10 Southwest Nature Desert Adventures to Escape Seattle Rain
A quick guide for inspo and info to help you plan your next desert adventure!
It’s no secret I’m wildly obsessed with the southwest. I love the heat, I live for the proper ratio of ice to tea, and the neutral colors the desert offers. I feel a kindred spirit to lizards, although TERRIFIED of snakes, lizards are my one of my favorite animals.
So here’s a little inspo and info of my favorite 10 destinations in the southwest to escape in what sometimes feels like, endless rain. All of these destinations are within a 3 hour flight from Seattle plus a 4 hour or less drive. We’ve been to most of these destinations multiple times and thought I’d share my mini travel guide of how to get there, where to stay, and our favorite nature highlights.
Some of these locations aren’t necessarily nice year round, they just tend to be nicer earlier and later than a Seattle summer. Page, Arizona and Moab, Utah get snow in the winter, but by April they are warming up while Seattle is still in the thick of torrential downpours.
Spring is my favorite time to get out of Seattle and head to the desert. I justify traveling to the southwest by saying it’s not only for fun, but it’s for my health, you know, to build up those vitamin D levels. ;)
Remember, with any desert adventure, you always want to bring more water than you think you’ll need. Watch for local weather conditions, as extreme heat and flash flooding is common. Let a ranger or friend know where you intend to hike and what time you are expected to be back. Always stay on the trail and don’t over do it.
1 - Joshua Tree National Park
Where the Mojave meets the Colorado Desert, this national park gets so hot, even the coyotes don’t care.
Two roads run through the park and offer numerous outdoor adventures. Back in the day, my Grandfather was stationed her in the military after marrying my Grandmother. This town is the gateway to Joshua Tree National Park. The resilient Joshua Tree is a yucca tree that plays an important role in the Mojave desert ecosystem as it is home to numerous animals including small mammals, birds, and lizards.
getting there:
Fly Seattle (SEA) -> to Palm Springs (PSP): 2 hours & 50 minutes
Drive to park: under 1 hour
Alternative
Fly Seattle (SEA) -> Los Angeles (LAX): 2 hours & 45 minutes
Drive to park: about 2 hours and 30 minutes
stay:
We’ve stayed here as a family in one of the bottle rooms and have rented the house with a big group of people. Both stays have been fantastic, and we love the hotel restaurant. Live music on Friday and Saturday nights are a highlight. Exploring the oasis is always a nice reprieve on hot days and morning yoga is super fun!
nature highlights:
This easy 1.1 easy loop hike leads you through the desert, look for old relics along the way.
A very short .25 nature trail, this is a great place to view the stunning cholla cacti.
A quick pull off to look at a rock that resembles a skull.
Bonus
Wolf Mountain Sanctuary - Not child friendly - great to do with a group of friends.
Hot Tips:
I’ve seen “Bee Alerts” for the park as large amounts are known to gather in this park. They are attracted to moisture so the park advises turning off air conditioning 10 minutes prior to arriving at a high alert area.
It’s common for road closures to occur due to flash flooding.
2 - Saguaro National Park
“Suh-waa-row” “Sa-wah-ro” “Suh-waa-row” “Sa-wah-ro”
If I didn’t live in the PNW, I’d definitely live in Tucson near the outskirts of the Saguaro National Park. Also, I’d like to thank the kind man at Whole Foods who spent 10 minutes out of his day teaching me how to correctly say “Suh-waa-row”.
I feel like when you think of a cactus, you are thinking of a saguaro. These massive cacti can grow over 40 feet tall and are native to the Sonoran Desert. They survive the extreme heat by storing rainwater in their large trucks to be use as needed. Saguaro cacti can live over 150 years and typically start growing additional arms between 70 and 100 years.
getting there:
Seattle (SEA) -> Tucson (TUS): 3 hours and 5 minutes
Drive Tucson to Saguaro National Park: 20 minutes
Alternative
Seattle (SEA) -> Phoenix (PHX): 2 hours and 55 minutes
Drive Tucson to Saguaro National Park: 1 hour 35 minutes
stay:
With three pools, a restaurant, spa, and bar, this is a great home base. We’ve stayed here four times and it’s one of my favorite places to stay. There is nothing better than an extended weekend in February. There are non-stop flights from Seattle to Tucson, making this a very easy escape.
nature highlights:
This park is divided into two sections, Saguaro West (Tucson Mountain District) & Saguaro East (Rincon Mountains). The western portion of the part is my favorite and it’s also the most visited.
