Redwood State and National Parks

The Redwood National and State Parks is interesting, in that it is jointly managed by the National Park Service and the state of California. Their headquarters are in Crescent City, with a small book store (not a gift store, thank you):

Redwood National and State Parks Headquarters

Redwood National and State Parks Headquarters

We visited several of the component parks, starting with the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, which includes a fun scenic drive through the redwoods:

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

As part of this park, we did a hike to the Grove of Titans:

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

A fun tunnel of fallen trees:

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

It’s a big tree:

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Video of ambient sounds:

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Continuing the drive through Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park:

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Tunnel:

Tunnel

We headed into Oregon for a side-trip:

Oregon welcomes you

To the Illinois Valley Visitor Center of Oregon Caves National Monument:

Oregon Caves Visitor Center

Oregon Caves Visitor Center

Oregon Caves Visitor Center

Then back into California:

Welcome to California

Though the agricultural inspection station:

Inspection

Hiouchi Visitor Center:

Hiouchi Visitor Center

Hiouchi Visitor Center

Hiouchi Visitor Center

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Since we’d been to the Redwoods National Park, it was time to add its sticker to our coach:

Adding National Park sticker

Adding National Park sticker

Another day, heading down the coast:

Coast

To Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park:

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

A strange historical artifact:

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

360 video hyperlapse of a drive from that visitor center:

Elk on the side of the road:

Elk

Elk

Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center:

Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center

Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center

Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center

Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center

Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center

Lady Bird Johnson Grove hike:

Lady Bird Johnson Grove

Lady Bird Johnson Grove

Lady Bird Johnson Grove

Lady Bird Johnson Grove

Lady Bird Johnson Grove

Lady Bird Johnson Grove

Lady Bird Johnson Grove

Lady Bird Johnson Grove

Lady Bird Johnson Grove

Lady Bird Johnson Grove

Lady Bird Johnson Grove

Lady Bird Johnson Grove

Lady Bird Johnson Grove

Video hyperlapse of the Lady Bird Johnson Grove hike:

Coastal drive:

Coastal drive

Coastal drive

A bear on the side of the road:

Bear on the side of the road

Bear on the side of the road

Joshua Tree National Park day 3

Another afternoon visit to Joshua Tree National Park.

Entrance sign

Joshua trees

Jenn gave me an Insta360 X3 camera as an early birthday present, so I tried it out on this visit:

Insta360 X3 camera

My first video, holding the invisible selfie stick out the truck window:

Barker Dam Nature Trail hike:

Barker Dam hike

Barker Dam hike

Video:

Barker Dam hike

Barker Dam hike

Barker Dam hike

Barker Dam hike

Videos:

Barker Dam hike

Barker Dam hike

Barker Dam hike

Barker Dam hike

Video:

Barker Dam hike

Barker Dam hike

Barker Dam hike

Joshua tree bloom:

Barker Dam hike

Barker Dam hike

Video:

Barker Dam hike

Barker Dam hike

Barker Dam hike

Barker Dam hike

Barker Dam hike

Petroglyphs:

Barker Dam hike

Barker Dam hike

Barker Dam hike

Video:

Barker Dam hike

Videos:

We had a picnic dinner at Hidden Valley:

Hidden Valley picnic

Hidden Valley picnic

Hidden Valley picnic

Rocks

Joshua trees

Joshua trees

Joshua Tree National Park day 2

Another visit to Joshua Tree National Park, this time in the evening, going in the south entrance. Like most of the popular parks, this one is very busy during the day, but much less so in the evening.

Entrance sign

Rocks

Cholla Cactus Garden:

Cholla Cactus Garden

Joshua trees

Cholla Cactus Garden

Cholla Cactus Garden

Cholla Cactus Garden

Cholla Cactus Garden

Jenn and David

Cholla Cactus Garden

Cholla Cactus Garden

Cholla Cactus Garden

Cholla Cactus Garden

Cholla Cactus Garden

Arch Rock Nature Trail:

Arch Rock Nature Trail

Arch Rock Nature Trail

Arch Rock Nature Trail

Arch Rock Nature Trail

Arch Rock Nature Trail

Arch Rock Nature Trail

Arch Rock Nature Trail

Arch Rock Nature Trail

Arch Rock Nature Trail

Arch Rock Nature Trail

Arch Rock Nature Trail

Arch Rock Nature Trail

Arch Rock Nature Trail

Picnic dinner:

Picnic dinner

We have some bamboo cutlery in our picnic bag, which was useful:

Bamboo cutlery

Rocks

Rocks

Rocks

Skull Rock; this is one of the most popular areas of the park, impossible to get parking during the day, but easy in the evening:

Skull Rock

Skull Rock

Skull Rock

Skull Rock

Skull Rock

Skull Rock

Skull Rock

Skull Rock

Split Rock:

Split Rock

Split Rock

Rocks

Rocks

Sunset:

Sunset

Sunset

Sunset

Sunset

Sunset

Joshua Tree National Park day 1

We visited Joshua Tree National Park several times while staying in Palm Desert.

