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10 Reasons to Visit Death Valley in Summer

June 20, 2019 Bob Howells

Warning: I’m about to make a case for visiting Death Valley in the summer. But it’s clearly not for everyone. Extreme heat poses serious challenges. It requires constant hydration and maintining elecrolyte levels—i.e., drinking a lot of fluids and eating salty snacks. Ideally, one should only venture outdoors early in the morning and late in the day. Don’t drive or hike into the backcountry. Stay close to your car and to paved roads. If you’re not particularly curious about experiencing temperatures north of 120, I won’t blame you for moving on. There’s plenty more to read on this-here blog. But if you’re wondering why on earth the summer months in Death Valley draw many more visitors than the seemingly sane fall and winter months, read on.

Find Out How Hot HOT Is

I love weather: storm cells, huge snow dumps, massively wet tropical downpours. I’m a native of the Mojave Desert, but I’d never been hotter than a tepid 113 or so. I wanted to know what hot really felt like. So I did what curious writers have been doing for more than a century: I got National Geographic to pay my way on an apparently bizarre adventure. On assignment for National Geographic Adventure magazine, I took on Death Valley in August, and I hit pay dirt: It was really hot. It hit 126 the day I hiked across the salt pan at Badwater, at which time I knew that I had to be the hottest fool on the face of the earth.

So what does 126 feel like? Something like a hot blow dryer aimed at your face. Or like when you open the oven to baste a turkey and get that initial searing blast that makes your eyes squint. Only in Death Valley, the sensation lasts. But I just kept hydrated by drawing constantly on my Camelbak lifeline, walked slowly, never ventured too far from the car, and I mean this: I really enjoyed the experience.

It’s not actually quite as hot as it appears here. The thermometer was improperly calibrated, and it’s “only” 129! NPS Photo

What Are the Best Sights to See in Grand Canyon?

June 19, 2019 Alan Rider

This post is part of Just Ahead’s Grand Canyon Trip Planner—our guide to what you need to know to plan your trip to Grand Canyon National Park. Click here to see the complete series, and be sure to download our Just Ahead smartphone audio tour of Grand Canyon before you head to the park.

During the many days of field research we put into creating our Just Ahead guide to Grand Canyon National Park, we came to acquire some definite favorite places in the park, and we discovered a few overlooked gems along the way. Here’s our personal guide to the best things to do at the Grand Canyon.

The Don’t-Miss Things to Do in Grand Canyon

Drive Desert View Drive
Desert View Drive is the one rim road that you can drive year-round. It links superb viewpoints such as Lipan Point and Navajo Point with man-made fascinations such as the 12th-century Tusayan Ruins and the 20th-century marvel, Desert View Watchtower—the seven-story stone edifice designed by fabled architect Mary Jane Colter. It’s a great drive, and Just Ahead will guide you every step of the way.

Best Sights in Grand Canyon: night sky and Desert Watchtower

The night sky and Desert Watchtower: two of our favorite Grand Canyon sights. (NPS photo)

Walk the Rim Trail
When you want to stretch your legs, the two words you’ll want to remember are “Rim Trail.” Extending roughly 13 miles from the South Kaibab trailhead in the east to Hermits Rest in the west, this walkway is mostly flat and paved. But if you get tired of hoofing it, you’re never far from one of the stops for Grand Canyon National Park’s free shuttle buses.

Catch Sunrise at Hopi Point
While the Grand Canyon is a spectacular sight any time of day, sunrise bathes the canyon walls in a cool light that brings out the greens of the piñon pine and juniper trees just below the canyon rim, along with blue shadows that add a distinct sense of depth to the scene. Our favorite spot for sunrise in Grand Canyon is Hopi Point, which is on Hermit Road and the Rim Trail.

Catch Sunset at Navajo Point
Sunset brings a warmer lighting palette that amplifies the reds and oranges in the canyon walls and rims the clouds overhead in a golden glow laced with the pinks and purples of twilight. Our favorite spot for sunset in Grand Canyon is Navajo Point on Desert View Road—it’s the highest overlook in the park (7,500 feet) and often less crowded than other viewpoints.

Grand Canyon sunsets are awe-inspiring. (NPS Photo)

Where Should I Stay in Grand Canyon?

June 17, 2019 Alan Rider

When it comes to lodging in Grand Canyon National Park, you have superb options. Every lodge in Grand Canyon has the rustic feel you’d expect in a place like this. Many are historic, including the imposing El Tovar Hotel, which is older than the park itself. Then there’s Bright Angel Lodge, with its stacked-stone fireplace that matches the arrangement of the rock layers in the canyon itself. Even visitors who aren’t staying in a Grand Canyon lodge make a pilgrimage to these historic inns.

