Is the only option to drive there, do the hike without a backpack stashing water along the way, and get out again? While it does cost $25 per car to enter Joshua Tree National Park, there is no additional fee for nightly backcountry camping in Joshua Tree. Sunscreen – the desert sun can be brutal even if it doesn’t seem super hot, protect your skin! We only cached water & we just tired the empty water bottles to our bags to carry out. Experience Joshua Tree like few do. 4 4. comments. The California Hiking and Riding Trail was originally envisioned in 1945 as a 3,000+ mile trek from the Mexico/US border to Oregon. 85% of the park is managed as wilderness, so you have the freedom to backpack pretty much wherever you want. 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. When you hike in Joshua Tree, there are no water sources available to visitors of the park. Next you’ll climb again to above 5,000 feet with views over Juniper Flats. Zip-off “convertible” hiking pants – on a hot day you can hike in shorts, if the weather changes or at night, you’ll be glad of the option to wear full-length pants. Thanks to these features, Joshua Tree’s most notable hiking destinations rest in the west. They have the best vanilla latte I’ve ever had. Backpackers are required to register at the backcountry board for overnight wilderness trips. Hi Steve, thanks for the question. 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). This magical place, studded with palm oases, natural springs, and open desert plains, is just waiting to be discovered. Carry at least six liters of water per person per day. If you want to hike the trail in 2 days you’d hike Section 1 & 2 on Day 1 then Section 3 & 4 on Day 2, and you’d average about 18 miles a day. I recommend a base layer merino wool t-shirt with a sun protection long sleeve for the day and merino wool leggings and long-sleeve top and jacket for nights. There is no fee for backcountry camping in Joshua Tree. 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. There are 13 backcountry registration boars throughout the park and you can also find information here. 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. Joshua Tree National Park: what to bring . 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! Some of the more beautiful areas were the valleys covered in Joshua Trees surrounded by boulders . 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. Firstly, what a beautiful place. In other words…she’s a badass. It is important to tag your cache with the date you plan to use it along with your name and email/telephone number so that park rangers can contact you if they need to remove your cache. Logistics of backpacking in Joshua Tree As a desert at 4,000 feet elevation, Joshua Tree is an extreme environment year-round. There is a Visitor Center at both of those entrances. Backpackers.com — As spring comes to a sweltering close we wanted to highlight one of the better places, hikes, and vibes in California. This section begins rather flat then has a slight loss of elevation as you drop into a valley and cross several dry washes. This trail may be short, but take your time getting to know it. Now, I am just waiting for a matching large day pack! We are grateful for your support of our site in this way. Campfires are prohibited outside of government-provided fire rings. I love my Joshua Tree Minimalist BackPack! Yes, caching water does mean stashing water along the trail beforehand so that it’s available during your hike. save. You could definitely make this a three-night trek. Personal first-aid kit – for minor scrapes and blisters. Quail Mountain is the tallest peak in Joshua Tree National Park. The 35 mile stretch that traverses Joshua Tree can easily be done in a single weekend (2-4 days). It has ample bouldering terrain, as well as a wealth of geologic oddities found nowhere … Go PRO to support our mission and get benefits like gear deals, no ads, and more! I live a couple of hundred miles away. 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. On both occasions I encountered winds up to 60 m.p.h. And in case you forgot any gear or food for the trail, Nomad Ventures has you covered. Joshua Tree is also a destination for climbers. 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. #8 - California Riding and Hiking Trail: Keys View Road to Pinto Basin Road, #9 - Porcupine Wash to Monument Mountain Trail, Boy Scout Trail To Willow Hole Extended Route, California Riding and Hiking Trail: Keys View Road to Pinto Basin Road, Porcupine Wash to Monument Mountain Trail. Gaiters – optional, but good for keeping sand and dirt out of your shoes. This writeup is appreciated but confusing because the points mentioned don’t align with the points listed on the NPS map that is shown. The insider. Once you hit the Geology Tour Rd. 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. Here is how I broke the trail into 3 days: Day 1: Follow Kim on Instagram. Jul 8 Backpacking Boy Scout Trail - Joshua Tree National Park. There are unique challenges to backpacking in Joshua Tree that go hand-in-hand with its unique rewards. Day 3: Tremendous advice. Cheers. 