Trail, and Rim Trail
Saguaro National Park
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Best time of year to visit: Spring, fall, and winter
Top trails: Bridal Wreath Falls Trail, King Canyon Trail, Valley View Overlook Trail, and Sweetwater Trail
Petrified Forest National Park
Location: Holbrook, Arizona
Best time of year to visit: Year-round
Top trails: Blue Mesa Trail, Crystal Forest Trail, Painted Desert Rim Trail, Onyx Bridge Trail, and Giant Logs Trail
Colorado
Great Sand Dunes National Park
Location: Mosca, CO
Best time of year to visit: Spring, fall, and winter
Top trails: High Dunes Trail, Sand Dunes Loop Trail, Mosca Pass Trail, and Star Dunes Trail
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Location: Montrose, CO
Best time of year to visit: Spring and fall
Top trails: Gunnison Route Trail, Warner Point Nature Trail, Oak Flat Loop Trail, Painted Wall View Trail, and the Exclamation Point Trail
Mesa Verde National Park
Location: Cortez, CO
Best time of year to visit: Spring and fall
Top trails: Petroglyph Point Trail, Cliff Palace Loop Trail, Mesa Verde Point Lookout Trail, Step House Trail, and Wetherill Mesa Loop Trail
Texas
Big Bend National Park
Location: Big Bend National Park, Texas
Best time of year to visit:Spring, fall, and winter
Top trails: The Window Trail, Lost Mine Trail, Santa Elena Canyon Trail, Emory Peak Trail, and the Grapevine Hills Trail
Nevada
Great Basin National Park
Location: Baker, Nevada
Best time of year to visit: Year-round
Top trails: Wheeler Peak Trail, Bristlecone Pine Glacier Trail, Alpine Lakes Trail, Lehman Cave Trail, and Teresa Lake Trail
New Mexico
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Location: Carlsbad, New Mexico
Best time of year to visit: Year-round
Top trails: Natural Entrance Trail, Slaughter Canyon Cave Trail, Rattlesnake Canyon Trail, and Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail
California
Death Valley National Park
Location: Death Valley, California
Best time of year to visit: Spring and fall
Top trails: Badwater Basin Salt Flats Trail, Zabriskie Point Trail, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes Trail, Dante’s View Trail, and Mosaic Canyon Trail
Joshua Tree National Park
Location: Twentynine Palms, California
Best time of year to visit: Year-round
Top trails: Ryan Mountain Trail, Arch Rock Trail, Barker Dam Trail, Lost Palms Oasis Trail, and Hidden Valley Trail
Check out these 7 Top Desert Hikes in California.
Get Out There — The Desert Is Waiting!
With so many places waiting to be explored, it’s time to get started. At Erem, we’re desert lovers by nature. We treasure these places for their stark beauty and tranquil solitude, and we’re committed to helping fellow adventurers do the same. We design and manufacture desert hiking boots to handle the extremes. Erem hiking and backpacking boots are made with full-grain leather uppers and are loose-lined with moisture-wicking, 100% TENCEL™ Lyocell to regulate foot temperature and naturally prevent odor. Each pair is produced to our Biocircular standard, only using materials with proven paths back to nature. When they’ve hiked their last mile, Erem footwear can biodegrade completely. But if you’re not ready to part with your favorite pair, Erem’s Reboot program will restore them to a good-as-new condition. Just lace them up, and they are ready for many more miles of desert exploring.
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