Grand Canyon Lodges—South Rim

As you might expect, the easily accessible South Rim offers the greatest number of lodging options for your Grand Canyon visit. Here’s a rundown:

El Tovar Hotel
If it’s classy digs you’re after, you’ll want to check into the stately 78-room El Tovar, just a few steps from the Grand Canyon rim. With its gourmet Dining Room and ideal location, this architectural gem offers an experience that’s top-drawer from beginning to end. For more information on the El Tovar Hotel, click here.

Bright Angel Lodge
Bright Angel Lodge’s 87 rooms and cabins are scattered around a central lodge building designed by renowned Grand Canyon architect Mary Colter in 1935. From a purely practical perspective, its location near the Bright Angel trailhead also makes it a great place for hikers who want to get an early start. Some of its rooms are genuine bargains. Plus it’s a registered national historic landmark, and its Buckey O’Neill Cabin is the most coveted lodging in Grand Canyon. For more information on Bright Angel Lodge, click here.

Where to Stay in Grand Canyon National Park: Bright Angel Lodge.

One of the historic cabins at Grand Canyon’s Bright Angel Lodge.

Where Should I Camp in Grand Canyon?

June 16, 2019 Alan Rider

It’s hard to top the thrill of camping out in Grand Canyon National Park, one of the world’s most magnificent settings. When the breeze comes up, carrying the aromatic scent of piñon and cedar, and you gaze up at a stunning canopy of stars, you’ll be glad you opted for one of the park’s campgrounds, or one of the nearby camping options. Bear in mind that Grand Canyon National Park has two rims: the more developed South Rim, open year-round, and the more remote, less developed North Rim, open May 15 to October 15. Here’s where to find the best Grand Canyon camping at and near both rims.

Grand Canyon South Rim Campgrounds

If you covet being in the thick of things in Grand Canyon Village near the visitor center, lodges, and general store, opt for one of these two:

Mather Campground: Located just inside the park’s South Entrance, this 300-plus-site campground has its own stop on the park’s free shuttle bus route. Mather Campground can accommodate RVs up to 30 feet in length, but doesn’t offer hookups. Open year-round, accepts reservations up to six months in advance.

Mather Campground - No hook-ups - 30-foot trailer or RV maximum Open year-round. Operated by the National Park Service and located in Grand Canyon Village, this campground offers tent and RV camping. Accessible campsites and restrooms are available. Pets are allowed, but must be leashed at all times, and may not be left unattended. Wood and charcoal fires permitted in provided campsite grills only. No gathering of down wood, wood may be purchased at the general store. Laundry and showers located near the campground for a fee. Reservations may be made through the National Recreation Reservation Service by calling 1-877-444-6777 or online at the http://www.recreation.gov/ Reservations are strongly recommended from March 1 through mid-November. Golden Age or Access passport holders pay only Ω price year round (passport number is needed when making reservation and passport holder must be camping at the site). Fees are $18 per site per night. A maximum of two vehicles, six people, three tents are allowed per site. (A vehicle that is towing a trailer, pop-up, tent trailer, fifth wheel, or a motor home pulling a vehicle is considered two vehicles.) Group sites are also available, $50/night, maximum of 50 people and 3 vehicles per group site. Pets are NOT allowed below the canyon rim at any time. Pets are NOT permitted on the shuttle buses. Kennels are available in the South Rim Village. During the winter, from mid-November through February 28 reservations are not available at Mather Campground and family campsites are $15 per site per night, and group campsites are $30. This is on a first-come first-served basis. There is a self-pay machine at the campground office.

Mather Campground, South Rim. NPS photo.

Just Ahead’s Joshua Tree Trip Planner

June 1, 2019 Bob Howells

Welcome to Just Ahead’s Joshua Tree Trip Planner—our guide to everything you need to know to plan your trip to Joshua Tree National Park. Click here to see the complete series, and be sure to download our Just Ahead smartphone audio tour of Joshua Tree before you head to the park.

What do you need to know to plan a trip to Joshua Tree National Park? We happen to be experts on this topic, as we’ve been visiting the park regularly for decades. And we’ve been venturing out there a lot lately to research, write, test, and double-check our Just Ahead tour of Joshua Tree National Park.

Joshua Tree is easy to get to, easy to drive through, and always a pleasure to visit, especially with Just Ahead’s narrated audio tour playing on your smartphone.

But it is also a remote desert area. That’s what makes it a compelling place to visit. But at the same time, a visit to Joshua Tree requires smart planning. So it helps to have an insider’s take on trip preparation, where to stay, where to camp, and so on.

A visit to rugged, wild Joshua Tree National Park requires some simple advance planning. NPS photo/Robb Hannawacker

When Should I Visit Joshua Tree?

