Chihuahuan Desert
The Chihuahuan Desert is a high-elevation desert and dry shrubland that covers parts of northern Mexico and southwestern United States. Known for its dramatic open plains, mountain basins, and endemic species, it's a place of contrasts—hot summers, cooler winters, and unique desert flora and fauna.
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Geography
| Continent | North America |
|---|---|
| Region | Southwestern North America |
| Subregion | Great Basin and Desert |
| Country | MexicoUnited States |
| State | CoahuilaDurangoChihuahuaSonoraZacatecasSan Luis PotosíAguascalientesJaliscoNayaritSinaloaSinaloaTexasNew Mexico |
| Timezone | AmericaMexico City |
| Latitude | 27 |
| Longitude | -104 |
| Maps |
11:35 PM LOCAL TIMEThe Chihuahuan Desert stretches across northern Mexico and southwestern United States, creating a vast landscape of high plains, mountain basins, and desert flats. It’s characterized by Creosote bush, sagebrush, and endemic species like the Mexican wolf and __jiuquilla grass. The terrain varies from arid low valleys at around 500 meters to high-elevation grasslands and rocky peaks reaching 3300 meters in places like the Sierra Madre Occidental and the Big Bend region. Summers are typically hot and dry, with winter nights often falling below freezing; the best time to visit depends on your activity—spring and fall for cooler temperatures and spring blooms, winter for milder daytime weather. Activities span from high-elevation hiking and backpacking to wildlife viewing and star gazing—key species include bats, reptiles*, and migratory birds. Geographically, the desert sits beneath the Sierra Madre chain in Mexico and the Trans-Pecos region of Texas, defined by wide-open basins and rugged mountain margins.
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