Explore a National Park unique for its desert environment and vegetation.
Joshua Tree National Park is known for its Joshua trees (obviously). The park is also a great place to go hiking in the desert. Joshua Tree has two deserts, the higher Mojave Desert (home to Joshua trees and cooler temperatures) and the lower Colorado Desert. I explored a small portion of the Mojave Desert part of the park.
The Mojave Desert and Joshua trees.
Joshua Tree is not a park to explore in the summer. I visited in early October, and it was still reaching the 80s. Joshua trees can be found over much of the open spaces of the park, but even different kinds of pine trees can sometimes be found. Joshua trees are not actually trees, but a kind of yucca. Mountains and interesting rock formations can also be found here.
The Joshua trees here are a bit different than the ones point at the Mojave National Preserve (which actually has the largest Joshua tree forest in the world).
Joshua trees serve as habitats for many awesome looking birds that I cannot identify.
More Joshua trees and some of those interesting rock formations.
A desert so full of life.
Some Joshua trees can get pretty big and even crazier looking.
This area suffered a lightening caused wildfire in 1999. Park biologists are watching the area to prevent the spread of invasive plants into this area. Non-native plants increase the destruction from wildfires and damage the environment for native plants.
This was just an awesome shot. I didn’t park in the road, I just stood in the middle.
One of the great views of the park that you don’t have to hike to is Keys View. So pretty.
A bit more of Keys View.
Native peoples inhabited the land for thousands of years, but the cattle ranchers moved in in the 1870s. The park even has a history of cattle rustlers hiding out here. I hiked the Baker Dam trail, one of the many remnants of cattle ranching in the area.
The first thing I saw from the parking at the Baker Dam trailhead was a coyote. Seeing wildlife in random areas in national parks is not uncommon. The best way to see wildlife on a trail is to be quiet and not talk loudly.
I also got to see this little guy from the parking lot.
Such a pretty desert view. It ended up raining a lot the next few days after I left.
Some more of those interesting rock formations, including some of those elusive park pine trees. There used to be much more pine trees in the area before the ranchers showed up and chopped them down.
These rocks look like they are from a cartoon.
The Barker Dam trail went through some of these rock formations to a natural depression.
When it rains, this area fills with water which was dammed by ranchers.
The original dam here was built in 1900 by C. O. Barker, a miner and cattleman. The current one was improved by William “Bill” Keys, a rancher in 1949-1950. He named it the Big Horn Dam.
Really pretty view from the dam though.
From the dam, I got to see this little guy eating away.
And also, a bunny. It’s amazing how much wildlife you see when the trails are quiet. It was soon ruined by a loud family.
The trail continued through a less rocky and more sandy area.
Also on the trail are some petroglyphs that some idiot thought it was a good idea to paint over so you could see them better. Don’t ever do this.
I drove through the park a bit. I couldn’t stay long because I had a long drive home, but I got to see some great views along the way.
I love the Joshua trees, mountains and clouds in the photo.
Alongside one of the park’s main roads was this extremely tall Joshua tree. I included the RV for a size comparison.
I couldn’t leave Joshua Tree National Park without seeing some more interesting rock formations.
And then there is Skull Rock, which is just strange.
I only spent a few hours in Joshua Tree National Park, and I loved it. There are so many great trails, views and Joshua trees to explore. I can’t wait until I go back to see some more, especially since I never made it to the lower Colorado Desert area of the park.
Check out my next update where I visit a ghost town in Nevada!
