Joshua Trees and Juniper

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Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park

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Difficulty: Easy
Length: 0.3 miles / 0.5 km
Duration: 1 hour or less

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Overview: Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park is a small, unassuming park with a pair of trails through preserved Juniper and Joshua tree desert forest. This short trail is 0.3 miles long and set up as an Interpretive Trail. Much of this guide will be built around the trail and the park's descriptive guide.

This plot of land was added to the California state park system in 1988 when it was donated to the state by Arthur Ripley. This park serves to preserve one of the last virgin stands of native Joshua and Juniper trees, both of which formerly grew throughout the this valley. Only small parcels of this desert woodland plant community remain, the rest having been cleared for farming and housing.

The Joshuas once provided a vital source of food and fiber materials for the Native Americans that inhabited the region of the Antelope Valley.

The Joshua is as a member of the lily family of plants. Early in the spring, creamy white blossoms start growing on the ends of the tree's branches. These blooms will last for several months, growing larger and larger as the weeks pass.

Why is it called a Joshua Tree? Credit goes to early Mormon settlers saw the tree with its upraised arms and were reminded of the Biblical Joshua who led the Israelites into the Promised Land.

Should the park headquarters run out of the interpretive pamphlets, more can be picked up just a few miles down the road at the sector office at Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve..

The start of the nature walk begins at a well-presented billboard kiosk in the park's small picnic area.

The trail is short with no elevation change.

Tips: Location:
The park is located approximately seven miles west of the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve on Lancaster Road (an extension of West Avenue I ), or four miles off of State Highway 138 via 245th Street West.

Park along Lancaster Road, and enter through the pedestrian walk-through by the park gate.

Free admission.

Telephone: Mojave Sector Office
(661) 946-6092

Operating Hours:
Sunrise to Sunset

Dogs are allowed on-leash.
This park features a few shaded picnic tables and self-guided nature trail, with information about the desert wildflowers and animals of the Ripley Desert Woodlands. There is a pit toilet available; no running water.

There is no camping at this park.

Non-profit and volunteer support for the park is provided by:
Poppy Reserve/ Mojave Desert Interpretive Association
43779 15TH Street West
Lancaster, CA 93534-9008
TEL 661- 942-0662

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Points of Interest

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Park Entrance

The entrance to the park is located in the heart of the Antelope Valley, just a few miles west of Antelope Valley California Poppy Preserve. Watch for the most highly vegetated plot of land along the northerly side of Lancaster Road. You'll know you're there by the state park sign and green gate.

Parking is along the roadside in the wide margin. Head up the broad trail into the park.

A note on local animal life:
This is rattlesnake country. Stay on the trails and make some noise as you walk - it'll give them a chance to move away from the trail. We were there during the heat of the day but I'd expect them to be out later, during dusk when things cool down.

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Picnic Area

Head in through the gate, up the short trail and into the picnic area. This will serve as the trail head, shade, and a nice place to have lunch.

The picnic tables are under cover which really helps on those hot days. There is also an outhouse located nearby.

Just north of the picnic benches is an informational billboard outlining the park, Arthur Ripley himself, vegetation and local animal life.

This park is crisscrossed with animal trails through the scrub. Please stay on the main trails to reduce erosion and human impact. It'll also keep you, the kids, and the dog out of trouble! Local animals include: quail, roadrunners, king snakes, rattlesnakes, kangaroo rats, coyotes and ground squirrels. Most of the trails were created by both black-tailed and cottontail rabbits.

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Interpretive Trail POI 10

Juniper (more on junipers later).

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Interpretive Trail POI 2

I did not see a Point of Interest 1 on the interpretive trail(the post may have been removed or damaged) however, on your way up the trail look for light green, rounded shrubs near and around the junipers. These are linear leafed goldenbrush (Ericameria linearifolius), a common spring-blooming plant that are covered with simple yellow daisy-like flowers.

Point of interest 2:
Watch for the many rabbit trails throughout the park. The most common here are the black-tailed jackrabbit. Cotton Tails are also present here. Other animals using the trails include: woodrats, ground squirrels, coyotes, ravens, kangaroo rats, the small meadow mouse, roadrunners, king snakes, rattle snakes, and morning doves.

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Interpretive Trail POI 3

California Juniper (Juniperus californica).

The juniper has both male and female plants. This plant is likely male. Females have berries that appear as blue-green cones. They provide food for birds and rodents.

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Interpretive Trail POI 4

Near the post the silver leafed blue shrub is called Blue Sage which is a very fragrant plant, especiallyduring the rains and in the spring.

Blue flowers grow on spikes in the spring. This plant belongs to the mint family and is closely related to another plant here called the chia.

Dead stocks of the chia can be spotted nearby and appear as tall as 10-18" with two pods, one of which the stock grows through.

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Interpretive Trail POI 5

Smaller Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia-Herbertii). These trees can germinate from seed or grow from underground rhizomes from a parent tree, essentially as clones.

While the seeds can germinate readily, they are mostly eaten by local animals.

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Interpretive Trail POI 6

Joshuas are among the strangest looking plants! The branches reaching up and out are called crown sprouts.

These trees grow in sandy soils and up to 14' high. Leaves appear as green spikes. As the leaves age they turn gray and fold down, covering the trunk.

Scientists are not quite sure how old Joshuas get. 800 year old trees have been found, and it is suspected they can grow even older. Joshuas don't have tree rings; rather, they have an internal structure more like that of palms.

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Interpretive Trail POI 7

Pieces of wood on the ground are called petrified yucca.

The material can get very dense and quite heavy as the living plant incorporates silica from the surrounding sands to help heal injury cause by insects, fire, and wind. Less-damaged deadwood from yucca plants in contrast are generally lighter and more fibrous.

The early settlers prized this wood as fuel.

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Junction

The trail heading northwesterly (left) is the park's longer trail. For this walk, take the right-hand (northeasterly) trail.

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Interpretive Trail POI 8

Beavertail cacti (Opuntia echinocarpa). This represents one of the two indigenous cacti in the Antelope Valley. Its springtime bloom is a showy, magenta flower up to 3 inches wide.

The flowers mature into a wine-colored fruit that was eaten by the local Native American Yokuts.

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Interpretive Trail POI 9

Looking closely at the ground around the post, you will see small black spots. When wet they look like a spongy black moss. They are actually a crytogramic crust created by cyanbacteria, which happens to be the oldest known life form on the planet.

What they do is create a durable crust that enhances the soil's strength and durability against erosion caused by both wind and water. They also help trap moisture and other nutrients in the soils, which help keep the surrounding vegetation alive in this harsh environment.

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Interpretive Trail POI 10

Junipers were cut by early settlers for both firewood and fence posts. As you travel through the region, some of these old posts can still be seen as they have rot resistance comparable to redwood.

You will also see rodent burrows and debris piles at the base of many of the plants. Also, the large piles of twigs are wood rat's nests. Don't disturb them!

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Interpretive Trail POI 11

Elderberry Tree (Sambucus Mexicans). This is a large bushy tree which is growing outside its normal environment up in the local mountains. The berries are eaten by local birds and small animals, and humans even use the berries in jellies. In early Europe there was the belief that witches lived in these trees.

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Interpretive Trail POI 12

Mormon Tea (Ephedra nevadensis). Surrounding the post are green plants that appear as stems with no leaves. The tiny leaves appear in the spring. Male plants can have orange stamen growths from nodules. Female plants will produce small green cones.

Local Native American Kitanemuks used the plant for a tea useful in treating upper respiratory illnesses. The plant was also harvested in bunches and placed into springs to sweeten the water.