Joshua Tree-Day 2.............

Our last day in Joshua Tree National Park, we got an even earlier start so as to check out a few short, interesting hikes before the real heat set in. First up....Barker Dam Hike...a 1 mile loop trail,exploring cultural history and a view of a water tank built by early cattle ranchers. This was an easy hike, with lots of shade early in the day.

start of Barker Dam Hike

the rocks are so smooth

beautiful

a handy map at the trailhead (good to keep on my camera to refer to if needed)

looking for Barker Dam

lots of cool rocks

"nature's art"

this is like walking through a garden

the shade is great

lots of blooms along this nature trail

pretty nice "natural environment"...looks like a well thought out garden trail

lots of healthy plants strategically located among the rocks

nice

the red was so striking

more "art"

lots of little squirrels here....the environment is a little different than yesterday's hike

pretty as a picture

more blooms

wondering how the boulders land where they do

great trail through the rocks

there's the dam now...on the left

water on the right side of the dam

back view of the dam

up and over the rocks

the water tank for cattle

an overview of the surrounding landscape

the shade is great!

fantastic views!

another postcard from Joshua Tree National Park

enjoying this easy trail?

petroglyphs (that were painted over for enhancement!)

we all have to remember to Look....Don't Touch...to preserve some of these things

some untouched glyphs

We continued down the trail, spotting new blooms and rock formations all along the way. I know....but we really do appreciate this stuff!! This was a fun, very easy trail....a walk, really.

new to us blooms

walking among the rocks

Next, we headed to Hidden Valley, one of the most popular hikes in the park. This was also a 1 mile loop around a rock valley once used by cattle ranchers. After cutting through the rocks, we saw what was believed to be where cattle grazed. There was vegetation, and it was interesting, but not as interesting as the rocks themselves.

some places on the trail have rock stairs

having fun!

It is like an oasis in here...once you get through the rocks. Not hard to envision cattle grazing back in the day.

love the rocks

how cool is that?

Lots of Joshua Trees, blooming! But again, it was the rocks that were so interesting. We enjoyed climbing up and over some, as we made our way down the path. This area is also popular with rock climbers. A group of very young guys were just starting their climb, and I was amazed and jealous to see how easily they all climbed up the top of the rock to set up. I watched them for a few moments, and not one of them hesitated. Impressive to me!

lots of healthy, blooming Joshua Trees here

nice blooms!

these young guys just walked up those rocks like nobody's business!

Continuing on, we enjoyed the trail through the rocks, and the views we had all around. Every here and now, we were able to see the young rock climbers, still setting up. Not sure what they were doing, but when we saw them, they were always on top of the rock. Maybe they were learning, or preparing? This is a sport I know nothing about.

heading on down the trail

fun trail through the rocks

easy hike here too!

the young climbers setting up

this is so cool Susie, isn't it?

Sometimes I think I am really more of a photographer than a hiker. I love walking, don't get me wrong....but I just can't stop taking pictures of some of these beautiful things we see. I don't want to ever forget.

Mohave Desert

interesting blooms

great spot of bright color

enjoying the views beyond

scrub jay (I think!  I'm no birder!)

This rock climber we passed as we drove through the park had a lot of support! Search and Rescue crew was watching, too, from the nearby parking lot, and there were a dozen folks with red hardhats/yellow shirts on the ground as well. A training session?? Not sure what was going on.

Our final hike of the day was also very popular....Skull Rock. Actually, I think just the rock is popular...not the 2.5 mile hike....since we only saw one other set of hikers! After passing by the Skull Rock, which is right next to the road and a parking lot, we headed up and out through a wash and across the desert, and through a campground for a half mile or so.

Skull Rock

Another shot of Skull Rock, with no climbers on it

heading down the wash

always a spot of color to be found this time of year

its a little hot, isn't it?

the breeze is making this hike doable for me

oh no...not a good sign!  Only 2 more miles to go...ahhaha

the trail goes through the campground....

It was pretty warm, okay, HOT, but there was a nice breeze which helped. The hike was fun too...interesting. We even saw pinecones, butterflys and catepillars .... not what we expected to see in the desert!

having fun!!

well marked trail....gently rolling up and over little hills

lots of interesting rocks....need to read up on geology!

pine cones in the desert

so many catepillars...and check out the bee!

nice shot! 

Walking in, around and through the rocks was fun as well. What an environment! A bit of everything, it seems. Even though it was so hot, we really enjoyed ourselves. It was a fun morning of hiking....about 4-5 miles total in the desert! Not bad!! It was a good move on our part to start early in the day...before the temperatures soar.

always a nice view around every bend

oh boy....it must be really really hot!! (IT IS!)

pretty, isn't it?

towards the end of the trail

hey...check this out....a little window with plants growing on the bottom, and lichen on the walls....great art!

close up....guess you have to see it "live" to appreciate it....the pics don't show the detail

Tom....my hero....moving the boulder off the trail

ohhh....I hope I can fit through! 

we really enjoyed Joshua Tree NP!

The weekend in Joshua Tree National Park was perfect....so many interesting things to see and do. We really enjoyed our experience here. For more information on this park, click here.