Joshua Tree National Park.
One of California’s Best Kept Secrets:

Joshua Tree National Park in California is rugged yet enchanting, a place unlike any other. The park is named for the delightful Joshua tree, a shaggy tree that looks like an object from a Dr. Seuss drawing, that is found in abundance here. The Joshua tree is actually a giant member of the lily family and its tough leaves were used by Native Americans in basket making and footwear. The Joshua tree gets its name from early Mormon migrants who saw the trees limbs outstretched like the Prophet Joshua, guiding them westward.

The park encompasses over one million acres of pristine desert scenery. Two deserts with their own separate ecosystems merge within the park. The eastern part of the park contains the Colorado Desert at elevations below 3,000 feet. Spiny ocotillo plants, creosote bushes and cholla cactus dominate the eastern section. The higher Mojave Desert occupies the western part of the park. It is in the Mojave, slightly cooler and moister, where the Joshua Trees grow.

While the desert landscape is gorgeous throughout the park in all seasons, perhaps the most spectacular features are the rocks. Huge granite boulders soar overhead enticing rock climbers from around the world. The sight of these huge rock monoliths against a bright blue sky combined with the Joshua trees makes for a unique, beautiful, and some might say, spiritual landscape.

The park is located in the desert of southern California, just east of Palm Springs, California. With two main entrances and a couple side roads, it's easy to get to. The town of Twentynine Palms hosts the northern entrance off of Highway 62. The main road through the park continues south to Interstate 10 allowing for travel through the park without backtracking.

Open year round, vehicles can enter for $10 and return as often as they like for the next seven days. Annual and National Parks passes are also available for $25 and $50 respectively.

The park has a rich history of Native American settlers, ranchers and miners. Native Americans lived in the area hunting and gathering pinyon nuts, acorns, mesquite beans and cactus fruit. Remnants of pottery and rock paintings remind current day visitors of their earlier presence.

By the late 1800s, cattlemen, explorers and miners discovered the area. They built dams, established ranches and mined the desert in search of gold. Today, visitors can explore what these early discoverers left behind, the Lost Horse Mine, the Desert Queen Mine and the Desert Queen Ranch.

Rangers lead tours to the recently restored Desert Queen Ranch. The ranger shares the story of Bill Keys, the custodian and assayer of the Desert Queen Mine and his wife Frances who spent sixty years living and working in this remote location and raising their five children. When the mine closed, Bill claimed it along with the five acre mill as payment for his previously unpaid wages. He homesteaded one hundred and sixty additional acres which ultimately became the Desert Queen Ranch. The park service has restored the ranch along with a group of volunteers. Today, the ranch house, a workshop, the store and a school house remain along with various old cars, equipment, trucks and other implements that are a piece of the Desert Queen Ranch’s history.

In addition, three visitor centers are loaded with information on the park’s history and resources. Find the Oasis Visitor Center at the Twentynine Palms Entrance in the north, the Cottonwood Visitor Center at the south entrance and the Black Rock Canyon Visitor Center at the Black Rock Campground.

Joshua Tree is home to abundant wildlife including bobcats, coyotes, golden eagles, burrowing owls, roadrunners, sidewinders and tarantulas. While the desert may seem unforgiving and difficult to live in, animals have adapted in order to survive. For example, the Kangaroo Rat is especially adapted for life in the harsh desert. He lives off of seeds alone, getting all the nutrients and water he needs from the seeds. Together with his sense of smell and his front paws, he sifts through the sand in search of these tiny, life giving seeds. His large rear paws are adapted for travel over the desert sand.

Hiking is a great way to experience Joshua Tree National Park. Trails lead to a palm tree oasis, up a 5400 foot mountain and to an abandoned mine, just to name a few. In addition, thirty five miles of the California Riding and Hiking Trail run through the park. Allow two to three days to hike the entire length or try a shorter segment during a day trip.

Joshua Tree is well known to the rock climbing community and considered one of the premiere rock climbing destinations in the world. Over 4500 established routes with varying degrees of difficulty entice climbers of all abilities.

An 18 mile road tour, called the Geology Road Tour, makes for a nice side trip in a four wheel drive vehicle or a dual sport motorcycle. The road winds through some of the park's most fascinating landscapes and includes 16 stops along the way. While 4 wheel drive is highly recommended, in decent weather, two wheel drive vehicles can make it to stop #9, Squaw Tank.

Spring is the most popular time to visit with an average temperature of 85? and a spectacular wildflower bloom. The timing of the blooms varies from year to year depending on the winter rainfall and the spring time temperatures. Blooms generally begin in the warmer lower elevations in February and in the upper elevations in March and April. For the elevations in the park over 5000 feet, wildflowers often remain blooming as late as June. In general, in the lower elevations (1000 to 3000 feet), annuals bloom from February through April, cacti bloom from March through May and Yuccas bloom between March and April. In the higher elevations (3000 to 5000 feet), annuals bloom from March through May, cacti bloom from April through June and Joshua Trees and Yuccas bloom between March and April.

College kids on spring break fill the campgrounds in April and March but tend to be a more subdued crowd than the stereotypical spring breakers found elsewhere. Summer brings temperatures of over 100?, not the best time to visit. Fall and winter bring cooler days with fall's temperatures in the 80s and winter in the 60s.

Camping in Joshua Tree is popular year round. Almost 500 campsites nestled amongst the boulders makes for a one of a kind camp experience. While RVs are welcome, hookups are not available. The majority of the campgrounds cost between $5 and $10 and are first come, first served. Group sites (which cost $20-$35), Indian Cove and Black Rock accept reservations. Campgrounds fill up fast, especially in the spring. Arrive early for the best chance of obtaining a campsite. The camping is fairly primitive with running water and flush toilets found only at Black Rock and Cottonwood. Chemical toilets are available at the remaining campgrounds. None have showers.

Joshua Tree was designated a National Monument on August 10, 1936 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt at the urging of a Mrs. Minerva Hamilton Hoyt. Mrs. Hoyt had witnessed the devastation that weekend scavengers had wreaked upon the area by taking various species of cactus for landscaping. President Roosevelt granted her request. Years later the monument was upgraded to National Park status on October 31, 1994. It is a true national treasure.

The Palm Springs Desert Resort cities include Palm Springs, Palm Desert,
Cathedral City, Indian Wells, Indio, Desert Hot Springs, La Quinta and
Rancho Mirage. Abbreviations for California include CA, Calif. and Cal.