Road Trips

Southwest Desert Loop

A two-week loop through the American southwest — desert, canyon country, and Nevada highways.

Route

1. Los Angeles

   Los Angeles, CA

   Sqirl

   Starting point. Grabbed breakfast before hitting the road east.

2. Joshua Tree National Park

   Joshua Tree, CA

   Camped for two nights under the stars. Scrambled boulders at Skull Rock.

3. Saguaro National Park

   Tucson, AZ

   Morning hike through the saguaro forest before the heat hit.

4. Carlsbad Caverns

   Carlsbad, NM

   Took the natural entrance trail down into the Big Room.

5. Guadalupe Mountains

   Salt Flat, TX

   Highest peak in Texas. Short hike to the summit.

6. White Sands National Park

   Alamogordo, NM

   Sledded down white gypsum dunes at sunset.

7. Albuquerque

   Albuquerque, NM

   El Modelo

   Pit stop for green chile everything.

8. Mesa Verde National Park

   Cortez, CO

   Toured Cliff Palace — ancient Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings.

9. Arches National Park

   Moab, UT

   Delicate Arch at golden hour.

10. Zion National Park

    Springdale, UT

    Angels Landing via the chains. Worth every step.

11. Las Vegas

    Las Vegas, NV

    Lotus of Siam

    One night only.

12. Death Valley

    Death Valley, CA

    Badwater Basin — 282 feet below sea level. Hot.

13. Los Angeles

    Los Angeles, CA

    Home.