The Bajada Loop Drive - Saguaro West (Tucson Mountain District)
A six mile dirt road, typically well maintained, we never needed a jeep for this road. Almost every time we do this loop we’ve stopped to do 1.8 mile Wild Dog Trail. There is a wonderful picnic area at the trailhead.
Valley View Overlook Trail - Saguaro West (Tucson Mountain District)
An easy .8 mile flat trail is one of the first stops headed into the park. It’s great first stop to stretch your legs.
Arizona Sonora Desert Museum near Saguaro West (Tucson Mountain District)
The hummingbird house is something you have to experience. Keep an eye out for animals not in enclosures. Rattlesnakes roam and barn owls come to visit.
Cactus Forest Drive - Saguaro East (Rincon Mountains)
This 8 mile drive offers stunning views and opportunities to pull off for hikes. Our favorites are Loma Verde Trail and the Freeman Homestead Trail.
Hot Tips:
Note, there are two different sections of the park.
In winter, there can be snowfall. In summer, watch for monsoons and flash flooding.
3 - Valley of Fire
From slot machines to slot canyons.
Valley of Fire is the oldest State Park in Nevada. Made up of red sandstone, also known as Aztec Sandstone, these formations were formed over 150 million years. Experience the vibrate red sandstone by exploring the park on the Nevada Scenic byway, a 10.5 section of road spanning from the west to the east entrance. Don’t miss the petroglyphs, the Mouse Tank and Fire Wave.
getting there:
Seattle (SEA) -> Las Vegas (LAS): 2 hours and 30 minutes
Las Vegas to Valley of Fire: 1 hour
stay:
I love staying here for many reasons. First, we always stay in the tower separate from the casino, so there is virtually no scent of smoke. Second, I love spending time in the water gardens and going to the Bouchon. It’s a slower pace and dare I say a peaceful reprieve from the overstimulating strip.
OR
This isn’t a luxury location like you’d find on the strip, but it’s super close and we had a wonderful stay!
nature highlights:
This hike can close during summer due to heat advisories. The park is open from sunrise to sunset, and a $10 park fee will gain you access to this low desert park.
We started the day doing a 1.5 mile in & back hike to the Fire Wave. We arrived at the trail around 7:00am, hiking early will help you beat the crowds, heat, and lends to great lighting. We love using the Alpenglow: Sunset Weather app to help determine golden hour, or the best times to take photos during the day.
The Gibraltar Rock can be seen through the hike to the wave. Below is a photo of the start of the wave.
Take a Drive
I’m going to say Mouse Tank Road is the most “Insta” famous place to photograph in the park. The below photo was taken off the side of the road at Rainbow Vista. When you pull off the side of the road look south.
Watch for Flora & Fauna
Keep a look out for big horn sheep and countless lizards.
Hot Tips:
Less than one hour from The Strip.
Watch for animals, like mountain goat, camouflaged in sandstone.
4 - Phoenix, Arizona
A city full of nature adventures.
There is so much to do in Phoenix. I don’t even know where to start. With over 300 days of sunny and hot weather, there is a plethora of outdoor activities. This is a very easy escape if you want a bit of a city trip that can still be full of nature adventures.
getting there:
Seattle (SEA) -> Phoenix (PHX): 2 hours and 55 minutes
stay:
nature highlights:
A fun place to stroll, look for kid activities, and our lunch at the restaurant was stunning.
About and hour drive from Phoenix, this was such a fun park to explore. The 2.3 mile Treasure Loop trail offers stunning views. After exploring this park, head to small old west town of Tortilla Flat!
Near Scottsdale, this preserve offers countless hikes.
The famous architectural designs of Frank Lloyd Wright inspired by the connection between nature and humans.
5 - Zion National Park
The Yosemite of red rocks.
Personally my favorite National Park, this is truly my happy place one earth. I love being nestle deep in a canyon. Springdale, the gateway town to the park is a gem. Amazing Inns and hotels, restaurants, coffeeshops, and overall vibes. The laundry mat is actually pretty pleasant as well. I’ve met some rad people and have heard some incredible stories.
getting there:
Seattle (SEA) -> Las Vegas (LAS): 2 hours and 30 minutes
Las Vegas to Zion National Park: 2 hours and 40 minutes
stay:
We’ve been to Zion quite a few times and my favorite thing to do is stay a few nights in the park at the Zion Park Lodge and then a couple nights in the quaint town on the edge of the park, Springdale.
I’m so hesitant to share this place because it’s my aboslute favorite place to stay. Sharon is the most incredible host and likely one of my favorite people on the planet. We’ve stayed here at least 3 times and always can’t wait to go back.
