joshua tree backpacking

Guide. On 29 Palms HWY, Joshua Tree Coffee Company, is a little hidden behind Pie for the People. Gaiters – optional, but good for keeping sand and dirt out of your shoes. Hi Dean! Joshua Tree Backpacking Overview. On the National Park's website for Joshua tree there's a reference to a shuttle but I couldn't confirm if it's currently active or what the schedule would be. Given its proximity to Greater Los Angeles, this desert park is never not busy. Joshua Tree is just a few hours’ drive from Los Angeles, and there are plenty of reasons to make the trip. Choose-your-own adventure. Hat – a brimmed hat to keep the sun off your face, and a beanie to keep you warm at night. In Joshua Tree even if you find water you can’t legally drink it as it is preserved for desert wildlife. Even on a beautiful 70 degree day the dry heat and relentless sun can really pull your energy. Hi Alicia, we didn’t cache any food. Portable cooking stoves are fine though. You could definitely make this a three-night trek. Joshua Tree Winters. Water – You’ll need to carry extra water and prepare water caches as there are no water sources alone the trail. Beautiful views of the Mojave desert landscape. There is a ranger station at Black Rock Canyon campground.. Looks amazing with anything I wear and is so durable!! Unless you plan to hike out and back you’ll need two vehicles. She currently lives in Santa Barbara where she is practicing yoga, whipping up some tasty vegetarian food, and working as a guide leading kayaking, hiking, and biking. There are 13 backcountry registration boars throughout the park and you can also find information here. There is a kiosk where you can fill out your backcountry permit and be on the trail in no time at all! (hint-hint). Keys View Road marks your half-way point. Trip Report. It’s my go-to bag for work and work trips. Third night of backpacking in Joshua Tree. The town of Joshua Tree itself, is way cool, and I highly recommend you include a pre-trip final planning session or post-trip celebration in town in your itinerary! The trail circles the main rock outcrop; as you walk, admire the precariously-balanced Cap Rock, perched on top of the main outcrop. Day 1. There is a Visitor Center at both of those entrances. Map with compass maps are free from the National Park! I get tons of compliments, almost anywhere I go out in public. If you visit the NP visitor center before starting they can give you a slightly more detailed map or you can purchase a guidebook. The trail circles the main rock outcrop; as you walk, admire the precariously-balanced Cap Rock, perched on top of the main … Vegetarian cafe open 7-7 daily with vegan options available, tons of great smoothies and juices too! Cheers. I created a customized topo map but it doesn’t really jive with this route. Joshua Tree Backpacking: The California Hiking & Riding Trail Save this post on Pinterest Written by Ryan Moore About the author: Ryan is the man behind CityBoy Adventures, an organization established to expose urban youth to wilderness careers and inspire everyday people to get outside and get after it. Backpackers.com — As spring comes to a sweltering close we wanted to highlight one of the better places, hikes, and vibes in California. Backpackers need to register for a free permit at a backcountry board. In this article we outline our favorite hikes in the park, as well as all the information you’ll need to plan your adventure to Joshua Tree. Go PRO to support our mission and get benefits like gear deals, no ads, and more! This is a great backpacking trip for first timers as the terrain is fairly flat. Meet your guide on day one, and travel to your own front country campsite, already set up with everything you need, right down to the firewood. Sunscreen – the desert sun can be brutal even if it doesn’t seem super hot, protect your skin! For backpackers with thin blood, autumn and spring may be better seasons for Joshua Tree explorations. It is possible in this section to take a side trail to summit Quail Mountain, the highest mountain in Joshua Tree National Park at 5,813 feet. Hike from Black Rock Canyon trailhead to 4 miles past Upper Covington Flats and camp without water. Kim is a former principal who quit her job to solo hike all 2,650 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail. Don’t miss Jumbled Rocks which resembles tons of rocks stacked on one another almost like a building. In this journey, you’ll backpack through the rolling expanses of the Mojave Desert and rock climb boulders and tangled granite, which seem to rise from the earth. Joshua Tree National Park is perfect for beginner backpackers because all you have to do is grab a backcountry permit at the trailhead and walk a measly 1 mile to all the dispersed camping you can imagine. Backpackers are required to register at the backcountry board for overnight wilderness trips. When you hike in Joshua Tree, there are no water sources available to visitors of