The most beautiful natural sites to discover Inland Empire And The Desert

A 4 hectare hike in an incredible cactus "garden" in the middle of the Joshua Tree desert. Here grows the Teddy bear cholla, a cactus with a fluffy teddy bear look, hence its name - be careful, in reality, its spines are very sharp! From January to May, many species of cactus in this area flower, giving the desert an unreal and colourful face. Beware of children on these cactus-lined trails!

This rock in the shape of a human skull is one of the favourite landmarks of Joshua Tree hikers. Also accessible by car by asphalt road, on Park Blvd.

At 3.3 km high, the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument suddenly rise above the desert. Hiking trails meander through palm groves set against evergreen snow-capped peaks. Wild and spectacular.

In 1950, a dam on the Colorado River exploded and hundreds of tons of water poured into a nearby valley. This inland sea, above sea level, is nothing but the result of human error. At the time, local farmers rushed around the so-called giant lake to develop their crops, while tourists, bailed by this unhoped-for freshness in the wilderness, only a few kilometers away from the very fashionable Palm Springs, practiced water skiing and faring on the banks of the Salton Sea. Hotels, restaurants and cafes grow like mushrooms. The water of the inland sea is twice as salty as that of the Pacific. Fish are introduced, fishing competitions organized. The seaside resort is expanding, more heavily frequented than Yosemite National Park, until the 1970 s, which saw Salton Sea water evaporating suddenly. The idyllic landscape is transformed into a true ecological nightmare, streaked with dead fish and trees that are spotted by salt. Tourists flee, buildings are abandoned. Today, Salton Sea is a dystopic curiosity worthy of a science fiction film. Some too poor people to escape from this salty hell still live on the shores of Salton Sea, in rusty caravans and ghosts.

A few hundred metres walk around Lake Tuendae, facing the California State University Desert Studies Center. Has little interest.

Cross the beautiful gorges and explore the ruins of Fort Piute, built in the 1880 s to welcome travellers on Mojave Road. A nearby permanent water course provides the necessary water for plants and animals.

Learn how to identify desert plants on this short trail.