Sonoran Desert
- Admission:Free
Nature & Wildlife, Off-the-Beaten Path, Sporting Event, Tip - Weather, Tip - When to Go, Walking/Hiking, Monument - Natural
9:50 AM Sunday, May 27
Sunny. Mild.
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The Sonoran Desert is a 100,000 square mile (260,000 square kilometers) arid region in North America that stretches across large portions of Arizona, California, and the northwest Mexican states of Sonora, Baja California, and Baja California Sur. Although it is the hottest of the four North American deserts, its distinct bimodal rainfall (raining heavily both in the summer and winter) makes the region extremely biologically developed and diverse. The Sonoran Desert is home to some of the most unique animal and plant life in North America, many of which cannot be found anywhere else. For example, the only remaining jaguar population in the United States (estimated between 80 to 120 jaguars), can be found in the Sonoran Desert. Other more well-known animals include roadrunners, gila monsters, cactus wren, and desert bighorn sheep.
Plants and animals are not the only life that thrives in the Soronan Desert. The desert maintains a rich Native American culture and is home to numerous tribes, including Pascua Yaqui, Seri, and the Gila River Indian Community. In addition, its warm winters attract a large resort and tourist population. Cities such as Palm Springs, Tucson, Scottsdale, and Phoenix are growing rapidly each year. Activities such as hiking, camping, and off-roading are extremely popular and are a great way to experience the desert’s majesty first-hand.
Latest Reviews All Sonoran Desert Reviews »
I took my 5 year old son along with our tour guide Chris through the the desert back country. This was an amazing trip and Chris was very knowledgable and helpful in answering questions about the various types of plants and wildlife. I enjoyed driving the Tomcar and my son was fascinated by the desert.
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We thoroughly enjoyed our night tour. We were picked up from our hotel and taken to the desert for our extreme adventure. There were times I was a little nervous, but our guide was amazing at navigating the flora in the desert as well as the cliffs, all while giving us expert narration. And the sunset was absolutely amazing! Continue Reading »
What a great trip this was! Our guide was so incredibly knowledgeable and we learnt so much from him. He managed to spot both a tarantula and a rattle snake from the hummer and we stopped to get a closer (but very safe) viewing. Bright LED lights on the side of the hummer made it easy to see in the desert at night. Highly recommend. Continue Reading »
One of the Sonoran Desert’s most famous plants includes the majestic Saguaro cactus. Reaching heights of sometimes 50ft (15.3 meters) or taller, these cacti are extremely slow growing and can often take as long as 75 years to grow one arm. The Sonoran Desert is the only place where these cacti still grow wild, making their preservation extremely important. Although they grow throughout the Sonoran Desert, Saguaros are most commonly associated with Arizona as the Saguaro blossom is the Arizona State Wildflower.