On the first day, we visited all five of the visitor centers, drove though the park, and did a shortish hike.

First up, Black Rock Nature Center in Black Rock Canyon Campground:

Black Rock Canyon Campground visitor center

Visitor center

Do Not Die Today:

Do Not Die Today

Welcome to Joshua Tree (the city, not the park):

Welcome to Joshua Tree

The main Visitor Center outside the park:

Visitor Center

Visitor Center

Passport stamp:

Passport stamp

The Joshua Tree Cultural Center:

Joshua Tree Cultural Center

Joshua Tree Cultural Center

Joshua Tree Cultural Center

The Oasis Visitor Center, which is permanently closed, but still has the Oasis of Mara trail available:

Old visitor center

Kinetic artwork:

Kinetic artwork

Picnic:

Picnic

Oasis of Mara trail:

Oasis

Entrance sign:

Entrance sign

Joshua trees:

Joshua trees

We did a hike to a mine, past some ruins:

Ruins

Ruins

A nice pic of me:

David

Jenn:

Jenn

Mines (look for the metal covers):

Mines

Old winch:

Old winch

Old bucket:

Old bucket

Flowers:

Flowers

Me:

David

Selfie:

Jenn and David

A fun dirt road, with Joshua trees and mountains in the distance:

Dirt road, Joshua trees, mountains

Dirt road, Joshua trees, mountains

Joshua trees

Joshua trees

Joshua trees

Joshua trees

Joshua trees

Ocotillo:

Ocotillo

At the southern entrance, Cottonwood Visitor Center:

Cottonwood Visitor Center

Cottonwood Visitor Center

Recent rains brought out a profusion of wildflowers:

Wildflowers

Wildflowers

Wildflowers

Wildflowers

Wildflowers

Wildflowers

Wildflowers

Wildflowers

Wildflowers

Wildflowers

Wildflowers

Wildflowers

Travel from Death Valley to Yermo, California

We drove our coach 169 miles, about three hours of driving, from Death Valley, California to Yermo, California.

Here’s the map route, heading south:

Route

Interactive map, showing our stops:

Leaving the campground:

Leaving campground

Leaving Death Valley:

Leaving Death Valley

Paladin sleeping:

Paladin sleeping

Leaving Death Valley

Leaving Death Valley

Paladin in an unapproved place; he was freaking out a bit; sometimes he forgets about travel days:

Paladin in an unapproved place

“Thanks for Experiencing Your National Park”:

Thanks for Experiencing Your National Park

Bumpy road:

Bumpy road

Motorcycles:

Motorcycles

The sign could use a refresh:

The sign could use a refresh

Mountain

Bumpy road

A roadside stop for a break:

Stop

Interesting hills:

Interesting hills

Interesting hills

A straight road; using a high zoom really emphasizes the bumps:

Straight road

Mountains

Lunch stop in Baker, with a nice big truck/RV parking area; always appreciated:

Lunch stop in Baker

The World’s Tallest Thermometer:

World's Tallest Thermometer

We had lunch at the Mad Greek Cafe:

Mad Greek Cafe

Mad Greek Cafe

Mad Greek Cafe

The Thermometer again:

World's Tallest Thermometer

World's Tallest Thermometer

Zzyzx Road:

Zzyzx Road

Mountains

EddieWorld, apparently California’s largest gas station (looks pretty small compared to Buc-ees in Texas, but we haven’t actually visited either):

EddieWorld

Ghost Town Road:

Ghost Town Road

Our destination:

Our destination

Our destination

Death Valley Star Wars locations driving tour

Death Valley contains several filming locations for the Star Wars movies (episodes IV and VI).

Death Valley is the driest national park… so of course it was rainy:

Rainy

Rainy

Twenty-mule Team Canyon, where R2-D2 and C-3PO traveled to rescue Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt in Return of the Jedi:

Twenty-Mule Team Canyon

Twenty-mule Team Canyon

Twenty-mule Team Canyon

Twenty-mule Team Canyon

Twenty-mule Team Canyon

Twenty-mule Team Canyon

Dantes View, where Ben Kenobi and Luke Skywalker looked down on Mos Eisley, the Tatooine spaceport, in A New Hope:

Dantes View

A little foggy:

Dantes View

Dantes View

Very hidden:

Dantes View

A break in the clouds:

Dantes View

Dantes View

Dantes View

Dantes View

Dantes View

Dantes View

Dantes View

Dantes View

Artists Palette, the backdrop for R2-D2’s journey through the desert canyon right before Jawas captured him:

Artists Palette

Artists Palette

Artists Palette

Artists Palette

Artists Palette

Artists Palette

Artists Palette

Artists Palette

Artists Palette

Artists Palette

Desolation Canyon, where the Tuscan Raiders attacked in A New Hope:

Desolation Canyon

Desolation Canyon