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Joshua
Tree National Park
Joshua Tree first gained protection in 1936 as a national monument. The
region had remained fairly pristine, well protected by its remote location
and harsh climate. Miners and homesteaders had been nibbling at the region's
acreage for over 50 years without much impact on the natural
scenery. A few hardy souls settled amidst the jumbled rocks, able to survive
by finding natural dams or building their own tiny reservoirs. Others
clustered, as Native Americans did before them, around the region's handful
of oases, especially OASES OF MARA at what is now the park's northeastern
entrance point. Fortunately for "JT" (as rock climbers and other
frequent visitors now call it), the desert was too rugged, too dry, too
spiny, and too rocky to attract much interest beyond that shown by adventuresome
sightseers. Drawn to the beauty of its balding rocks, awkward-looking
trees, and fascinating mix of flora from both low desert (the Colorado,
below 3,000 feet) and the high desert (the Mojave), they wandered here
then for the same reasons that now draw visitors from around the world.
Recently the park has seen increased visitor interest. JT gained the added
cachet of national park status in 1994 with the passage of the Desert
Protection Act, and the popularity of ROCK CLIMBING here has caused its
legions of winter visitors to soar to the point that it can be difficult
to find a campsite during the cooler season, November through May.
The Protection Act brought more to Joshua Tree than a new name. Wilderness
acreage ex-panded to 630,000 acres, bringing the total park acreage to
794,000, or about 1,237 square miles (about the same size as Yosemite
National Park). Despite its vastness, the park has a road system so simple
and limited (about 100 paved miles connecting three main entry points)
that you can drive it in a single day or less. Unfortunately, virtually
all park visitors are on or near these few roads, especially in spring
(March and April), when the wildflowers bloom.
Don't get the idea that Joshua Tree is a queue of cars, however. Its remote
location and harsh weather extremes will always assure some elbow room,
even along Park Boulevard where it skirts Wonderland of Rocks. Visitors
must pay $10 per vehicle admission at one of three entry
points: West Entrance Station near the town of Joshua Tree, North Entrance
Station on Utah Trail near Twentynine Palms, and the Cottonwood Spring
entry 22 miles east of Indio.
A one-day drive will take you past miles of interesting ROCK FORMATIONS,
many swarming with rock climbers. Hikers enjoy the BARKER DAM TRAIL near
HIDDEN VALLEY CAMPGROUND, an easy path through boulders that leads to
a rockbound pool built at the turn of the century. The DESERT QUEEN RANCH
(760/367-5555) offers ranger-led tours for
a small fee. Make plans to join one by inquiring at park entrance stations
or calling the above number. The Ranch is now a fascinating ghost town-like
ruin that showcases the incredible ingenuity and resourcefulness of Bill
Keys as he raised his family here in the early 1900s.
CAMPING has become so popular at Joshua Tree, because of all the winter
rock climbing activity, that it can be difficult to get a site. Be sure
to contact JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK (74485 National Park Drive, Twentynine
Palms, CA 92277 by mail, or phone 800/365-2267 or 760/367-5500) in advance
for park information. Most camping in the park is first come, first served,
but you may reserve a spot at Indian Cove, Black Rock, and Cottonwood.
There are no accommodations inside the park, nor can you buy food, gasoline,
or any other supplies.
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