By Roger Naylor
Visitors often mistakenly believe Arizona’s Sonoran Desert has only two seasons: winter and summer.
In reality, the desert experiences multiple distinct seasons. There’s winter, spring (often ablaze with flowers and cactus blooms), dry summer (May and June), off-peak season (July through August, when the resort is typically closed), and the one that gets so often overlooked, the very idyllic autumn—a perfect time to visit. Autumn is an invitation from the desert to come outside and play.
By the end of September, rain has dissipated, leaving behind an autumn desert surprisingly vibrant. Fresh green growth bursts forth, cacti are laden with fruit, and a flurry of wildflowers adds splashes of color. A sense of harmony is restored after the rains. Hope is renewed. Anything seems possible because it has rained in the desert.
Temperatures dip this time of year but remain warm. It’s perfect for those yearning for an extension of that carefree summer feeling. Yet the low slant of sunlight adds new golden hues to the landscape. Skies are sharp and clear, with views stretching for miles. When the sun goes down a delicious coolness settles over the land. Twilight feels velvet-soft. The moon rises above the mountains and canopy of glittering stars emerges from the darkness. Everyone becomes an astronomer when the heavens drop right in their lap.
The desert feels wonderfully alive in autumn. Mule deer are more active as they prepare for mating season. Coyotes, javelinas, bobcats, and desert bighorns are all stirring. Migratory birds begin arriving from the cold north, such as Ruby-crowned Kinglets and yellow-rumped warblers. Soaring overhead are raptors like northern harriers, rough-legged hawks, kestrels, and prairie falcons. Hummingbirds like Anna’s and Costa’s still swarm the feeders. Squadrons of butterflies wobble from one flowering plant to the next enjoying a last hurrah of the season. Those that picture the Arizona desert as dull and dreary are those that have never been.
What to Do at Castle Hot Springs
For folks who aren’t ready yet to break out the puffer coats, leaf blowers, or snow shovels, Castle Hot Springs offers a soothing escape. The elegant resort nestled in the heart of the Sonoran Desert amid the Bradshaw Mountains becomes an autumnal paradise.
This is the time of year when stress levels increase. Holiday planning grows more frenzied, the weather throughout much of the country takes a gloomy turn and winter looms ominously. How nice if you can leave it all behind to spend a few sunny days in a remote corner of the Arizona desert. A little fall rejuvenation is the gift everyone deserves.
The outdoors beckons at Castle Hot Springs on mild autumn days. It’s a chance to keep the pale claws of winter at bay. Hike peaceful trails weaving through the tall saguaros. Hop on an E-Bike and ramble deeper into the mountains. Go for a morning horseback ride. Try some paddleboard yoga. Sign up for a spa treatment in creekside cabanas beneath the palm trees. Dine on the restaurant patio, savoring delicious dishes created from ingredients grown right there on the grounds. The gardens overflow during this special harvest season.
Then, to finish up each day, just imagine how amazing it will feel when you climb into the natural hot springs for a long comforting soak on a cool desert evening. Let the mineral-rich water work its magic to help restore body and spirit. Slowly, the stress melts away.
Don’t let this season slip past you unnoticed. Make your plans now to experience the desert in a brand new light. Enjoy the quiet luxury afforded by Castle Hot Springs and the never-ending beauty of the most biologically diverse desert in the world.
Of course, don’t be surprised if you end up booking a winter visit to Castle Hot Springs before you leave. The desert can be enticing in every season.