Day 130 of Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways
Where to Camp in Joshua Tree
We arrived in Indio just before 11 pm last night. We found a good Wal-Mart and stocked up before heading toward Joshua Tree National Park. Had I entered through the South entrance, it probably would have saved me 60 miles on my trip, but I picked the West entrance. After asking the advice of a ranger, Petey, VANilla, and I immediately searched out a campsite at Jumbo Rocks. Joshua Tree National Park, so named for the Joshua trees scattered all over the area, boasts nine campgrounds. Hidden Valley is the most popular among the climbers, and Ryan and Jumbo Rocks are the two that are in the middle of everything.
We pulled into the camping area where I always like to look at the campground map while I scope out a sight. It’s particularly important to me to find a site near a bathroom. No map was available, so we putted along at 15 mph looking at the parking spaces on the side of the road. The parking spaces were sites. I couldn’t believe it. Imagine driving into a shopping center with boulders replacing stores, pulling into a parking space marked by wood post with a clip to attach a reservation slip, and then camping there. Based on the sites, I quickly deduced I will be without electric, the bathrooms will be pit toilets, and I’ll have to rely on my own water.
As we circled past the 120 sites, we did find a few loops with more secluded, larger sites, and I feel like I ended up with one of the best ones at Jumbo Rocks. What truly amazed me is how many people were tent camping. They just pull into one of the parking spaces, walk 50 feet along the gravel paths, and pitch a tent beneath the rocks. At least I won’t be the only one without a shower! As I was checking in, a family of four was standing nearby the self-pay box. They asked, “Are you staying through Friday?”
“Yes”, I responded, thinking there might be some event in the area. They said excitedly, “We’re supposed to get snow.”
REALLY…SNOW!!! I’m done with cold weather. I came to California for SUN!!!
Skull Rock
Joshua Tree National Park doesn’t allow dogs on the trails, so Petey and I took a walk around the campgrounds before I ventured off on a mile walk to Skull Rock. Several boulders were in the area. I was hoping I didn’t accidentally pass by the rock that was supposed to look like a skull. Sometimes, like in Sedona, I don’t see the resemblance between the rock and the animal for which it is named. Skull Rock turned out to be unmistakable. As I ducked under the desert oak and turned the corner, there it sat staring at me…EERIE!
Silver Bell Mine
After taking a little time to climb around the rocks, I retraced my steps to the campground as I snapped a few photos of flowering cacti. Petey, VANilla, and I went to explore other areas of the park while enduring intermittent rain showers which helped keep the temperature somewhat cool. First we stopped at a few roadside exhibits, one being the Silver Bell Mine. The tipples of the mine still remained. According to the sign, “These ore bins held and fed rock to stamp battery that crushed the ore into a sandy, watery pulp and pushed it on to an amalgamation table where the precious metal was extracted.” The mine operated 40 years and produced gold in the 1930’s, lead in the 1940’s, and copper in the 1950’s.
Cholla Cactus Garden
Next we visited the Cholla Cactus Garden. There were so many Cholla in this particular area, it looked as if the park rangers had planted a garden of these cacti…not so. A few of them were blooming. I can’t imagine what it would look like when they were all blooming. The bud appears yellow on the outside, but when it opens the “petals” are almost translucent.
As we crossed the two different deserts, the Mojave and the Colorado, the terrain changed. Instead of Cholla, the land was peppered with red, flowering Ocotillo. While it looks like a cactus, it isn’t. “The thorny, multi-stem shrub is a woody, deciduous plant”. Normal deciduous plants grow leaves in the spring and drop them in the fall. The Ocotillo, however, may grow and drop its leaves up to five times a year, as it is dependent on rain, not the seasons.
Cottonwood Springs and Mastodon Mine and Peak
After 30 miles of driving south through the park, we reached our hiking destination, Cottonwood Springs and Mastodon Mine and Peak, a 2.4 mile loop trail. I didn’t see any water in the springs, only surrounding palms; but Indians, cowboys, miners, teamsters and other desert travelers did. The miners made the biggest changes to the land. They constructed roads, piped water to the mines, and built an arrastra nearby which is a drag-stone mill for crushing ore.
I passed by the springs, several flowering cacti, and an array of stones and boulders, as I slowly climbed up to Mastodon Peak where the Mastodon Gold Mine was located. The mine was worked off by the George Hulsey family from 1934 until 1971. The shaft is closed off to visitors, but other remains stand nearby. I hiked the loop in a constant drizzle and met a family of four from Oregon who were used to the weather. They said if they didn’t go out in the rain, they’d be inside for nine months…I don’t think I could live there.
Arch Rock
It was close to five when I finished the loop. Petey was very happy to see me. Upon returning to the camp ground, we stopped at the last hike of the day, a short stroll along the Arch Rock Trail by White Tank Campground. The arch was formed from the wind, rain, and temperature dissolving the minerals of the rock. Interesting rock formations surrounded the area which made for a nice evening stroll.
Rainbow Sunset in Joshua Tree
As we returned to the campground, in the distance I noticed the colors of the rainbow shining up from behind a distant mountain. It was really cool. It was like watching a rainbow sunset. Speaking of sunsets, we continued on to the campground because I wanted to watch the sun reflect off the rocks surrounding VANilla. It turned out to be a bit too cloudy, but it was pretty none-the-less. More hikes in Joshua Tree are in store for us tomorrow. ETB
Map of My Road Trip Across the USA
For a summary about my road trip across the USA, click HERE. For the interactive map, see the below link.
I haven’t seen your mother post in several days. She must be on the road somewhere or in Colorado.
For some reason WordPress has blocked her iPad. She has to get on computer.
What splendid photos!
Great pics! Love the flowers, rocks, and the rainbow. Super fun!
great photos