Popular Trips 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...
A short but rewarding nature walk in the heart of Joshua Tree.
Full write up at Modern Hiker.
Scrambling around Joshua Tree
Joshua Tree NP - Wonderland of Rocks, California, United States
10.2 miles
10.2 miles
We spent a few days in Joshua Tree with warm weather and a great campsite. Our big hike there was an off trail hiking/scrambling adventure that got quite a bit longer than planned. Our outbound wash was pretty easy for the most part with only a few rock piles to scramble over. But the return route was full of car and bus sized boulders that took a long time to get over....
Amidst the Eagle Mountain Range at the SouthWest corner of Joshua Tree National Park, lies Carey’s Castle, a small cave-like dwelling constructed in the 1920’s for use as a place to live while mining the adjacent vertical shaft. Very little is known about the “Carey” character, however without the inquisitiveness of the destination; this is still a magnificent hike full of incredible flora and terrain to behold. An early spring hike such as ours is probably...
Samuelson Rocks Hike, Joshua Tree National Park, CA
Joshua Tree, California, United States
5.8 miles
5.8 miles
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.
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 nice 7.2-mile loop consisting of the Mirage (a.k.a. "Bump-n-Grind"),
Herb Jeffries, & Mike Schuler Trails. Because most of these trails are so short, I thought it best to create some loops for people visiting to venture upon. This loop allows you access to every north-end trail in the Palm Desert San Jacinto area.You will begin at the trail-head for the Mirage Trail and work your way to the top. Then back...
