Hiking in Joshua Tree National Park

from the Living Desert Zoo & Gardens:The Living Desert Nature Preserve consists of 1,080 sonoran desert acres situated just above the zoo. From The Living Desert, a hiker can select one of three trails to suit their desired experience of the real undisturbed desert. The nature trails take you through various Sonoran Desert biological communities and habitats including desert riparian woodland with smoketree, palo verde and desert willow, and desert scrub...

One of the most popular trails among local cardio-enthusiasts, the Mirage Trail (also known as the "Bump-n-Grind" trail, the "Desert Drive Trail", the "Patton Trail", and the "Desert Mirage Trail") begins with it's trail-head along Highway 111 on the border of Rancho Mirage and Palm Desert.  There are a few start points for this trail.  Books will tell you that you should access it via Painters Path (behind Target in Palm...

*** 2 miles each way ****the triangle area is a campground called jumbo rocks $10 a night with camp fire ring and table...the square is Crown prince rock formation...click on satellite view for actual terrain picture...for those that dont know, when the pics stop showing click outside that black box to see the map, the small black rectangle should disappear so you can see the way points and trail.......................................Great trip, entered from...

This is an easy, popular hike as it is closest to 29 Palms and does not require an entrance fee to the national park to get to the trail head.  It also has great views of 29 Palms, but no Joshua Trees (it does have yucca plants).  The palm tree oasis is worth the walk too.  Spring time is nicest as the flowers and blooming cactus add to the scenery.

A slightly more interesting and less direct route to the Samuelson Rocks. The rocks on which Mr. Samuelson engraved his philosophies while homesteading in the 1920's make for a great day hike destination! Read the history here: http://www.nps.gov/jotr/historyculture/samrocks.htm. 

A short scramble away from the crowds of Keys Point to better views. More info at Modern Hiker.

first hiked to lost horse mine, then up to the cool viewpoint above the mine for the sunrise, continued on and climbed cross country up to the summit of lost horse mountain (5282) for an incredible view of all of joshua tree and san gorgonio and san jacinto. back to the loop and to the lang mine and then optimist mine and around through the wash where we saw a speckled rattlesnake...