To reveal the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of rocky desertification in the typical Karst region of Southwest China, we selected Puding County of Guizhou Province as the research subject. Based on Landsat and DEM image data, we extracted the Slope and the four-stage Fractional Vegetation Coverage and the Rock exposedness rate distribution map; then, we used geo-detectors to obtain their respective contribution rates, and retrieved the spatial distribution information for the four stages of rocky desertification in 1990-2015. Finally, we discussed the temporal and spatial evolution of characteristics of rocky desertification. The results showed that:(1) In the period of 1990-2015, the evolution of rocky desertification in Puding County was complex, it ranged from good to deterioration and then back to improvement, but the overall trend was improving with local deterioration, so the control of rocky desertification still needs to be intensified; (2) Moderate rocky desertification was concentrated in the vicinity of the Sancha River, and the light rocky desertification was distributed. (3) The evolution direction of potential and light rocky desertification were complex, the average change rate of potential rocky desertification was a maximum of 2.75 km²/a, reaching 16.5 km²/a in 1997-2006; (4) Fractional Vegetation Coverage was negatively correlated with the change in Rock exposedness. The increased Fractional Vegetation Coverage led to the improvement of rocky desertification, whereas the increased of Rock exposedness controlled the deterioration of rocky desertification;(5)There was a sudden change in the evolution of rocky desertification, and there was no/potential rocky desertification change to severe rocky desertification near the coast of the Sancha River. Near the urban and rural areas, there was a severe rocky desertification change to no/potential rocky desertification; (6) Fractional Vegetation Coverage, Rock exposedness, and Slope can be used to accurately retrieve rocky desertification, and the contribution rate was 44%, 42%, and 14%, respectively. The inversion method of rocky desertification provided in this paper is fast and efficient, the drawings or data are provided for reference, and the conclusions can provide scientific support for the control of rocky desertification.