By definition, deserts are parched places that receive scarce amounts of rainfall.
This makes the relatively small amount of oases in them all the more exceptional. These permanent sources of water support lush plant growth and a wide diversity of wildlife, and they make astonishing places to visit when you travel to the desert.
Let’s look at some of the most incredible desert oases you can find here in the U.S.
Fortynine Palms Oasis, California
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Part of Joshua Tree National Park, this oasis requires a short, moderately strenuous hike to get to. The palms that grow here aren’t native to the spot. After miners found a spring here in the early 1900s, they planted palms around it so they’d always be able to find it.
Havasu Falls, Arizona
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Most of the Grand Canyon is barren and dry, but this tributary mostly on the Havasupai Indian Reservation is an exception due to its permanent water supply: Havasu Creek. Deep n the canyon, and only reachable by foot, are three waterfalls that spill into colorful, travertine-lined pools. Havasu Falls is the most spectacular and the most famous of the three.
Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada
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It’s a long drive from almost anywhere to get here, and with much of it on unpaved roads, this place definitely feels like the middle of nowhere. It’s a biodiversity hotspot due to its springs, and one spring here supports the world’s only known population of Ash Meadows Amargosa pupfish.
Palm Canyon, California
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Palm Canyon is the best-known oasis in sprawling Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. An easy trail lets you explore this palm-shaded oasis that also has a small waterfall. Visit in spring to see the incredible colors as desert wildflowers bloom.
Coachella Valley Preserve, California
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Coachella isn’t just the name of a popular music festival. The valley is also home to the desert towns of Indio and Palm Springs, and it has a national wildlife refuge as well. In all, the preserve contains several oases, and it’s known for the high numbers of birds that pass through and live here.
Darwin Falls, California
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If desert oases are rare, desert waterfalls are even rarer. After heavy downpours, it’s not uncommon to see temporary waterfalls in desert canyons, but permanent ones are relatively few in number. Near the Panamint Springs resort in Death Valley National Park, a short trail leads to a lush oasis crowned by a tall, spring fed waterfall.
Oak Creek Canyon, Nevada
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Just outside Las Vegas and visible from the strip, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation is a wonderland of sandstone and limestone peaks and canyons. Several canyons here have water flowing in them most of the year, and they have waterfalls as well. Oak Creek Canyon is one the most scenic and has several waterfalls. Spring is when flows are at their best.
Quitobaquito, Arizona
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Most of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is rocky and dominated by its namesake cactus and other desert plants. Along the monument’s southern boundary, thought, right on the border with Mexico, is this spring-fed pond surrounded by a narrow ring of trees and riparian foliage. This is a great spot to watch wildlife early and late in the day.
Saratoga Spring, California
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Here’s another spring-fed pond that’s really the size of a lake. It’s near the southern boundary of Death Valley National Park, and it features lush marsh-like vegetation while serving as an important spot for wildlife. It sits in stark contrast with the sun-baked desert hills framing it.
Agua Caliente Regional Park, Arizona
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Popular for hikes and picnics, this park near Tucson is widely popular. Tall palm trees provide much-needed shade on the many hot days each year. Among the quiet, serenely beautiful surroundings are also some natural hot springs.
Castle Hot Springs, Arizona
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This location in a remote canyon can seem like something from another world. The hot springs themselves have colorful cliffs around them, the results of mineral deposits and plant growth. In the meantime, giant saguaro cactuses surround the area. Best of all: you can go for a soak in the springs here and enjoy all the scenery while getting some much-needed relaxation and rejuvenation.
Montezuma Well, Arizona
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Montezuma Castle National Monument is best known for its ancient cliff dwellings, but it’s also home to Montezuma Well. Here, you’ll find a lovely spring-fed pond that makes a stunning contrast with the surrounding desert.
Boquillas and Santa Elena Canyons, Texas
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Since these are separate features in Big Bend National Park, you’re actually getting 14 sites, not 13! Cut by the Rio Grande, these canyons have ample parking and short hikes to reach them. They provide scenery, shade, and swimming/wading, and the river creates the stage for plant life you won’t find in much of the rest of the park.
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