Desert Road Trip Destinations

Desert Road Trip Destinations

Road trips are one of the great pastimes of outdoor adventuring. But too often we set our sights on the objective rather than the actual rubber on the road.

We lock our focus on the destination: the trails we’ll be biking, the mountain we’ll be skiing, the break we’ll be surfing Opens in a New Window., the peak we’ll be bagging. But what about the cool, funky, weird sights we’re zipping past in our cars? They deserve our attention, too. For that reason, we’re highlighting five must-visit desert locales out West.

Spider Rock

Canyon de Chelly, Arizona

Few folks would know that President Hoover authorized Canyon de Chelly as a national monument in 1931. Despite being a lesser-known monument, it’s one of the most visited in the U.S., and one of the most stunning areas in the Four Corners region.

It lies within the Navajo Nation and is home to breathtaking archaeological sites of those who lived there, from Ancestral Puebloans to the Navajo. Within the monument stands Spider Rock, an 800-plus-foot red rock monolith. The spire and the land that surrounds it is a sacred place in the Navajo religion and is home to Na’ashje’ii Asdzaa, Spider-Woman. Oral tradition says that she would catch and eat disobedient children and also taught her people the art of weaving. It’s a must-see for any desert traveler.

Integratron

Landers, California

Next time you’re on your way to Joshua Tree, make a stop at the “out of this world” Integratron, where art, science, and magic swirl together in a tornado of lovable weirdness. Just 20 miles north of J-Tree, the Integratron was created by George Van Tassel, who claimed the structure was based on a combination of the design of Moses’s tabernacle, the writings of Nikola Tesla, and the telepathic instructions of aliens.

Yup, aliens. Really. It’s a giant wooden dome that’s said to have rejuvenating electrostatic energy and time-travel capabilities. So, maybe budget some extra clicks of the ole pocket watch for this stop on your road trip.

Hole N” The Rock

Moab, Utah

Moab’s landscape, combined with its breadth of Native American art, history, and culture, is simply incredible. Heck, you can even see dinosaur tracks there. Moab has world-class mountain biking, rafting, climbing, hiking (basically everything).

But just 20-ish miles south of town is the Hole N” The Rock, 5,000-square-foot former home, and current “trading post” (that’s French for the quirky gift shop). Do you dig exotic animals? Gotcha covered. Like metal sculptures? They’ve got the largest collection of Lyle Nichols’ art. Are you into Bigfoot stuff? They’ve got that too. Plus, ice cream. Who doesn’t want ice cream in the desert?!

Tse Bii’ Ndzisgaii

Arizona and Utah 

Tse Bii’ Ndzisgaii, or Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, is a breathtaking area of the Colorado Plateau on the border between Arizona and Utah in the Navajo Nation. It’s home to gigantic buttes, mesas, and spires, as well as soul-inspiring sunrises, sunsets, and starry nights.

Tse Bii’ Ndzisgaii is quite possibly one of the most photographed places on the planet. It makes sense: The red rock and sandstone features explode out of the valley and into the sky, set against a far-as-the-eye-can-see desert wonder. Plus, it’s 92,000 acres big, which, for reference, is larger than Arches National Park. That’s a whole lot of awesome. It’s truly a geological wonder and is home to thousands of years of indigenous culture.

Bishop Castle

Rye, Colorado

Rye is maybe a bit less desert-y than other locales on this list, but this is too good to pass up. Call it Colorado high-desert, where Jim Bishop has been constructing an awesome oddity since 1969: a huge stone and iron castle. Yes, a real-deal castle. It is enormous (three stories tall), has a maze of rooms (including a grand ballroom), complete with towers and bridges.

Oh, and there’s a fire-breathing dragon. Seriously. The castle is always open to visitors and admission is free, always. Just note Jim Bishop is known for his lengthy political and religious rants, and a less-than-cuddly demeanor. It’s truly a one-of-a-kind experience, but like visiting castles in medieval times, travelers beware.

Desert Road Trip Destinations.