Hiking near Twentynine Palms, California

Full write up at Modern Hiker.

Nick, Derek, and I took an overnight trip into Joshua Tree National Park. Despite miles of off-trail wandering and camping in a designated day-use area (oops) we managed to survive. Here's the pictures to prove it. A fabulous weekend for wildflowers, both the annuals that filled the low Mojave desert and the cactus, which all seem to be blooming early this year.

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

This neat 4 mile walk was not on the maps and literature.  We found it on the kiosk at the Desert Queen Mine trailhead.  The trail was in my GPS, so it was very easy to follow.  There are some good old mining artifacts that make the hike extra interesting.  The mine shafts are will sealed by metal grills.  We did take one short side trip up a hill to see another...

Gunsight is not so much a hike as a rock scramble. Up a whole lot and then down a whole lot even faster. By far one of the best "hikes" we undertook in Joshua Tree, but I can only think of very few people I would voluntarily subject to this one. There's a reason it's one of three hikes in the guidebook with !!! next to it...strenuous for sure. But I always...

Queen Mountain Hike This excursion into back country Joshua Tree is spectacular. The walk to the mountain is easy as pie, mostly following sandy washes (note, we stayed in the wash a lot longer on the return). Once you get to the mountain itself, it’s straight up, strenuous, no joke. Scrambling, weaving, jumping, crawling, climbing, you name it…plus a fair amount of sweating. The view is stunning the whole way, so you can pretend (we did!) that you’re...