We left our Tamarisk Grove campground in Anza-Borrego State Park and drove to Black Rock Campground in Joshua Tree National Park. This was a shorter drive of 130 miles, but mostly all uphill on CA-62 from Palm Springs to Yucca Valley, California. On the way, we were able see the Salton Sea clearly that day. It had been foggy for a few days prior.
We spent the first full day exploring Joshua Tree National Park for the first time. Our good friends, John and Lori met us here for a couple days as well.
We didn't have much expectation before coming into this park, and we were pleasantly surprised by all the Joshua Trees and rock outcrops in the desert landscape. You will find many unique rocks, boulders and an arch to nudge your imagination. This is a great park for kids (and adults) who like to climb on the rocks, including us!
We started from the west entrance on Park Boulevard to the north entrance. We stopped at the Cap Rock picnic area and walked around to see some large boulders. Next, we visited the Split Rock picnic area and had lunch with some amazing rock outcrops as our backdrop. Once we finished, we explored the backside briefly before moving on to the Skull Rock. This is an interesting rock that replicates a human skull. We found that it’s best to avoid the bright sunlight when visiting this rock. The deep pockets in the shadow or cloud cover help with the definition.
Our motorhome was too long to camp in the internal part of the park, but we wanted to scope out the Jumbo Rock and Belle campgrounds. This is a spectacular place for small RVs like camper vans and Class C. Tents are even better since you can pitch them right against the rocks for protection.
We took a couple of short hikes at the Arch and Heart trails. From the Twin Tanks parking lot, this lollipop trail goes through sandy and rocky terrain for 1.4 miles. The arch is located halfway along the loop. This trail has no shade and no cell service. In the same vicinity, you can connect to the Heart trail which leads to a heart-shape rock
As we drove around the park road, we could see San Gorgonio Mountain with its snow-capped peaks to the northwest. The view provided a stark contrast against the desert floor peppered with the unmistakable Joshua Trees. Although it’s not a tree but a member of the agave plant.
Our next full day’s adventure was all about rock exploring. It was a much cooler, cloudier, and windy day but it made hiking and rock scrambling much more comfortable. We also had a nice picnic lunch (again) at the Hidden Valley. And this time, we did the Hemingway and Hidden Valley trails. These rocks or boulders are just so much fun to climb. Even adults like us felt like kids for the day. A very popular spot but well worth the visit.
The monzogranite rocks are extremely fun to climb on. The texture is quite rough, and our hiking shoes literally gripped like gloves. But we learned afterwards that it's no match for our phone/camera screen. Don't put the phone in your back pocket when sliding down!
Our last stop was at Keys View of 5,185' elevation. This overlooks the Coachella Valley and the Salton Sea. After visiting both Anza-Borrego SP and Joshua Tree National Park, it was nice to connect the dots back to Salton Sea.
If you've never been to Joshua Tree National Park, then you're in for a real treat. We highly recommend spending at least one day in the park, but a few more days to cover it thoroughly.