Public Education
FSD promotes educating the public and government officials about the rich cultural history of the peoples of the Sonoran Desert. Our Guide to the Camino del Diablo informs federal land management and Department of Homeland Security personnel about this National Historic Place and its significance in the stewardship of lands in the United States and Mexico.
Guide to the Camino del Diablo
El Camino Del Diablo (the Devil's Highway) is an ancient route of foot trails through the Sonoran Desert created by the Tohono and Hia-ced O’Odham peoples to reach their sources of water, hunting grounds, villages, and sacred places. In the late 17th century, the O’Odam began guiding the first nonnative travelers across the desert, including Father Kino and Juan Bautista de Anza. With the advent of the Gold Rush in the late 1840’s, travelers began to use the Camino as their route to California. Many travelers died of thirst along the way, giving rise to the name, “Devil’s Highway.” We wrote this guide to El Camino del Diablo so that modern travelers could explore this ancient highway, by road or by foot, and appreciate what travel across the desert entailed for these earliest explorers. The Camino Del Diablo is designated as a National Historic Place, and all visitors with permits to travel on the Camino now receive a free copy of this guide from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The Astonishing, Astounding, Amazing Sonoran Desert
The Astonishing Astounding Amazing Sonoran Desert is an entertaining introduction to the Sonoran Desert ecosystem, perfect for visitors or residents who want a quick read to acquaint or reacquaint themselves with the Sonoran Desert and its wildlife. Vibrant full-page color illustrations capture the colors of the desert and the behavior of its wildlife.
You will learn about the keystone plants of the Sonoran Desert and twenty native species of animals with fascinating natural histories. You will also learn about the threats to the Sonoran Desert and what you can do to protect this unique ecosystem. Click here to order our book or to learn more about it.