the park. If you do chose to camp in any of the designated campgrounds there is a fee. Then do the actual hike? Campfires are prohibited outside of government-provided fire rings. Finden Sie perfekte Stock-Fotos zum Thema Hiking Joshua Tree sowie redaktionelle Newsbilder von Getty Images. I love my Joshua Tree Minimalist BackPack! Additionally, I will get a free California Fire Permit so that I can operate any stove in the backcountry, including Jetboils and other backpacking stoves that use pressurized fuel. Quail Mountain is the tallest peak in Joshua Tree National Park. Joshua Tree National Park gets its name from the Joshua tree that grows here, a pitchfork-like pine whose prongs point skyward like the trees found in a children’s story. Disclosure: The links in this post are affiliate links which means if you make a purchase, I receive a tiny bit of compensation at no added cost to you. I haven’t been to Joshua Tree in 18 years and am taking my boy and two nephews and this hike is perfect. If you ever have any questions about any of the products featured on my site, please email me. There are 67 moderate trails in Joshua Tree National Park ranging from 0.8 to 25.8 miles and from 1,476 to 5,813 feet above sea level. Honestly, I stop every time I am in town just to check out the sale racks. It has ample bouldering terrain, as well as a wealth of geologic oddities found nowhere … We only cached water & we just tired the empty water bottles to our bags to carry out. The park itself spans almost 800,000 acres at the point where two deserts (the Colorado and Mojave) meet. Backcountry campsites must be at least one mile from any trailhead or road. Below you’ll find a description of each of the four sections the National Park Service commonly breaks the Joshua Tree section of the California Hiking & Riding Trail into. Pinto Basin is geographically famous as it connects the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts. Average Winter temps in Joshua Tree: 60s during the day / 30s at night, Average Summer temps in Joshua Tree: Can exceed 100F during the day / low 70s at night. Of the four entrances to Joshua Tree National Park, entering via the West Entrance carries with it the significant advantage of taking you by the park's largest visitor center, located outside the park in the town of Joshua Tree. Explore the most popular backpacking trails in Joshua Tree National Park with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. I’m really happy we camped at Ryan Campground as numerous car and RV campers offered us beers that evening! This magical place, studded with palm oases, natural springs, and open desert plains, is just waiting to be discovered. Get the America the Beautiful Annual Park pass and save on entrance fees! Can you explain more about caching water? Explorer Top Contributor. Great views on a moderate desert hike. I recommend dropping caches at the following locations: Ryan Campground & Belle Campground. Kristen. Just 0.8 miles from the trail is Ryan Campground where we camped our first night. (hint-hint). The insider. Logistics of backpacking in Joshua Tree As a desert at 4,000 feet elevation, Joshua Tree is an extreme environment year-round. You will find a short side trail to Belle Campground. Explorer. Arguably the most unique pizza joint I’ve ever been too. In other words…she’s a badass. And in case you forgot any gear or food for the trail, Nomad Ventures has you covered. Taylor. Please make sure to pick up your containers and not leave them–it can get windy in JTree so you need to pack them out with you when you are hiking. January 25, 2019. Equally iconic within the park are the Mojave’s monzogranite outcroppings, also found on this side of the park. The CRHT takes you through some of the most remote parts of Joshua Tree, away from the crowds, and does it using gentle trails ideal for backpacking. Bearfoot Theory / Outdoor Adventure Blog / Backpacking Trips Blogs / Joshua Tree Backpacking: The California Hiking & Riding Trail, While most people go to Joshua Tree for day hiking, bouldering, and climbing, Kim Vawter, Bearfoot Theory’s former Community Manager, discovered there is wonderful backpacking in Joshua Tree on the 35 mile California Hiking and Riding Trail. We're committed to building a better, more inclusive home for the modern outdoors. If possible, you can stash water near drive-in access roads that cross the trail or vehicle-accessed campsites so that you don’t need to hike far to cache water. All of these locations are accessible by a vehicle. Backpackers are required to park and register at designated backcountry registration boards With elevations ranging from 900 feet to more than 5,000 feet, the park includes both Mojave and Colorado desert plant communities. My Joshua Tree backpacking trip began at the end of Upper Covington Flat Road, which you can find here on Google Maps. Our 4-day Joshua Tree National Park Backpacking trip traverses the most stunning parts of the