15/02: Off to California
Category: General
Posted by: The Agnew Family
Joshua Tree National Park is about a two hour drive west of Quartzsite. Instead of moving the trailers or trying to make a day trip out of the visit we decided to make it a two day trip. Day one was driving to the park and visiting in the park staying overnight in Twenty-nine Palms at the north end of the park. The motel 6 was OK but the Mexican restaurant where we ate dinner was wonderful. Day two was driving back to Quartzsite via Palm Springs.
Joshua Tree National Park is a large and diverse park ... over 880,000 acres consisting of three ecosystems: the Colorado Desert (a western extension of the vast Sonoran Desert), the southern boundary of the Mojave Desert and the Little San Bernardino Mountains. Diversity of plants and animals comes with the ecosystems.
Driving in from the south brings you to Cottonwood Spring Oasis. Cottonwood trees and Fan Palm trees abound. The spring was the result of earthquake activity.
The palm trees reminded us of "Yeti" monsters on cartoons.
Cait and Zaph came along for the ride. Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed on any of the trails in the park. No, we didn't leave them tied to the fence while we went for a hike, they were tied up so Carol and I could take a few photos.
The Colorado Desert area of the park is full of mesquite, creosote bushes, ocotillo, cholla plus a number of other desert plants. This area is referred to as the Cholla Cactus Garden.
This area is the beginning the transition to the Mojave Desert. We are at a higher altitude, many of cacti have been replaced by Yucca plants and boulders replace rocky hills.
A Joshua Tree.
Erosion made the rocks into interesting shapes. This one is called Skull Rock.
Small piles of boulders are replaced with large hills of boulders.
I liked this fan formation.
As we continue to drive west and north through the park we see "forests" of Joshua Trees.
At the south western end of the park is Keys View in the Little San Bernardino Mountains. Junipers are the main plant life here. The cities of Palm Springs, Indio, etc can be seen from the view point along with the Salton Sea. We joked that this could be the new Pacific Coast line as we could see the ridge that marks the San Andres Fault.
Looking across the mountains.
Driving towards the north west exit of the park we stopped to hike the trail to the Barker Dam. Ranchers built this dam to create a water source for their cattle. Today there wasn't a drop of water to be seen.
Some great views along the trail.
Joshua Tree National Park is a large and diverse park ... over 880,000 acres consisting of three ecosystems: the Colorado Desert (a western extension of the vast Sonoran Desert), the southern boundary of the Mojave Desert and the Little San Bernardino Mountains. Diversity of plants and animals comes with the ecosystems.
Driving in from the south brings you to Cottonwood Spring Oasis. Cottonwood trees and Fan Palm trees abound. The spring was the result of earthquake activity.
The palm trees reminded us of "Yeti" monsters on cartoons.
Cait and Zaph came along for the ride. Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed on any of the trails in the park. No, we didn't leave them tied to the fence while we went for a hike, they were tied up so Carol and I could take a few photos.
The Colorado Desert area of the park is full of mesquite, creosote bushes, ocotillo, cholla plus a number of other desert plants. This area is referred to as the Cholla Cactus Garden.
This area is the beginning the transition to the Mojave Desert. We are at a higher altitude, many of cacti have been replaced by Yucca plants and boulders replace rocky hills.
A Joshua Tree.
Erosion made the rocks into interesting shapes. This one is called Skull Rock.
Small piles of boulders are replaced with large hills of boulders.
I liked this fan formation.
As we continue to drive west and north through the park we see "forests" of Joshua Trees.
At the south western end of the park is Keys View in the Little San Bernardino Mountains. Junipers are the main plant life here. The cities of Palm Springs, Indio, etc can be seen from the view point along with the Salton Sea. We joked that this could be the new Pacific Coast line as we could see the ridge that marks the San Andres Fault.
Looking across the mountains.
Driving towards the north west exit of the park we stopped to hike the trail to the Barker Dam. Ranchers built this dam to create a water source for their cattle. Today there wasn't a drop of water to be seen.
Some great views along the trail.