What could be more breathtaking than a road trip from California’s rugged Pacific coast across Utah’s deep red deserts to Colorado’s rushing mountain rivers in late spring? Imagine yourself traversing the vast, sun-scorched deserts along the Loneliest Road in America, gazing into the universe under some of the world’s darkest skies, hiking the tallest sand dunes in the Northern Hemisphere, and admiring turquoise alpine lakes while looking down at bone-dry deserts stretching endlessly below. In this article, I’ll take you through my absolute favorite outdoor adventures on a three-week road trip spanning California’s coastline, Utah and Nevada’s wild landscapes, and Colorado’s Rocky Mountains.

Mori Point, located just south of Pacifica, is a beautiful place on the Californian coastline and is only a short drive from San Francisco. With its rugged bluffs, the wild ocean crashing at the shore, black beaches, carpets of wildflowers in spring, and abundant wildlife, Mori Point is a great example of what is possible when restoring natural landscapes after decades of exploitation.