May 31, 2019 Bob Howells

This post is part of Just Ahead’s Joshua Tree Trip Planner—our guide to everything you need to know to plan your trip to Joshua Tree National Park. Click here to see the complete series, and be sure to download our Just Ahead smartphone audio tour of Joshua Tree before you head to the park

When to visit Joshua Tree National Park? Anytime! Joshua Tree National Park is a year-round destination with four distinct seasons. Always come prepared for the unexpected. Weather in the desert can be fickle.

Spring wildflowers in Joshua Tree National Park? Actually, this is September. A summer of occasionally heavy thunderstorms laid a carpet of chinchweed on the desert floor.

Spring—March through mid-May—brings delightful weather, with warm sunny days and cool nights, as well as carpets of wildflowers. It’s the most popular time of year in the park. If you’re visiting the park on a weekend be sure to arrive early on Friday—or even Thursday—to get one of the first-come, first-served campsites. Or you can reserve ahead at www.recreation.gov.

How Much Time Should I Spend in Joshua Tree?

May 30, 2019 Bob Howells

How much time do you need to spend in Joshua Tree National Park? If you only want to see it from your car window, you can cover the park’s major roads in three or four hours. You’ll certainly get a sense of the park, especially if you have Just Ahead along for the ride. Remember, Just Ahead is our smartphone app that provides a narrated audio tour of the park. But if you can, allow time to get out and explore a bit.

South Astrodome, Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree is great for a drive, but allow time to explore on foot, too. NPS photo/Robb Hannawacker

One Full Day

If you have a full day to visit the park, arrive early in the morning and stay at least till dusk. That way you can either . . .

How Do I Prepare for a Trip to Joshua Tree?

May 29, 2019 Bob Howells

Joshua Tree is a remote desert park. You’ll be far from any services most of your time in the park, even though its northern fringe is near small towns. So to prepare for a trip to Joshua Tree, it’s wise to plan for these issues:

Dehydration

You lose moisture from your body in the dry desert air no matter what the temperature is or how active you are, which is why dehydration is a year-round concern. The solution is simple, of course—carry and drink plenty of water. Drink regularly, even if you’re not thirsty. You’ll need at least a gallon per person per day—twice that if you plan to bike, hike, or climb. Carry water with you whenever you leave the car. Remember, water is available only at Black Rock, Cottonwood, and at the Indian Cove ranger station, so stock up before you venture into the heart of the park.

Lost Horse Valley, Joshua Tree National Park

A daypack filled with water and food, plus a sunhat and sunscreen, are must-haves on even a short walk in Joshua Tree. NPS photo/Robb Hannawacker

How Do I Get to Joshua Tree?

May 28, 2019 Bob Howells

The best way to get to Joshua Tree National Park is by car. Park entrances and park roads are not easily served by mass transit, and the park does not run shuttle buses. Here are estimates of driving time from common locations:

Los Angeles or San Diego: 3 hours
Las Vegas: 4 hours
Phoenix: 4½ hours
Death Valley National Park: 4½ hours
Yosemite National Park: 6 hours
Grand Canyon National Park: 6 hours
San Francisco: 8 hours

West Visitor Center, Joshua Tree National Park

Three entrances have nearby visitor centers where travelers can get oriented: West (shown), North, and South. NPS photo

Where Should I Camp in Joshua Tree?

May 27, 2019 Bob Howells

There’s nothing like spending a night or two in Joshua Tree National Park.

The nearby motels and inns are fine (click here for advice about where to stay), but they’re not in the park. And nighttime in Joshua Tree is special. The sky is almost always clear, so the star show is dazzling, particularly in the campgrounds farthest away from the glow of city lights: Belle, White Tank, and Cottonwood Spring. No matter where you camp, sunset and sunrise are almost always dramatic. You’re likely to hear coyotes yipping and howling at night, and you’ll wake up to the dawn chorus of singing birds.

Jumbo Rocks Campground, Joshua Tree National Park

Massive boulders frame campsites in Jumbo Rocks Campground. NPS photo

What's Ahead? The Just Ahead Blog

10 Reasons to Visit Death Valley in Summer

Find Out How Hot HOT Is

What Are the Best Sights to See in Grand Canyon?

The Don’t-Miss Things to Do in Grand Canyon

Where Should I Stay in Grand Canyon?

Grand Canyon Lodges—South Rim

Where Should I Camp in Grand Canyon?

Grand Canyon South Rim Campgrounds

Just Ahead’s Joshua Tree Trip Planner

When Should I Visit Joshua Tree?

How Much Time Should I Spend in Joshua Tree?

How Do I Prepare for a Trip to Joshua Tree?

Dehydration

How Do I Get to Joshua Tree?

Read More

Where Should I Camp in Joshua Tree?