We met my husband’s family at Big Bear Lake, CA last summer. Those who’ve read my posts know that I don’t like to stay in one place for a long time – especially somewhere I’d been before. Since four days hanging out at a lake didn’t excite me, I decided to take one of my daughters (Thing 2) with me to Joshua Tree National Park for a day trip.
It was a huge undertaking but worth it in the end. We left just before sunrise. Although only a little over 70 miles from Big Bear, the drive to the western entrance takes almost two hours mainly because the two-lane road full of hair-pin curves winds its way down the San Bernardino mountains for about 25 miles. Fortunately once we reached the Lucerne Valley area, miles of desert (and flat, straight roads) stretched ahead.
West Entrance – Joshua Tree, CA
The time of day and heat also dictated our trip. July temperatures in the area reach over 100 degrees and the NPS advises hikers to visit in the morning hours. We stopped at the Visitor Center to purchase more bottles of water and snacks since they don’t sell concessions inside the park.
We learned the Mojave and Colorado Deserts meet inside the park offering two different ecological systems. Additionally the 800,000-acre park encompasses several small mountain ranges so the topography isn’t a flat expanse. With maps and recommendations from the park rangers, we drove along the main road where multitudes of Joshua trees dotted the landscape.
Hidden Valley Hiking Trail
Even though we typically hike longer trails, we chose the one-mile Hidden Valley loop since we were still acclimating to the dryer air and higher elevations. What surprised me most were the large granite boulders all over the place. Around a bend, several people were climbing on some of these boulders like it was a gigantic jungle gym.
The trail consisted of sandy soil and led us between rocks and boulders. Sometimes, the path took us over rocks and we unintentionally took a few turns off the trail. Feeling like lab rats in a maze, we stuck close to other hikers and paid close attention to the trail markers.
It turns out Joshua trees aren’t really trees after all. They belong to the yucca family but earned the name due to their tree-like heights. Legend has it that Mormons crossing the desert felt they resembled Joshua in the Old Testament raising both arms to the heavens.
Keys View
With the hike behind us, we drove to Keys View. With an elevation of 5,500 feet, we enjoyed the breeze and slighter cooler temperature during the short walk to the overlook. Once there, clear views of the Coachella Valley welcomed us. A couple from Palm Desert pointed out Palm Springs, Palm Desert and Indio in the far distance.
Skull Rock
Back on the main scenic route, we stopped at Skull Rock. At first, it looked like an another outcropping of large rocks. We got out of the car and walked the short trail.
There it was – in the rock.
North Entrance – Twentynine Palms, CA
By now, it was after noon so we decided to head out of the park. The rangers also recommended visiting the Oasis of Mara – a short nature hike just outside the visitor center. The hike features an assortment of desert plants. However, the sun was baking overhead and we wanted to eat lunch instead. We found great hamburgers at the Joshua Tree Saloon and headed back to Big Bear.
Tips
Bring lots of water and snacks – maybe even pack a picnic lunch.
Make sure somebody knows your itinerary since cell service is limited.
It you have time, drive down to the southern entrance at Cottonwood Springs to see more of the Colorado Desert. Along the way stop at Cholla Cactus Garden.
When visiting in the summer, only do the short hikes due to heat and plan to visit in the morning hours.
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