OR
A great location in the park. I brought half our house and almost the kitchen sink to set up a glamorous campsite.
OR
Typically in peak season you aren’t able to drive to the lodge unless you are a guest. Otherwise, you must take the shuttle. We liked staying this close to the park because we could do the Emerald Pools hike from the lodge early in the morning before the shuttles started.
We’ve never done this with a toddler. We thought about it, but there was a water advisory for toxic algae and decided to hold off. Thankful we’d already done it twice. Both times the water was fairly low and we didn’t rent any extra equipment. Still one of our favorite hikes to date.
1 mile out-and-back trail offers some incredible views and a little of a thrill. We’d never got to this hike on our previous trips and thought we’d do it with a toddler. Not sure I’d do it again, and we did not let her out of the pack the whole time.
I recommend doing an Utah Big 5 National Park roadtrip at least once in your life!
Hot Tips:
Get into the park early, it gets super busy.
During the peak season the only way to access many of the parks popular hikes are by shuttle.
By April things are heating up.
We like to head to the park on the first tram, around 6:00am, then hike until about 11:00am and head back in town for an early lunch. It’s usually not as crowded back in town. If it’s a hot day we hang in town, at our Inn, or go on a drive to explore a new area. In the early evening, when it cools down, we pack a dinner picnic and head back into the park. Or even eat at the restaurant in the Zion Lodge.
If we decided not to make a reservation at a nicer restaurants, we like heading to the Zion Pasta & Noodle Co. when they open at 5:00pm. A line typically seems to form around 4:45pm.
6 - Death Valley National Park
The hottest, lowest, and most barren spot in the United States.
Death Valley is a rugged and beautiful wilderness. This valley holds the hottest temperature on record at 134F on July 10th, 1913.
getting there:
Fly Seattle -> Las Vegas: 2 hours 30 minutes
Drive Las Vegas -> to Death Valley National Park: 2 hours and 15 minutes
stay:
AirBnB in Beatty, Nevada. This town sits just outside of this California park in Nevada.
nature highlights:
Sitting at 282 feet below sea level, this is the lowest point in North America.
Compromised of sharp salt formations, this is a place I definitely wouldn’t want to play golf.
Take a stop here and see the rainbow effect that occurs when volcanic deposits of iron and chlorite.
Don’t forget to stop in Beatty to see the El Burros roaming. They will even put their heads in your car.
Hot Tips:
Really watch for donkeys crossing the road.
Bring an off road vehicle, there are loads of off-roading opportunities.
7 - Antelope Canyon
Page, Arizona
Take a page from this write up of Page.
While Page is not a big city full of luxuries, this small town offers a lot of nature opportunities, from Antelope Canyon to Horseshoe Bend to Lake Powell.
getting there:
Seattle (SEA) -> Phoenix (PHX): 2 hours and 55 minutes
Drive Phoenix -> to Horseshoe Bend & Antelope Canyon: 4 hours 14 minutes
stay:
A newer hotel, we only stayed a few nights, it isn’t luxury, but it was great landing spot for exploring the area.
I’ve never stayed here, but its a dream of mine.
Again, another accommodation I’ve never stayed in, but I’d love to try it.
nature highlights:
Just over half a mile from the parking lot, you’ll stumble upon an incredible view, highlighting the work from the Colorado River. We went around 6:00am and were still hiking with a ton of people.
Dixie’s Lower Antelope Canyon Tours
Maybe the coolest tour we’ve ever done. We did this in January and there weren’t very many people in general, but we had the whole tour to ourselves. We arrived Dixie’s and jumped in a Tahoe and took a drive to the canyon. There were other tour groups in the canyon, but our guide knew how to avoid them and showed us the coolest places. She also knew the best places to get the best “Insta” photos. Overall it was such a fun adventure.
Hot Tips:
Make a reservation for a tour of the canyons ahead of time.
8 - White Sand National Park
Mesilla, New Mexico
Moral of the story, never underestimate a New Mexico National Monument.
