My parents were in town, so that means another National Park trip! Because the second that they get to LA, all they want to do is get out. =] Joshua Tree is about a two hour car ride from LA right by Palm Springs, and it’s the perfect day trip. It is the location where two desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado come together. Because the park has such high elevation, it has one of the most epic night skies I have ever seen.
Joshua Tree is another beautiful park we have Franklin Roosevelt to thank for. There are few parks as recognizable as Joshua Tree, and being able to live so close to it, it’s become one of my favorites. Growing up in Florida, we had few parks, but no one really wanted to spend time there with how hot and muggy they were at all times. So I have a special place in my heart for this one. It’s the only park that I consistently visit and camp at. The night sky is on a whole other level. Since the park is elevated there is no issue with light pollution. Once you’re out there and your eyes adjust after a while, you can start to see that bright purple band along the bottom of the horizon, and all the rock and Joshua Tree silhouettes jutting up against it. The Milky Way starts to form above you, and it’s such a spellbinding way to get lost in your thoughts just thinking about other worlds and all the possibilities that you have awaiting you.
Exploration is in our nature. We began as wanderers and we are wanderers still. We have lingered long enough on the shores of the cosmic ocean. We are ready at last to set sail for the stars. We have Carl Sagan to thank for that one.
The park is named after it’s Joshua Trees, and is full of large rock formations perfect for climbing. Since these two desert ecosystems come together, it creates this special habitat that these yuccas can only grow in. They’re such an eccentric tree that you don’t see anywhere else. Most of our time here was spent pulling over at every spot we could, wandering around, taking photos, and just climbing the rocks for better views. I’ve never had such a strong desire to pick up bouldering or rock climbing, and that desire stayed with the park as soon as I left. It’s amazing when you’re immersed by something, how much that influences you, until you drive just 20 feet out of the park, and it no longer crosses your mind again.
Hidden Valley Trail
One of the coolest trails was the Hidden Valley Trail. It’s only a mile loop, but the story is that back in the day, old cattle rustlers used to hide their stolen cattle here. Due to the valleys natural encasement and towering walls of rocks, they were completely hidden in the middle of nowhere. Now that’s one way to steal a cow.
Skull Rock
Skull Rock is a pretty popular 1.7 mile trail with this guy as the main focal point. It started out as rain drops accumulated in tiny depressions, and those started to erode the granite. When more rock eroded, more water accumulated until two hollowed out eye sockets formed. But I just like to think it’s haunted because that makes for a cooler story.