park. save. This is also where you are supposed to park your car. Perhaps the biggest attraction is the magical desert landscape itself, with its unusual cacti, imposing boulders, and rocky mountains—and what better way to experience it than by hiking through the middle of it? Explore the uncanny landscape of Joshua Tree National Park with a 4.5-hour van tour from Palm Desert, near Palm Springs. Joshua Tree backpackers can self-register for free at 13 different trailheads. One great thing about the California Hiking and Riding Trail is you can easily cowboy camp (camping without a tent), backcountry camp, or camp in campgrounds along the trail. Hi John, the map provided is a copy of the Joshua Tree National Park map, you can see the CRHT in green but unfortunately they don’t denote enough on the NPS route the individual stops. 1 comment. As a desert at 4,000 feet elevation, Joshua Tree is an extreme environment year-round. In this new post, Kim shares all of the details you need to make this Joshua Tree backpacking … They have the best vanilla latte I’ve ever had. Layers – while the days may be warm (t-shirt) it can be cold at night. After reading your post, I realize that I’ve only scratched the surface. You can obtain a The only tough … Joshua Tree National Park: what to bring . It’s a dominant visual across the National Park’s desert landscape. Carry at least six liters of water per person per day. Joshua Tree is possibly most well known for its rock climbing, which is world class, but the features that make for great climbing - stunning granite monoliths and mazes - are also partly what makes it such a great trekking destination. The best backpacking in Joshua Tree is found within these isolated lands, where hikers hop from one desert campsite to the next. Is the only option to drive there, do the hike without a backpack stashing water along the way, and get out again? There are no developed trails to the summit, thus navigation can be tricky. From Keys View trailhead the trail is incredibly flat and it’s 6.5 miles to Geology Tour Rd. This section includes a 1,000 foot uphill climb, which is the steepest elevation gain for the entire trail. save. At Bearfoot Theory, she runs our editorial calendar, and helps us deliver top-notch goods. Joshua Tree National Park: what to bring . Learn More. In this journey, you’ll backpack through the rolling expanses of the Mojave Desert and rock climb boulders and tangled granite, which seem to rise from the earth. February 21, 2019 / Annie Hopfensperger / Comment. You can even camp right next to the park’s signature Joshua Trees and giant rock piles. Just had to post that I just finished this hike last week using all the info from this site (including all the town/food recs (hit them all). Trail runners should be prepared for packed sand, some very minor technical moves over rocks/boulders AND areas with very sandy/rocky washes. 98. 0 comments. We provide that map as a general outline of where the trail is in the park. –Jetpack. In all the time we’ve lived in Southern California, this was our first time backpacking Joshua Tree. Joshua Tree Excursions is a private guiding service offering day hikes, camping trips, and night sky presentations inside Joshua Tree National Park. Towards the end you’ll see a small hill which you summit. I chose to hike the trail in 3 days which is an average of 12 miles a day. Choose-your-own adventure. From Pinto Basin Road  you’ll begin traveling north. Additionally, I will get a free California Fire Permit so that I can operate any stove in the backcountry, including Jetboils and other backpacking stoves that use pressurized fuel. Joshua Tree National Park can be a tough cookie to crack. For backpackers with thin blood, autumn and spring may be better seasons for Joshua Tree explorations. There’s no avoiding the entrance free: every group entering Joshua will need to purchase admission at $30 per vehicle for a 7-day period. About Community. For our last night in the Park, we headed to Cottonwood Spring for a taste of the second type of desert - Colorado desert. Once you hit the Geology Tour Rd. Equally iconic within the park are the Mojave’s monzogranite outcroppings, also found on this side of the park. Tremendous advice. 