Joshua Tree National Park

 

One time I saw a tiny Joshua tree sapling growing not too far from the old tree. I wanted to dig it up and replant it near our house. I told Mom that I would protect it from the wind and water it every day so that it could grow nice and tall and straight. Mom frowned at me. "You'd be destroying what makes it special," she said. "It's the Joshua tree's struggle that gives it its beauty.”

Jeannette Walls

 

Even though I have lived in San Diego for over 30 years, I had never visited Joshua Tree National Park until last year.  It is only about 3 hours drive from San Diego, so it seems we might have visited it sooner, but somehow we had passed it by.  We took a weeks vacation in Palm Spring last year, and while there decided to drive over and check it out.  I really didn't know much about the park before we went, but figured it must be of some interest or it wouldn't have made it as a National Park.  I was pleasantly surprised.  We had a very enjoyable day exploring the park.  And it was only a short drive from Palm Springs.  Anyone visiting Palm Springs for any length of time should consider a day trip over to the park.


Joshua Tree in the park

Joshua Tree National Park in California is a rugged yet enchanting place. The park is named for the delightful Joshua tree.  What is a Joshua tree? It is also known as Yucca Brevifolia and is a member of the Agave family. When you find yourself surrounded by twisted, spiky trees straight out of a Dr. Seuss book, you will have found the Joshua tree.  The tree which is found in abundance here is known for its tough leaves which 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.

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,and beautiful landscape.

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.

Joshua Tree became a National Monument in 1936 and was upgraded to a National Park in 1994.  The park offers visitors lots of opportunities for exploration and discovery, depending on how much time you have to explore the park and what your interests are.

My dogs enjoying the park

Every visit should start with a stop at one of the visitor centers where park staff can help you plan your visit. There are 3 visitors centers in this park, plus a Nature Center.  If you only have a few hours to explore then you may want to confine your sightseeing to the main park roads.   There are many pullouts with wayside along these roads. In our case we were forced to limit ourselves to the main roads, because we had our 2 dogs with us.  Baxter and Sadie accompany us on many of our road travels, and they are allowed in the parks, but their activities are restricted.  They must be on a leash at all times and cannot be more than 100 feet from a road, picnic area, or campground and they are prohibited from any of the trails.

Large Rock Formations in the park

If you have a full day to spend in the park you will have time to explore some of the hiking trails.  There are many ranger programs, which includes hikes with rangers, where they explain about the geology and nature of the area.  There are guided walking tours of Keys Ranch, which is a historical ranch in the park.  On this tour you explore the colorful story and numerous artifacts of this Mojave Desert historical site.  If you are into mountain biking, the park offers an extensive network of dirt roads that make for less crowded and safer cycling than the paved main roads.  And the park is very popular with rock climbers, if that is your thing.  The park has ten mountains greater that 5,000 feet in elevation.  When we were there we just enjoyed watching some of the rock climbers.  There are lots of interesting rock formations.

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.

We spotted this coyote while in the park

If you have more than one day to spend in the park then you might want to stay in the park.  There are nine campgrounds in the park, plus backcountry camping is permitted. 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. For more information about the campgrounds, go to: www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/camping.htm



Skull Rock, in Joshua Tree NP

The park is always open and  may be visited anytime of year. 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 degrees, not the best time to visit. Fall and winter bring cooler days with fall's temperatures in the 80s and winter in the 60s. Visitation increases as temperatures moderate in the fall, peaks during spring wildflower season, and diminishes during the heat of summer.  There are entrance fees, but as with all National Parks, they accept the National Park passes, and senior passes.  For information on the passes and the fees, go to  http://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/feesandreservations.htm  

Joshua Tree National Park is an interesting park to visit.  It is different than other parks that we have visited, and we enjoyed our day of exploring it.  If you are in the area, you should definitly check it out.  It does make a nice day trip from Palm Springs.  We also visited a ghost town that was between Palm Springs and the park, and that made a nice stop along the way.

Old West Town near Joshua Tree NP

A note of caution: The desert, fascinating as it is, can be life-threatening for those unfamiliar with its potential dangers. It is essential that you carry water with you-even if you are only driving through.   In the summer it can get quite hot.  Even in the winter, which is when we visited, the temperatures were in the low 80's.