The Lollipop Road

California has so many outdoor activities to offer families year round.  With mild weather and lots of sunshine, Palm Springs is of course a popular winter destination.  For families, the lure of some great outdoor activities is all the more reason to visit. With another fee free day coming up on September 25th, 2010 (National Public Lands Day) we thought we’d take another look at Joshua Tree, one of our favorite National Parks.

Sandwiched between I-10 and Highway 62 just east of Palm Springs, Joshua Tree National Park offers some unique landscape, beautiful scenery and easy hikes.  There are three entrances, Joshua Tree (west), Twentynine Palms (north) and Cottonwood (south).  If you are coming from Palm Springs, you’ll likely enter through Joshua Tree, just off Highway 62.  If you loop around, you can exit at Twentynine Palms back onto Highway 62, about 30 miles east of Joshua Tree.  You can also connect to the south entrance at Cottonwood Springs, hooking up with I-10.

There are visitor centers at all three entrances that are open year-round from 8AM-5PM, except Cottonwood, which is open 9AM-3PM.  With exhibits, videos, a bookstore and public facilities, this is the place to begin and end your trip through the park.  The visitor center at the Joshua Tree entrance also has a cafe, while the Oasis visitor center at Twentynine Palm boasts an accessible nature trail.

Tucked away in the northwest corner of the park is the Black Rock Nature Center, which is open daily 8AM-4PM, October through May (Noon-8PM on Friday).  You’ll find exhibits, a small bookstore, public facilities and a picnic area.  This is a dead-end road, so unless you intend to hike in the Black Rock Canyon, camp, or hike up to Hi-View to see Mount St. Gorgonio, there is nothing else to see in the area.

The two best features of Joshua Tree National Park are it’s cool campgrounds and picnic areas nestled among rock formations and it’s family friendly nature trails.  There are five loop trails that are half a mile or less, four of which are stroller accessible.  Bajada, Cap Rock, Oasis of Mara and Keys View are all stroller friendly or easy for kids to maneuver.

Another easily accessible, kid friendly activity is the Keys Ranch tour, which offers a 90 minute guided exploration of the old Keys family homestead.  Littered with lots of old cars, trucks and mining equipment, the ranch provides many interesting diversions for kids.  Tours are offered on weekends from October to May and on weekdays according to season.  There is a fee of $5 for adults and $2.50 for kids 6-11.  Kids under 6 are free.  Reservations are recommended during peak season.

In spring, wildflower viewing is a very popular activity.  March and April bring wildflowers that are in full bloom, adding an interesting color to an otherwise green and brown landscape.  Rangers also offer a variety of programs each day to keep both adults and kids entertained.

If you’ve decided to camp, well there are nine campgrounds in the park.  The largest and most family friendly are Jumbo Rocks (my favorite), Black Rock and Cottonwood.  Both Black Rock and Cottonwood offer fresh water and flush toilets along with dump stations for RVs for $15/night.  Jumbo Rocks, which is centrally located on the main park road is $10/night, but has no amenities.  All sites offer a picnic table and fire grate.  Jumbo Rocks and Cottonwood offers ranger programs on Friday and Saturday evenings, while Black Rock offers a program on Saturday evening only.  Reservations may be made for Black Rock and Indian Cove up to six months in advance.  All other campgrounds are first-come, first-served.

There are lots of side roads and other interesting areas of the park to see too.  The park map will help you plan your route.  If you have just one day, start by stopping at either the Joshua Tree visitor center, then drive the main park road, stopping at Cap Rock, Keys View and Skull Rock.  Both Hidden Valley and the Jumbo Rocks area have picnic tables for a quiet family picnic.  You can exit back onto Highway 62 via the Oasis visitor center (and another nature walk while you’re there).

Joshua Tree National Park is an amazing contrast within itself.  The only warning is not to go during the summer…unless you like extreme heat.

Disclosure

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