When traveling around the southwest in a minivan for a year you put a lot of miles on your car and see a lot of beautiful places, but some places stand out. Some destinations were planned and some we stumbled upon- those were the best. These are my 5 favorite destinations from our vanlife road trip and ones that you should take time to visit too!
1. Bahia de Los Angeles | Baja California, Mexico
We spent a week camping for free on this magical bay. It was an incredible, secluded campsite with gorgeous mountain views and the water just a few feet from the van. But what made it most memorable was swimming with the Whale Sharks that feed here in the fall! I will never forget snorkeling along them and seeing their beautiful speckled skin and wide open mouths. Though they are large and actually a shark, not a whale, they only filter feed and really are gentle giants.
2. The Maze | Canyonlands National Park, Utah
The only five days we spent in Canyonlands National Park we were backpacking in The Maze district, but it remains my favorite National Park we visited! We hiked down into the depths of the maze of canyons and found granaries and incredible pictographs. It poured with rain one night, so we found a secret ledge in a cave to bivvy on and watched the rain come down. There was endless scrambling and exploring to be done, and we wished we could have stayed.
3. The Needles | Sequoia National Forest, California
Beautiful granite domes, a two-mile approach, free camping at 9k feet, and regular Air Force practice flights overhead, what more could you want? We could only spend about a week at this gorgeous spot, but it left an impression on both of us. There were soaring granite domes of all colors and shapes, with ghoulish names like The Wizard, The Sorcerer, Necromancer Needle and Demon Dome. There were few people and many classic climbs. The changing fall weather eventually drove us out, but we continually dream of returning.
4. Cochise Stronghold | Coronado National Forest, Arizona
This gem is hidden away in southern Arizona. We loved how rugged and preserved the landscape and camping was. The climbing was incredible on grippy granite with chickenheads and knobs galore. Many of the approaches were long, but through gorgeous creek washes and trees. There are no facilities on the west side, but dispersed camping is allowed all along the forest service road. Make sure to leave no trace when you visit here!
5. Joshua Tree National Park | Twentynine Palms, California
More granite boulders! Joshua Tree felt like a playground for adults. In addition to the immense number of rock climbs (trad and sport) available, there was endless scrambling straight from the campsite! Most climbing approaches were short and did not require any driving. There are plenty of hikes and walks and of course acres and acres of Joshua trees to find!