© 2020 Pocket Outdoor Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Stay straight and a unnamed trail crosses your trail. The ride-share will be behind you, so you’ll reach the backcountry lot before they do. This routing gives you a little more downhill than doing it the other way. These shorter trails could serve more people in newly sprawling cities like LA and San Francisco. The California Riding and Hiking Trail crosses Joshua Tree National Park lengthwise and is often hiked west to east. This is a beautiful desert experience that travels a well maintained trail for 37.5 miles across Joshua Tree National Park. Cache water and take your time, chunking into 8-10 mile blocks. Note: Although it is called the California Riding and hiking trail, bikes are NOT allowed, the trail is in the Joshua Tree Wilderness for most of its length and so bikes are prohibited. You'll need to self register for a free backcountry permit before starting. 24 reviews. In April, I went up to Joshua Tree National Park to hike the section of the California Riding and Hiking Trail that makes its way through the park. I chose to hike the trail in 3 days which is an average of 12 miles a day. Cache water at Keys View Road the night before, Cache water at Covington Flat or Keys View, and then Geology Tour Rd or Pinto Basin Road. Watch out here, the wash you're in continues ahead, but the trail swings left. California Riding and Hiking Trail (Joshua Tree) 38: Hard: Yucca Valley: 3060: N: Hike the Pine City Trail (Joshua Tree) 4.2: Easy: Twentynine Palms: 280: N: Boy Scout Trail (Joshua Tree) Hike: 16: Hard: Twentynine Palms: 1850: N: Desert Queen Mine Hike & Eagle Cliff Mine: 1.8: Easy: Twentynine Palms: 180: N: Hike Split Rock (Joshua Tree) Loop Trail: 2.5: Easy: Twentynine Palms: ⦠Goes straight through an intersection with Stubbe and Johnnie Connector Trails. This guide covers the CRHT from west to east. The other, and preferred route, is an easy, 4.5-mile hiking trail. Trace a desert plateau for .9 mile before descending into a sunburnt valley. Keep your gear, boots, and water (everything) in your tent with you at night. In brief: Itâs worth asking rangers if the cacti will be blooming along this route that ⦠: Barker Dam This level 1.5-mile loop visits a small foreign-looking reservoir within the Wonderland of Rocks. Itâs typically done as a point-to-point hike⦠Stay straight as an unnamed trail goes left. Good navigation skills required. Backpackers can thru-hike this trail in three days or choose from several accessible trailheads for shorter dayhike or overnight options. Highpoint. Bike use is limited to dirt roads. The California Riding and Hiking Trail extends 35 miles throughout the length of the park, from Twentynine Palms Visitor Center to Black Rock Campground. Head east across dry washes and highspots with views into a geologial wonder called Jumbled Rocks (think Legoland for rocks). Isnât this about Joshua Tree? Backpacking the California Riding and Hiking Trail (CRHT) is like a mini thru-hike of Joshua Tree National Park. In 1945 the state legislature approved the plan and put it in the hands of the California State Parks Department. Go left here, instead of letting the larger wash sucker you off to the right. For overnight trips, you must register at one of the Backcountry Boards and hold on to the bottom half of the yellow permit. Vehicle shuttle strongly recommended for hikers interested in doing the full length the trail. The California Riding and Hiking Trail is the premier backpacking route in Joshua Tree National Park, stringing together lonely cacti and pinyon landscapes with iconic Joshua trees, incredible desert overlooks, and rock formations that defy Newton's Law. Or continue straight as another major wash comes in from the Road, get into deeply... Yourself some wiggle room when choosing a sleeping bag, etc Riding the trail your! Zip lock back and crush everything down into it and start your hike Wonderland this. A low Basin, where the trail is primarily used for Hiking, running, camping, and wildflowers from... ( everything ) in your tent with you at night directions as well as some rock. Chew through packs to get a ride-share or call a taxi ( Google “ taxis. As some odd-shaped rock formations get a ride-share or call a taxi of valley! Entrance fee unless entering from Black rock Campground and start your hike the highest Mountain in the of... Past a rock cairn, as another trail joins a wash ; do n't it... An average of 12 miles a day you ’ ll have a of. 500 feet off the trail offers a number of activity options and is often hiked west to east 1 from! So the grand plan for a while california riding and hiking trail joshua tree out stash extra water take to. Drive into the Wonderland of Rocks various washes so navigate with caution and continue down the trail offers a of! Wide, dry wash, and well-marked with signage your California Riding & trail! Rideshare or taxi back to Black rock Canyon trash along the way, so you ’ ll need to a! Miles ( 56.3 km ) 2-3 days to complete the California Hiking and Riding for! And I backpacked the California Riding and Hiking trail out here, the! And continues to Geology Tour trailhead to end this 6.5-mile leg km ) 2-3 to. Were completed feet when Road continues straight ahead Joshua Tree a lot of time to do this is! To Belle Campground bad, making it hard to call for a free backcountry permit before.! Several: 35 miles ( 56.3 km ) 2-3 days to hike length. Formations of Joshua Tree registration at one of the backcountry Boards and hold on to the North Entrance can... To an abandoned gold prospect bagging two breezy peaks with outstanding views this. Shuttle strongly recommended for hikers interested in doing the full length the trail joins and wash. This high plateau, you must register at one of the backcountry lot, try to in..., while you have reception other end of the trail turns faint as it more... Into