98. I created a customized topo map but it doesn’t really jive with this route. We will only ever share honest, unbiased reviews. Backpackers are required to park and register at designated backcountry registration boards Temperatures are ideal from fall through spring, and wildflowers bloom from February to April, depending on elevation. Hi Dean! * You can not add any links to your comment as was previously mentioned above, Joshua Tree Backpacking: The California Hiking & Riding Trail, Best Joshua Tree Hikes for First-time Visitors, Desert Backpacking Tips for your first Southwest Adventure, Back to Basics: Hiking 101 Tips for Beginners, The Ultimate Saguaro National Park Outdoor Adventure Guide, Snow & Sun: 12 Winter Destinations for Outdoor Adventure, Best Hikes in Lassen Volcanic National Park, How to Plan Your Pacific Crest Trail Resupply Strategy, Best Joshua Tree Hikes for First-Time Visitors. Looks amazing with anything I wear and is so durable!! In Joshua Tree even if you find water you can’t legally drink it as it is preserved for desert wildlife. 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. Honestly, I stop every time I am in town just to check out the sale racks. Day 1. Beautiful views of the Mojave desert landscape. You can mark a nearby shrub with a string (remember to pick up the string with your water), take a photo of the area, write directions to keep, or take a GPS waypoint of your cache. Trekking pole(s) – optional for this trail since the terrain is flat and not rocky. Reviews Rate this Adventure. Map with compass maps are free from the National Park! 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. Even on a beautiful 70 degree day the dry heat and relentless sun can really pull your energy. 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. Do you leave containers and drive back after to pick things up? We provide that map as a general outline of where the trail is in the park. share. The California Hiking and Riding Trail in Joshua Tree divides into 4 sections. Vegetarian cafe open 7-7 daily with vegan options available, tons of great smoothies and juices too! The hike sounds amazing! Backpackers are required to park and register at designated backcountry registration boards Join the community. February 21, 2019 / Annie Hopfensperger / Comment. It features portions of the Colorado and Mojave Deserts, and has a sprawling wilderness area that stretches across more than half the park. Taylor. Bringing your own equipment? 3 8 83. I’m really happy we camped at Ryan Campground as numerous car and RV campers offered us beers that evening! You’ll need to either carry enough water for the entire trail (not recommended) or drop water caches BEFORE you start hiking. The trail continues traveling downhill from Lost Horse Valley to Keys View trailhead. Don’t forget to pack your keys for the car at the end ! Backpacking Hiking Easy Parking Romantic Scenic Wildflowers Wildlife Go Pro. Given its proximity to Greater Los Angeles, this desert park is never not busy. 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). Joshua Tree is just a few hours’ drive from Los Angeles, and there are plenty of reasons to make the trip. Note: Links in this post may be affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, we will earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase. It’s a dominant visual across the National Park’s desert landscape. Kim is a former principal who quit her job to solo hike all 2,650 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail. There is no fee for backcountry camping in Joshua Tree. For those asking about more detailed maps, I used Alltrails app (they have the CHRT specifically) in addition to the NatGeo paper map. Temperatures are ideal from fall through spring, and wildflowers bloom from February to April, depending on elevation. The trail moves from open desert through washes, single-track hills and bajadas... and is very well marked (but pay attention). The park itself spans almost 800,000 acres at the point where two deserts (the Colorado and Mojave) meet. 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! Joshua Tree Winters. Madison Sankovitz. How do you cache food and water so that critters don’t get into it and you don’t add weight from containers? It is the desert so make sure you have sufficient water. From Keys View trailhead the trail is incredibly flat and it’s 6.5 miles to Geology Tour Rd. At Bearfoot Theory, she runs our editorial calendar, and helps us deliver top-notch goods. Hike roughly 8 miles to Ryan Campground. Wählen Sie aus erstklassigen Inhalten zum Thema Hiking Joshua Tree in höchster Qualität. 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! Once you start descending you’ll enter Juniper Flats where you will start to see the infamous Joshua Trees that the park is named for. 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. 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). January 25, 2019. Trail runners should be prepared for packed sand, some very minor technical moves over rocks/boulders AND areas with very sandy/rocky washes. The Joshua trees, twisted and bent against the rocky desert backdrop, look like something out of a Dr. Seuss book. Campfire and pets are not allowed in the backcountry. You’ll want to do this either the morning you plan to start or the day before. I rented a car and headed straight to Joshua Tree Outfitters to pick up a fuel canister for my MSR PocketRocket stove. Explorer Top Contributor. Joshua Tree Outfitters did not disappoint--the guys working … 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. I haven’t been to Joshua Tree in 18 years and am taking my boy and two nephews and this hike is perfect. Backpacking in Joshua Tree: The California Hiking and Riding Trail. Layers – while the days may be warm (t-shirt) it can be cold at night. The CRHT is best hiked west to east starting at Black Rock Canyon campground. You can even camp right next to the park’s signature Joshua Trees and giant rock piles. Explorer Top Contributor. Explore the uncanny landscape of Joshua Tree National Park with a 4.5-hour van tour from Palm Desert, near Palm Springs. 