Which U.S. States Have Deserts?

Deserts aren't just in one state—they span the **American Southwest and Great Basin**. Major desert regions by state:

• Arizona: **Sonoran Desert** (south/west) — hottest, most biodiverse; includes Saguaro cactus forests. Also **Mojave** (northwest) and **Chihuahuan** (southeast corner).
• California: **Mojave Desert** (High Desert, Death Valley — hottest place on Earth); **Colorado Desert** (low Sonoran extension, Coachella/Imperial Valleys); **Great Basin** (eastern Sierra rain shadow).
• Nevada: **Great Basin Desert** (covers most of the state — cold desert, sagebrush valleys); **Mojave** (southern tip, Las Vegas).
• New Mexico: **Chihuahuan Desert** (southern half — largest desert in North America); **Sonoran** (southwest corner, "Bootheel").
• Texas: **Chihuahuan Desert** (Trans-Pecos, West Texas — Big Bend); small **Sonoran** fringe.
• Utah: **Great Basin Desert** (western basins); **Mojave** (southwest corner, St. George); **Colorado Plateau** (red rock canyonlands — semi-desert).
• Others: **Oregon** (High Desert/Alvord), **Idaho** (Snake River Plain), **Wyoming** (Red Desert), **Colorado** (San Luis Valley), **Washington** (Columbia Basin rain shadow).

**Key distinction:** "Desert" = <250 mm (10 in) annual precipitation. Many areas are **semi-arid steppe** (250–500 mm). The **four true North American deserts**—Mojave, Sonoran, Chihuahuan, Great Basin—overlap multiple states.