Joshua Tree National Park, 2 trails

We had the pleasure of spending another day with our son Christopher and share with him a day in Joshua Tree National Park. We decided on two short trails today, the Barker Dam and Hidden Valley trails.

A bee hovering over a snow white flower.

More spring flowers in bloom. Most desert wildflowers are yellow, but there are many varieties.

This hummingbird enjoys the flowers too.

Interesting rocks provide some shade.

Erosion can create some abstract art.

Lizard enjoying the warm sun.

A smaller lizard scampering along the rocks.

There was actually water behind the Barker Dam.

Cactus flowers near our path in the Hidden Valley.

Joshua Tree branches reaching for the skies.

Joshua trees are very unique and each has it's own beauty, kind of like people.

The moon rising between the rock formations.

Joshua Tree National Park, Mastodon Peak Hike

Joshua Tree National Park is much more than just about the trees. (Actually, they are not really trees, but members of the yucca family.) It is also known for it's interesting rock formations. This day we went on the Mastodon Peak Hike. Hiking anywhere in the spring, with the flowers in bloom, adds so much to the experience.

Here we are almost to the top, where we stopped to eat our backpack lunch. There is no finer restaurant than this.

Mastodon Peak up close and personal. Only a few rocks to climb up to the top.

Chocolate chip cookies, yumm!

Actually, they are just some large rocks along our walk.

Most of the animals who dwell in the desert are night creatures, but we do see many lizards scampering about during the day.

Could not resist taking some more flower pictures. Here are a few we will share with you.

Desert asters

Close up of Apricot Globe Mallow.

A very small fish hook cactus catches our eye.

Hedge hog cactus bloom

Purple prickly pear cactus in bloom

Painted Canyon / Ladder Canyon Hike

From the south entrance to Joshua Tree, we drove down Box Canyon Road to the dirt Painted Canyon Road. At the end of the road, we hiked the trail through an amazing slot canyon. Some areas were pretty narrow and there were numerous ladders, some wood with worn rungs and some new aluminum ones.

Larry at the bottom of the painted canyon.

A cool place to hide between some boulders. Any snakes in there?

The entrance to the slot canyon which nature has tried to conceal with rock slides. We climbed up and over the huge rocks anyway.

Looking down the ladder we just climbed.

A look ahead in the canyon.

Looking up the canyon walls.

Looking straight up at the narrow ribbon on sunlight.

Looking down at where we just were. You can almost hear water rushing between the rock walls.

A side canyon looks inviting, but we stay on our path.

We finally reached the top. We take a few minutes to enjoy the view, before clamoring back down.

A look over our shoulder at the painted canyon, as we head back home.

Hotel California Geocache

Once in a while we take the opportunity to seek out a geocache. On this particular morning, we went with Joyce and Larry to the Hotel California. There was no hiking involved as you could drive right up to it. The road was rough, and branches scraped both sides of their truck. Geocaches usually take you to interesting places that you would otherwise have missed. This one was no exception.

The Hotel California up on the side of the cliff.

Someone must have put in many hours on construction. It blends in so well with the surrounding rock. As you can see, the roof could use some repair.

One of the 2 rooms inside, if you could call them that. Kind of a hard bed.

This fireplace is located between the two beds. The log books to sign in on are on the shelf to the right.

Another view of the exterior. Makes us wonder who built this place and when and why.