85% of the park is managed as wilderness, so you have the freedom to backpack pretty much wherever you want. share. Backpacking in Joshua Tree. We’ll load our packs with water and food and hike to our cache—essential for the second leg of our expedition. This writeup is appreciated but confusing because the points mentioned don’t align with the points listed on the NPS map that is shown. Joshua Tree National Park, with its contorted trees and boulder-strewn landscape, is one of Southern California’s strangest and most beautiful regions. Earlier this year, for Valentine's Day, we finally had our first full and successful night in the backcountry of Joshua Tree. Explorer. Joshua Tree Winters. Yes, it’s a desert, but it’s so beautiful… trees, boulders, wildflowers, blue skies… I was surprised by how beautiful the scenery was. There is no water to be found along the trail but the trail intersects with roads at a couple of points which are good spots to cache water. Any suggestions? There are 13 backcountry registration boars throughout the park and you can also find information here. Enjoy the comfort of an air-conditioned van or SUV as you navigate soaring granite formations and groves of the park’s famously spiky trees, and capture unforgettable images of terrain that spans the Colorado and Mojave deserts. Over veterans day weekend I wanted to plan a little two day 1-night backpacking trip that wasn't too far a drive from San Diego. Follow Kim on Instagram. Backpacking Hiking Easy Parking Romantic Scenic Wildflowers Wildlife Go Pro. Do you leave containers and drive back after to pick things up? Go PRO to support our mission and get benefits like gear deals, no ads, and more! #2 - Boy Scout Trail To Willow Hole Extended Route. This is the only section of the trail where we did struggle a bit in finding and following the trail. Day 1. Joshua Tree is also a destination for climbers. Next you’ll climb again to above 5,000 feet with views over Juniper Flats. The starting trailhead for the California Hiking and Riding Trail section that traverses Joshua Tree National Park is located in Black Rock campground. I live a couple of hundred miles away. 138. #5 - Conejo Well and Eagle Mountains Trail. This is an excellent choice for a fall/winter running or walking trail. We didn’t see a sign for the side trail to Quail Mountain so I recommend you ask a Park Ranger before leaving or carry a good map if interested. Backpacking in Joshua Tree is super easy: There is no need to reserve a permit ahead of time, just filling out a self registration form at the entrance of each trail will suffice. We did a lot of hikes/walks around Hidden Valley and Desert Queen Ranch, but we have to do more in the southern part of the park! For those asking about more detailed maps, I used Alltrails app (they have the CHRT specifically) in addition to the NatGeo paper map. We did a lot of hikes/walks around Hidden Valley and Desert Queen Ranch, but we have to do more in the southern part of the park! Reviews Rate this Adventure. Madison Sankovitz. The trails in Joshua Tree seldom intersect in ways that are conducive to making loops. From the Black Rock Canyon trailhead you’ll hike 7.75 miles through scrubland and a large wash to the Upper Covington Flats trailhead. 3 8 83. I hiked this trail in February 2016 in preparation for my Pacific Crest Trail hike. Starting in the famous Wonderland Of Rocks, we’ll hike through these surreal rock formations, and travel overland to the western edge of the park. Campfire and pets are not allowed in the backcountry. Reviews Rate this Adventure. Joshua Tree is probably my favorite national park – I haven’t visited them all, but I’ve been to Joshua Tree in January and April and the landscape is just breathtaking! Photo by Race Jones. In the spring, abundant wildflowers and cacti bloom along the trail, adding color to the stark landscape. Cottonwood Spring is known as one of the most scenic spots in the Park because it’s actually the only part of the desert where you see Palm Trees intermixed among the cacti. Drop us an email @ contact@bearfoottheory.com if you need further clarification. Drive down towards Keys View during dusk hours. Trekking pole(s) – optional for this trail since the terrain is flat and not rocky. We had attemped to #OptOutside on Black Friday with REI folks last year, but ended up having to leave before midnight due to the freezing temperatures. I get tons of compliments, almost anywhere I go out in public. Minimalist – Brooklyn I absolutely LOVE mine!! While most people go to Joshua Tree for day hiking, bouldering, and climbing, Kim Vawter, Bearfoot Theory’s former Community Manager, discovered there is wonderful backpacking in Joshua Tree on the 35 mile California Hiking and Riding Trail. The Joshua trees, twisted and bent against the rocky desert backdrop, look like something out of a Dr. Seuss book. I am interested in flying in from out of town to hike the CHRT in late February and would want to leave my rental vehicle at the end (North Entrance Station) and get a ride to the beginning of the trail (Black Rock Campground). Firstly, what a beautiful place. Park one vehicle at the North Entrance Station, your final destination, and use the second vehicle to drive West back to the Black Rock campground where you’ll start the trail. After reading your post, I realize that I’ve only scratched the surface. Thanks! Joshua Tree Excursions is a private guiding service offering day hikes, camping trips, and night sky presentations inside Joshua Tree National Park. This was my favorite part of the California Hiking and Riding Trail as unique rock formations will begin appearing along the trail. 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