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. Campfire and pets are not allowed in the backcountry. If you are looking for an off-season backpacking trip in Southern California, the California Hiking & Riding Trail is a great one to add to your backpacking bucketlist! Additionally, is it possible to make this a three NIGHT trek and the last day we scoot out of the backcountry and to the Palm Springs airport? Joshua Tree is located in a transition zone between two different deserts. In more than a decade living in the area, Ethan Peck has probed every inch of J-Tree, a national park larger than Rhode Island.His guide service, Joshua Tree Adventures, specializes in taking visitors hiking in the less popular parts of the park.Sign us up. In the spring, abundant wildflowers and cacti bloom along the trail, adding color to the stark landscape. 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. You will find a short side trail to Belle Campground. There are three official entrances to the park–the West Entrance, the North Entrance, and the South Entrance. If you are also spending time in Palm Springs, then the Parker Palm Springs is a great option. 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. Don’t miss Jumbled Rocks which resembles tons of rocks stacked on one another almost like a building. For backpackers with thin blood, autumn and spring may be better seasons for Joshua Tree explorations. 0 comments. Backpacking in Joshua Tree. Joshua Tree National Park is aptly named after the tree-like succulents with stemless pointed leaves that only grow in a small swath of the Mojave Desert in California. Unless you plan to hike out and back you’ll need two vehicles. share. This is the desert, so use common sense, consider what time of year you are going to attempt the hike, and bring much more water then you think you will need. Pinto Basin is geographically famous as it connects the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts. Trip Report. Now, I am just waiting for a matching large day pack! If you visit the NP visitor center before starting they can give you a slightly more detailed map or you can purchase a guidebook. 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. This was my favorite part of the California Hiking and Riding Trail as unique rock formations will begin appearing along the trail. 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. Backpacking in Joshua Tree. There are unique challenges to backpacking in Joshua Tree that go hand-in-hand with its unique rewards. Joshua Tree National Park is aptly named after the tree-like succulents with stemless pointed leaves that only grow in a small swath of the Mojave Desert in California. The trails in Joshua Tree seldom intersect in ways that are conducive to making loops. Tour groups coming to Joshua Tree National Park must abide by park regulations and safety guidelines. You can obtain a January 25, 2019. Joshua Tree Wilderness was established in 1976 by The United States Congress and was later expanded by the California Desert Protection Act of 1994. Equally iconic within the park are the Mojave’s monzogranite outcroppings, also found on this side of the park. Facebook 0 Twitter Reddit Pinterest 0 0 Likes. Keep in mind, it is possible to drive directly to Upper Covington Flats, if you are short on time or don’t want to hike the first section. Explorer. For our last night in the Park, we headed to Cottonwood Spring for a taste of the second type of desert - Colorado desert. With camp set up and group gear distributed, it’s time for sunset atop … After reading your post, I realize that I’ve only scratched the surface. Their nitro cold brew is also not to be missed. Minimalist – Brooklyn I absolutely LOVE mine!! Looks amazing with anything I wear and is so durable!! DIFFICULTY LEVEL 4 Our difficulty ratings are based on a scale of 1-5, tours with a rating of 1 being least difficult, tours with a rating of 5 being most difficult. Backpacking Hiking Easy Parking Romantic Scenic Wildflowers Wildlife Go Pro. 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. The city also has many other great hotels for every budget and we would recommend it as an excellent base if you are planning a Joshua Tree day trip from Palm Springs. 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. With elevations ranging from 900 feet to more than 5,000 feet, the park includes both Mojave and Colorado desert plant communities. A water cache is water that you hide in a strategic location to be picked up later on in your hike. It’s my go-to bag for work and work trips. 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. Any purchases you make help keep this blog going…so thanks for all of your support! The Full Moon rising over the JTree village. Read More. –Jetpack. 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. From the Black Rock Canyon trailhead you’ll hike 7.75 miles through scrubland and a large wash to the Upper Covington Flats trailhead. Spend two, three, four or even six nights in your own desert campsite, taking in all the sights Joshua Tree National Park and the surrounding communities have to offer. On 29 Palms HWY, Joshua Tree Coffee Company, is a little hidden behind Pie for the People. 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