White Pocket Arizona: How to Get There Without a Permit
White Pocket Arizona access guide: no permit required, but the deep-sand BLM Road 1017 approach needs high-clearance 4WD, plus heat, flash-flood, and dispersed camping logistics
American Southwest
Desert Hiking,
Desert Hiking,
Done Right
Desert trail research, gear specifications, and guidance for planning your next hike.
Trail Finder
Start With Region or Difficulty
What's here
Pick Your Path
Foundation
Getting Started
First hike, what to wear, how much water. Everything before you go.
ReviewsDesert Gear
Compare boot, sun-hoody and hydration-pack features for desert conditions.
DestinationsWhere to Hike
Trail guides across the Sonoran, Mojave, Chihuahuan, and Colorado Plateau.
SafetyDesert Skills
Heat management, navigation, wildlife. The knowledge that keeps you safe.
VisualDesert Photography
Golden hour technique, heat-proof gear, and the locations that actually deliver.
Map-First Trail Planning
Use region pages to narrow options, then check route details, water strategy, and risk notes before you drive out.
Browse Trail Guides
Recently Updated Trails
-
White Pocket Arizona: How to Get There Without a Permit
White Pocket Arizona access guide: no permit required, but the deep-sand BLM Road 1017 approach needs high-clearance 4WD, plus heat, flash-flood, and dispersed camping logistics
-
Little Wild Horse Canyon: Utah's Best No-Permit Family Slot Canyon
Little Wild Horse Canyon is a non-technical slot near Goblin Valley with no permit and no fee. Here is the loop route, the road access, and the flash flood call.
-
Chiricahua National Monument Hiking: Echo Canyon, Heart of Rocks, and the Wonderland of Rocks
Chiricahua National Monument hiking guide: Echo Canyon Loop, Heart of Rocks Loop, the Big Loop, and Sugarloaf Mountain through southeast Arizona's Wonderland of Rocks, with road status, shuttle, and safety info
-
Arizona Trail: Best Desert Sections for Day Hikes
A curated guide to day-hikeable Arizona Trail passages in the Sonoran Desert, with trailheads, water, season, and the access details that change. Plan a real AZT day.
-
Franklin Mountains State Park: Chihuahuan Desert Hiking Inside El Paso
Franklin Mountains State Park hiking guide for El Paso: Aztec Cave, the exposed Ron Coleman scramble, North Franklin Peak, fees, heat planning, and access.
Latest
Recent Guides
Valley Fever and Desert Hiking: Coccidioidomycosis Risk, Symptoms, and Reducing Exposure
Valley fever is a fungal infection inhaled from desert dust. Where the risk is highest, the symptom timeline, who is more vulnerable, and when to see a doctor.
Sun Poisoning and Heat Rash on the Trail: What They Are and How to Treat Them
Sun poisoning and heat rash are skin conditions, not core-temperature emergencies. What the blistering sunburn reaction, PMLE, and prickly heat actually are, how to treat them in the field, and when to see a doctor.
Little Wild Horse Canyon: Utah's Best No-Permit Family Slot Canyon
Little Wild Horse Canyon is a non-technical slot near Goblin Valley with no permit and no fee. Here is the loop route, the road access, and the flash flood call.
Lightning Safety for Desert Hikers: Monsoon Storms and What to Actually Do
Monsoon lightning kills Southwest hikers every summer. The 30-30 rule, where to be caught, why the lightning crouch is out, and strike first aid.
Heat Index vs. Air Temperature: What "Feels Like" Means in the Desert
Why the desert heat index can read below the air temperature and still be deadly. How NWS apparent temperature works and why it understates solar and exertional heat.
Gear Lab
Practical Gear Picks
Sun Gloves for Desert Hiking: Protecting the Hands Everyone Forgets
The backs of your hands burn first on trekking poles. How UPF sun gloves work, fingerless versus full-finger for rough rock, and pole and scramble fit.
Sunscreen for Desert Hiking: What Works When You're Sweating Through It
What SPF, broad spectrum, and water resistant really mean under FDA sunscreen rules, and how to keep protection working on sweaty desert trail miles.
Hiking Umbrellas for Desert Sun: The Gear Thru-Hikers Swear By
Why thru-hikers carry silver umbrellas on shadeless desert miles. Shade physics, real wind limits, hands-free rigging, and three picks by weight and price.
UPF Clothing for Desert Hiking: What the Rating Means in Practice
A practical UPF clothing guide for desert hikers, including what UPF ratings mean, where fabric performance breaks down, and what to buy first.