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The Philip L. Boyd Deep Canyon Desert Research Center (Deep Canyon) is a 2,469 ha (6,102 ac) reserve located on the western edge of the Colorado Desert in the Coachella Valley about 115 km east of Riverside, California.
 The climate is characterized by hot summers, scant and erratic rainfall, and strong vernal winds. At Boyd Center (290 m) July is the hottest month with average daily high and low temperatures of 39.0 and 26.5 °C. The 43-year average annual rainfall is 142 mm with extremes of 27 mm (2002) and 478 mm (1983). Under the prevailing conditions of heat and aridity, the Deep Canyon region supports a rich flora and fauna typical of the Colorado Desert and the Peninsular Mountains. More than 600 species of vascular plants and 329 species of vertebrates occur within the Deep Canyon watershed. This biotically diverse setting encourages research, which constitutes about 63% of Deep Canyon’s use. Within commuting distance of Boyd Center there are a variety of other research opportunities in varied ecosystems that include aeolian sand habitats in the Coachella Valley Preserve System. Mojave Desert in Joshua Tree National Park; and chaparral, pinyon-juniper, and Jeffrey pine forest in the San Bernardino National Forest and the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto National Monument.
Deep Canyon is the only protected site in the Colorado Desert dedicated to research and teaching. There is no public access or recreational use of Deep Canyon. Scientists may undertake long-term projects with confidence that their sites will not be disturbed by conflicting uses. Additional protection is conferred by encompassing state and federal administrative overlays that limit activities on adjacent lands. The entire research area is within a no-hunting State Game Refuge and the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto National Monument.
Boyd Center includes a dorm for researchers (the Wilbur Mayhew Building), laboratory facilities, and library.
The Wilbur Mayhew Building can house up to 14 researchers (2-4 bunks/room) and offers hot showers and a full kitchen.
Fees to stay at the dorm are minimal:
UC-affiliated users—$5.00/person/night
Non-UC users—$7.00/person/night
Our laboratory facilities offer basic equipment and a safe, temperature-controlled environment in which to conduct additional components of your field research.
Our reference library contains a bibliography of reserve-based research including more than 425 books, journal articles, and theses.
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