Heading back from Sequoia NP and going to Phoenix to fly home I stopped at Joshua Tree NP for two partial days. I managed to check it out fairly well based on the limited time. In the surrounding Mojave dessert the temp was about 110. At Joshua Tree the elevation is higher, 4K to 5K feet, so the temps were around 90 and semi-reasonable for hiking.
The park has a lot of dessert cactus and of course the Joshua Tree which is a strange tree with cactus like plants at the end of the branches instead of leaves. The park also has a lot of exposed rock in strange configurations and a number of climbing routes.
On the first day I drove in the North entrance and went to Barker Dam. This was an old gold mining area with some decomposing cars and an old mine site. Next was Ryan Mountain which was a nice hike up a 5500 foot mountain. Not a long hike but the 90 degree temps made it challenging. At the top there was a great view of the park. Looking toward the North entrance you could see the Joshua Tree areas and the rock outcropping. Toward the South it is more flat and harsher dessert.
The next day I drove up to Keys View at 5K feet and walked up from there to the top of a mountain. This area had views toward the Salton Sea and Palm Springs. The long view was faded from smog that blows into the area. Next was a lot of walking through interesting rock areas. I took short walks around Hidden Valley, Jumbo Rocks, Skull rock, and Cholla cactus garden. I went on a longer walk into another old gold mine in the afternoon (Lost Horse Mine).
Pictures explain this area best. Leaving the park to drive to Phoenix it was 115 in the Mojave dessert. People live there!
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| Barker Dam area |
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| Barker Dam area |
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| Going up Mt Ryan |
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| Keys View - and next few pictures |
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| Lost Horse gold mine |
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| Mt Ryan |
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| Cholla Cactus Garden |
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| Temperature 115 outside the park at lower elevations |
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