Death Valley National Park in Bloom

Joshua Tree National Park

Las Vegas: Day and Night

Desert Trip: April 2024

For the last couple of years, I have taken a "photography retreat" to the desert around Easter time.  

Heading south, I have usually traveled to the Great Basin, a large high-desert area in northern Nevada, southwest Idaho, and southeast Oregon.  The area has, not surprisingly, very few inhabitants, with long desert vistas, high mountains, rock and sand and sage and juniper covered valleys, some old western towns, vast blue skies, fluffy clouds, and cool April winds.  

I usually head for Lakeview, Oregon, as my jumping off point.  This year, I was ultimately heading to Las Vegas, to park myself in one of the nice hotels, then to take day trips to some beautiful state parks (e.g., Valley of Fire and Red Rock) as well as Death Valley National Park.  I was fortunate this year at Death Valley, catching the desert flowers in bloom.  

Heading west and a little south from Las Vegas, I visited Joshua Tree National Park (my first time at the park), which is adjacent to the beautiful mid-century classic desert town of Palm Springs.  I stayed at a remodeled mid-century motor inn—with a kidney-shaped pool!

Heading home, the weather turned cold in northern California, and there was snow as I crossed east from I-5 to Alturas at US 395 and on to Lakeview.  I was lucky to make it safely—weather is unpredictable at this time of the year.  

All in all, it was a great trip, and I think I got some good pictures.  Knowing that a desert is not everyone's cup of tea, I limited the number of pictures I have posted here.  The best way to view them is to click "slideshow."  

Finally, for me, Las Vegas is a fascinating city—a 24-hour city—so I shot some day and night pictures of this modern amusement park of a city, full of energy, and a fun, circus-like atmosphere.

Click the pictures at left and below, and enjoy!

Roy's Motel and Cafe, Amboy, California

Zabriskie Point, Valley of Fires, Palm Springs Jazz Hotel

Pat at Joshua Tree (April 2024), enjoying the warm sunshine, hearing the whispers of the ancient trees