hike

A hike in Joshua Tree National Park

We visited Joshua Tree National Park when last in the Palm Springs area back in December, but decided to visit it a second time in early February, specifically to go for a short hike.

We went in the south entrance (where we exited last time), and stopped at the visitor center there. There was a singing park ranger:

Singing park ranger

After exploring a campground (too small for our coach), a picnic lunch, and considering a hike near the visitor center, we continued on towards the joshua tree part of the park. Passing some interesting rocks on the way:

Rocks

Some joshua trees:

Joshua trees

Joshua trees

Joshua trees

The parking areas were too full to do more popular hikes, so on a whim we turned down a dirt road:

Dirt road

Some interesting rocks by the road:

Rocks and dirt road

We stopped at an access point for rock climbers, and explored that area as an informal hike:

Rocks

Rocks

Rocks

If you look closely, you may spot several rock climbers:

Climbers

A selfie:

David

I’m valiantly holding up a rock:

David holding up a rock

Branch and rock

A wave-shaped rock:

Rocks

Young joshua tree:

Young joshua tree

Rocks:

Rocks

IMG 6246

Rocks

Me taking a photo:

David taking a photo

Of this:

Rocks

Jenn and me:

Jenn and David

Another rock climber:

Climber

More rocks:

Rocks

Rocks

Rocks

A small cactus:

Cactus

Joshua tree:

Joshua tree

Rocks and joshua trees:

Rocks and joshua trees

Rocks

A bird:

Bird

I like the glowing effect of the sun behind the tip of the rock:

Sun behind rocks

More lens flare with the sun touching the tip of the rock:

Sun and rocks

Joshua trees:

Joshua trees

Rocks

We’re liken the lichen:

Mossy rock

Three colors:

Three colors of lichen

Rocks and joshua trees:

Rocks and joshua trees

Jenn on a rock:

Jenn on a rock

Me joining her:

David

Jenn posing:

Jenn posing

Jenn posing

Me:

David

Shadows:

Shadows

More interesting rocks:

Rocks

Rocks

Rocks

Rocks

Hike in Coachella Valley Preserve

While staying at Catalina Spa & RV Resort (look for a post about that later), we took a hike in the nearby Coachella Valley Preserve. We wanted to explore the Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve within the Coachella Valley Preserve, but were misled by their map, and ended up doing a longer hike than planned.

The Coachella Valley Preserve sign:

Coachella Valley Preserve sign

Entrance to the Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve:

Entrance

The very inaccurate map; we thought the Hidden Palms Loop hike looked interesting, and allegedly fairly easy for us novice hikers at 1.75 miles roundtrip, according to the table in the map:

Map

But it was full of lies; the Hidden Palms Loop was in fact more like five or six miles, and very badly marked. We went about halfway (mostly on loose sand) before we lost the trail, and turned back; a total of about three hours. Not a long hike for most people, but we’re not really in shape for such a journey, especially not in the heat of the desert. (Yes, we did have hiking boots, hats, suitable clothing, water, and snacks; we weren’t totally unprepared. But there’s definitely improvements we could make.)

We better know our limits now, that’s for sure:

Signs

Palm trees in the oasis at the start:

Palm trees

Palm trees

Palm trees

Sign

Palm trees

David

Palm trees

Following the trail; a nice path to start:

Path

More palm trees:

Palm trees

The path crossed the road:

Crossing road

The trail continues:

Trail

Inside of a cactus:

Inside of cactus

Birds circling; we’re not dead yet:

Birds

The trail became soft sand, and less clearly defined:

Trail

A stream:

Stream

A wash from heavy rains:

Wash

Interesting texture:

Interesting texture

Me with a trail marker, but not much of a trail:

David

So much desert:

Desert

Desert

Desert

The less-clearly-defined trail:

Trail

We saw several of the lizards that are a focus of the preserve:

Lizard

More desert:

Desert

Not the most interesting hike, and the hidden palms were so well hidden that we didn’t find them. We looked at a better map when we got home (there wasn’t enough cell signal to see much while out there), and found where it went. But it definitely wasn’t what we were expecting.

We turned around once we lost the path, and got some tasty breakfast for dinner on the way home (i.e. back to our coach), then headed to the thermal pool for a couple hours soak for our tired muscles.

We also bought the AllTrails app, so will have better access to maps for our next hike.