Seeing Colorado Desert from a plane
The low, hot western edge of the Sonoran Desert, much of it below sea level around the Salton Sea. Look for the bright green grid of the Imperial Valley's fields ending sharply at bare sand.
3 of our routes pass it. California · rated 5 of 10
The easy pick
San Diego to Dallas-Fort Worth: sit on the left, 19 min after takeoff.
Which side, by route
| Route | Side | When |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix to San Diego | Left | 32 min after takeoff |
| San Diego to Dallas-Fort Worth | Left | 19 min after takeoff |
| San Diego to Phoenix | Left the other side is usually better on this route | 20 min after takeoff |
From the real paths of every nonstop on these routes in the last 10 days, at the usual time of day.
Questions
Which side of the plane do you see Colorado Desert from?
It depends on the direction: the left on most of our routes (3 of 3). The table lists each route's side.
When can you see Colorado Desert from a plane?
Mid-flight: see the table for when on each route.
Do clouds matter?
Yes. These answers assume a clear day. Within 3 days of your flight, pick your exact flight in the app for the cloud forecast.
More
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