
The trail seems steep for short reptilian legs, but desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) are impressively stalwart creatures that travel through the desert scrub to cross passes like this one in search of wildflowers to eat. In the spring, visitors sometimes spot tortoises while hiking on the High View Nature Trail, so keep an eye out! Tortoises are a federally threatened species; if you are lucky enough to see one be sure to give it plenty of space. Report any tortoise observations at the Black Rock Nature Center as scientists are eager for information on these elusive animals.
Is there something we missed for this itinerary?
Itineraries across USA

Acadia

Arches National Park

Badlands

Big Bend

Biscayne

Black Canyon Of The Gunnison

Bryce Canyon

Canyonlands

Capitol Reef

Carlsbad Caverns

Channel Islands

Congaree

Crater Lake

Cuyahoga Valley

Death Valley

Dry Tortugas

Everglades

Gateway Arch

Glacier

Grand Canyon

Grand Teton

Great Basin

Great Smoky Mountains

Guadalupe Mountains

Haleakalā

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes

Hot Springs

Indiana Dunes

Isle Royale

Joshua Tree

Kenai Fjords

Kobuk Valley

Lassen Volcanic

Mammoth Cave

Mesa Verde

Mount Rainier

North Cascades

Olympic

Petrified Forest

Pinnacles

Rocky Mountain

Saguaro

Shenandoah

Theodore Roosevelt

Virgin Islands

Voyageurs

White Sands

Wind Cave

Yellowstone

Yosemite

Zion