California's Best Trips 2 - Full PDF eBook

4 Hidden Valley

It’s time to jump into

Joshua Tree National

Park (%760-367-5500;

http://www.nps.gov/jotr; 7-day entry

permit per car $15; h24hr;

c), a wonderland of

jumbo rocks interspersed

with sandy forests of

Joshua trees. Related

to agave plants, Joshua

trees were named by

Mormon settlers who

thought the twisted,

spiky arms resembled a

prophet’s arms stretching

toward God. Revel in

the scenery as you drive

along the winding park

road for about 7 miles

to Hidden Valley picnic

area. Turn left and drive

past the campground to

the trailhead for Barker

Dam. Here a kid-friendly

nature trail loops for a

mile past a pretty little

artificial lake and a

rock incised with Native

American petroglyphs.

If you enjoy history and

Western lore, reserve

ahead for a 90-minute

guided walking tour

of nearby Keys Ranch

(%760-367-5555; adult/child

$5/2.50; husually 10am &

1pm), where 19th-century

pioneer homesteaders

tried their hand at cattle

ranching, mining and

desert farming.

4 p347

The Drive » Backtrack to

Park Blvd, turn left and head

south again past jumbled

rock formations and fields of

spiky Joshua trees. Take the

well-signed right turn toward

Keys View. You’ll pass several

trailheads and roadside

interpretive exhibits over the

next 5.5 miles leading up to the

viewpoint.

5 Keys View

Leave Hidden Valley

at least an hour before

sunset for the drive up

to Keys View, where

TRIP HIGHLIGHT

TRIP HIGHLIGHT

MOMATIUK - EASTCOTT / CORBIS ©

SOUTHERN.CALIFORNIA.

33

(^) PALM SPRINGS & JOSHUA TREE OASES