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.

[anutami]

A good rule of thumb is Halloween through Easter. Remember it starts getting dark very early so make sure to bring a good telescope 😉

Here is a great resource to get some "out of the way places"

Desert Magazine Archives

Nolan

[jefe_4x4]

I've camped in the southwestern deserts for decades, and if i had to pick one month to go (between 2000 and 5000 ft.) it would be November. Usually dry. Cool but not frigid. For low altitudes, like Death Valley, it would be January. But you never know. You are just working with weather service averages. Once we did Death Valley in January in an El Nino year. It rained most of the 5 days we were there. Luckily, the jeep trails were sand and rock, not mud, so the rain soaked in quickly. On this last day of June that sound pretty good. If seeing wildflowers (and that's a crop shoot too) is your thing, the Desert USA website is a bible with up to date info just days old with lots of fine pics. The time frame would be between the 3rd week of Feb. to about last week of March, depending. And that's a big depending: if and how much precip. We only go during floral season if the outlook is good for flora.
jefe

[Redsky]

I like September and early October the best in terms of temperatures and lack of rain to worry about flash floods. Check the seasonal temperatures, in particular the lows and you will see a sharp drop off in October going to sub freezing temperatures.

If you can take the heat I like these areas in May through August as there are fewer people and the area feels more pristine. In the spring it can be incredibly windy with rocks the size of small melons blowing down the highway - talk about a windchill.

The area around Saguaro get an amazing number and variety of birds wintering in the area is something else to consider.

Many areas will have aspens going golden in the fall and this makes for great photography. Spring brings wildflowers in a wet year and so this is not going to be a consideration going into 2015.

[Bigimac]

2x -Oct-Nov; & depending on your route, southern Utah that time of year is spectacular & few crowds.

[whizbang]

October. Not freezing yet. No spring pollen. Too early for most snow birds.

[darsben]

camperpaul wrote:

darsben wrote:
When the wildflowers are in bloom if you are flexible
Try http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/wildupdates.html for more info

I have seen a "carpet of flowers" stretching from horizon to horizon when the desert is in bloom.

MEEE TOOOOO

[camperpaul]

darsben wrote:
When the wildflowers are in bloom if you are flexible
Try http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/wildupdates.html for more info

I have seen a "carpet of flowers" stretching from horizon to horizon when the desert is in bloom.

[darsben]

When the wildflowers are in bloom if you are flexible
Try http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/wildupdates.html for more info

[Mello_Mike]

November through April.

[obgraham]

March is very good in Death Valley

[Hicksco]

We spent last fall and winter as volunteers for the Tonto National Park @ Roosevelt Lake, Arizona. It was fantastic! Arrived in middle of October 2013 and left April 8th 2014. The weather, things to see, sunrises/sunsets and over all experience was fabulous. Roosevelt Lake is 90miles east of Phoenix. The Tonto National Monument is right there. Campground cost with golden age is $3 a night. Flush bathrooms and showers, very clean. No hookups.
We plan on a return this fall and winter.!

Happy Trails;)

[2oldnslow]

The best time to be in the desert (to me) is in the fall, October - December. The winds are usually much lower than in the spring and the bugs are non-existent. You can still get up to 100 in early October in Death Valley but the other places are a little cooler. By mid-October most places are quite comfortable.

[Powelligator]

Another thing to consider are crowds, if you can believe that. Death Valley's busiest time of the year is Thanksgiving weekend, and it stays busy through New Year's. Temps are mild and days are clear.

I've done Death Valley in July, and frankly I don't mind the heat and I enjoy the solitude, as that's the "off season" there.

-Joe

[Mandalay_Parr]

Freezing not typical in the low deserts.