When to make trip to desert southwest?

[pbketron]

I have always been grateful for the advice and information I have received from this forum for the trips we made to Alaska in 2010 and out west last summer. Now we want to go to the desert Parks--Death Valley,Joshua Tree, Saguaro, and any other interesting monuments, Indians ruins, etc. along the way. I was thinking maybe late February into March, but I would really appreciate any information you could give me about this. We really enjoyed the monuments and lesser known Indian ruins we saw on our trip last summer. Thanks for your help.

[beaslwd]

South west Arizona deserts can freeze in late Dec and early Jan. Night time temps can get down into the 20's at times. I would wait until Feb - March
We are between Quartzsite and Parker in the little settlement of Bouse.

[lanerd]

Temp wise Feb/Mar should be good. But the weather on our deserts is a******shoot at best. One day it can be 90, the next 30. We have had snow in March...so you just never know.

I think I would probably push for more like Mar/Apr. May will be getting into the 90's pretty steadily without much chance of occasional cold weather.

We typically leave the desert and head for the Oregon coast in mid May as by that time it's starting to get serious about 100 degrees.

Hope this helps

Ron

[Mandalay_Parr]

How about Dec, Jan, Feb, and Mar. A lot to see all over the SW.