Something about the cooler weather in Southern California makes me want to spend a lot of time in the desert.

Other than the spring bloom season, the winter is, by far, the best time to visit a desert park. Daytime temperatures won’t boil you alive, nights are chilly and brisk, and the entire atmosphere is calm and quiet (if you can avoid boisterous climbers at Joshua Tree, that is).

A few local hiking bloggers appear to have the same seasonal urgings, it seems. Rockgrrl is getting ready to lead a climbing expedition to Joshua Tree, GeekHiker did a bit of exploring around Anza-Borrego (and got his fall-fix at Julian and Oak Glen), and 100 Peaks has been enjoying both areas as well – and has some really great info on peaks in and around Anza-Borrego up right now, too. Definitely worth checking out.

For a variety of reasons (including an unfortunate car break-in), I’ve been unable to get out onto the trails for a few weeks – and I’m starting to think a desert camping trip over Thanksgiving weekend is the only way out of it.

So … anyone else headed out to the desert anytime soon? Got any favorite places you’d like to share?

Tags: desert hiking, fall hiking, Hiking, links, motivations, other sites, winter hiking