Mesilla is a super cute quaint town in New Mexico. Interestingly this town used to be part of Mexico. The Plaza in the center of the town is booming with life. There seems to always be a gathering of people.
getting there:
Seattle (SEA) -> Albuquerque (PHX): 3 hours and 55 minutes
Drive Albuquerque -> to White Sands National Park: 3 hours 30 minutes
stay:
Only a 40 minute drive to White Sands National Park, we absolutely loved staying in the small historic town of Mesilla. This AirBnB was the perfect landing spot and was within 2 blocks of the town plaza and countless restaurants and stores. The fenced in backyard and full kitchen were great for containing a toddler.
nature highlights:
White Sands National Park
White Sands used to be a National Monument until December of 2019. Again, another reason you should never underestimate a New Mexico National Monument. White Sands National park is likely our toddlers favorite. She played for hours and hours in the sand, rolled down hills, sled down steep dunes, and ran across open sand fields. We packed up a big picnic for the day and got to the park early.
Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument
On your way back to Mesilla from White Sands, you have to make a stop to explore the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument. The moral of the story, we learned to never under estimate any New Mexico National Monument.
These steep and rocky mountains raise from 0 feet elevation to 9,000 feet, making for incredible views.
Hot Tips:
Check out one of the oldest farmers markets on Fridays and Saturdays in the Plaza.
Bring a sand sled and sand toys to White Sands National Park.
9 - Arches National Park Moab, Utah
Oh Moab, Cameron’s favorite town in Utah. He likes it so much, he’d even consider moving there. It’s a fun small town with lots to offer. We’ve been a few times and one of those times was in June during a heat wave, where temperatures reached 110F. The key was to hike early, hang at the ranch during the day, and then head back out in the evening. The only think we wish we did more of was ATVing.
getting there:
Seattle (SEA) -> Salt Lake City (SLC): 2 hours
Drive Salt Lake City -> to Moab: 4 hours 14 minutes
stay:
We’ve stayed out of town and it was great, but we abosluelty loved staying in town at Moab Ranch Springs. They offer cabins as well as condos. We had cabin with a kitchenette. The shared area was amazing and so useful with a water stream, BBQ’s, and loads of picnic benches. They also have a pool! It’s a great place to hangout during a hot afternoon as it was 108F most of the week we stayed. The main reception house has a coffeeshop in the morning, and don’t miss the chia pudding and homemade granola. And the cat
nature highlights:
From April 2022 to October 22 entrance into the park is done by a timed entry ticket. You can reserve three months in advance on Recreation.gov. Must do hikes are Delicate Arch and the Double O. I would NOT do Double O with young children. Wall Street, the Windows, Balanced Rock, Sand Dune Arch were all great hikes for a toddler.
This park is truly unforgettable because it’s the one and only place I’ve seen a snake in the desert. It was a massive gopher snake and was so kind. I just slid across the rock in front of us, gracefully without a care. And honestly it’s kind of helped lessen my fear of snakes.
Hot Tips:
Unfortunately a wildfire broke out near Dead Horse State Park, sending smoke into Arches, but Canyonlands NP was a great place escape the smoke.
Eat at the Quesidilla Mobilla and get groceries from Moonflower Community Cooperative
10 - Bryce Canyon National Park
Hoodoooosss
Venture up to this National Park sitting at about 9,000 foot nature wonderland. Cold in the wintertime, spring is a lovely time to visit. Ice and rain create the formation of hoodoos.
getting there:
Seattle (SEA) -> Salt Lake City (SLC): 2 hours
Drive Salt Lake City -> to Bryce Canyon National Park: 4 hours 15 minutes
stay:
I’d definitely recommend staying here in the park. You are close to the trails, parking is easy, and it’s an enjoyable walk to the main amphitheater, a great place to enjoy ranger star talks at night.
And maybe a bit odd and random, but the restaurant has the best chicken piccata I’ve ever had. I’m still thinking about it.
nature highlights:
Queens Garden & Navajo Combination Trail:
3 moderate miles winding through canyons with stunning spire and hoodoo views. You’ll see the popular spots like Thor’s Hammer, the switchbacks, and Queen Victoria.
Hot Tips:
Attend one of the ranger led talks at the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater.
Get the chicken piccata at the lodge.
Watch for honey badgers near the lodge.
Bring your own food, there aren’t a ton of places to eat.
In conclusion, any one of these locations is going to make for a perfect desert escape from the cold and rainy PNW. I recommend traveling to the desert in the spring time, the weather isn’t too hot throughout the day and the flowers and wildlife are out and about. I’ve also visited in winter and it didn’t disappoint, but I avoid any of these locations in the summer to stick to the typically stunning weather in the PNW.
Additionally, I highly recommend doing the “Utah Big 5 National Park roadtrip” at least once in your life! Start in Las Vegas and head to Zion National Park. After go to Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches, and then Canyonlands. We’ve done the trip three times and once with a toddler! If we do it again, we’d likely spend more time in Capitol Reef.