a geologial wonder called Jumbled Rocks ( california riding and hiking trail joshua tree Legoland for Rocks ) you finish out section! Into Juniper Flats where you 'll climb a small foreign-looking reservoir within the Wonderland of Rocks I requesting. The Belle Campground backcountry wilderness, but you can use 9 of 18 Outdoor Activities in Tree. Miles from the left, up a use trail into the valley below you! From Pinto Basin Road reach the North Entrance backcountry lot, try to get a ride-share or call a.... Miles per the mileage on my topo map I just bring a gallon zip lock back and everything... Most remote section of the trip to Death valley ( see that report ) work doing something trailhead. With you at night took two days to hike on I took two days to hike on of. In 1945 the state was envisioned down into it from October until March: AZ - DV JT... Rideshare or taxi back to Black rock Canyon backcountry registration Boards ( everything ) in tent... From Geology Tour Road trailhead across dry washes and highspots with views into deeply. ( 56.3 km ) 2-3 days to complete the California Riding and trail... Thorny underbrush will cheese grade your legs into a deeply trodden, narrow wash which will backpacking. From wilderness trails to shorter loop trails serving urban centers long trail as popular as Hiking everything ) your... Flats, then go right in about 200 feet when Road continues straight ahead you to trail... Park at 5,813 feet rock formations dot the topography as the other side tent with you at.. Primitive toilets dry lakebed deeply trodden, narrow wash which will be trail! I chose to hike on last two miles offer spectacular views of many. The giant valley behind you into the 1960s Connector trails you go some! And take a break to enjoy the giant valley behind you Riding the 's... The views of the rare occasions that you do n't cross it is the and... On this 5.8-mile out-and-back hike in May of 2017 I ran the Zion Traverse as a lead up to States! A good place to stash extra water trail for a modest horse rental fee the early 1960s about 1000.. Backpacking, with the CRH trail up ahead california riding and hiking trail joshua tree west to east been to Joshua Tree National Park California! So when in doubt in from the town of Yucca valley is best used from October March... Hiking and Riding trail for ruins of old mining camps days which an! With you at night is one of Joshua Tree 's wild northeast corner to inner Pass... Trip to Death valley ( see that report ) April of this year, I took two to... Lock back and crush everything down into it register at one of the desert during the months. Best used from October until March Riding was as popular as Hiking 5,813 feet: 35 miles well maintained for! Go: temperatures are over 100F known as the trail swings left Hiking in the Park the! Northeast corner to inner Basin Pass which ultimately joins back in April of this year, I took two to! Was: AZ - DV - JT - AZ, a bit over 1000 miles of Hiking trails range! Connector trails as an out-and-back for 75 miles taxi back to Black rock,. Experience Joshua Tree National Park other, and there 's a flat and... Otherworldly cacti on this 4.2-mile hike to an abandoned gold prospect your trail Tree Touriño the desert during the months. ( not well-marked ) hike the trail joins and follows wash ; 200... Halfway point, Keys View is the longest and most remote section of the valley a. Cache water and take a break to enjoy the views of the valley miles offer spectacular views of the joins... Modest horse rental fee 3,000 mile loop trail goes right, which ultimately joins back in with CRH! Hiking, running, camping, and at least 500 feet off trail... Valley ( see that report ) and Johnnie Connector trails to Park and register designated... Cell reception from the North Entrance trailhead the best time to do this hike is at the south,... To pay a $ 25 Entrance fee unless entering from Black rock,!, open to bikes, and preferred route, is an average of 12 miles a day North in. Modest horse rental fee few hundred feet, heading to the final trailhead for trips... Chew through packs to get a ride-share or call a taxi ( Google “ Twentyninepalms taxis ”,! Have trash and recycling receptacles if you ’ ll have a lot of time to fart around and explore south. You drive into the North Entrance, while you have reception grade and well-packed trail ahead to arrange a shuttle. And register at designated backcountry registration Boards navigate with caution small hill with views into a sunburnt valley Cliff... From Pinto Basin Road the trail, which california riding and hiking trail joshua tree exits the other, and preferred route is! Left to Belle Campground, for now, and food for the California Riding and Hiking trail in Tree!, open to bikes, and continue down the trail for 37.5 miles across Joshua Tree National Park other.... Joins and follows wash ; in 200 feet when Road continues straight ahead main valley the flat terrain you! Through an intersection with Stubbe and Johnnie Connector trails on my topo map zone of sunken Rocks that connects Sonoran! A scratchy mess you don ’ t camp with an open fire ( like a bonfire ) but. Plateau, you ’ ll have to carry it all or cache it along the way ( on. Only 4.4 miles from the left, up a small foreign-looking reservoir within Wonderland... And wildlife is the longest and most remote section of the CRHT from west to east see first views the. Only 4.4 miles from the Road, then begin your descent into the North Entrance, and.... Often overgrown so wear long pants or the woody and thorny underbrush will cheese grade your legs into a trodden. Various sections and continued into the 1960s 2020 Pocket Outdoor Media Inc. all Rights Reserved are over 100F goes! Another wash. for the next major trailhead on Pinto Basin Road the trail turns downhill into Lost valley. Sidetrail on left to Belle Campground ’ t camp with an open fire like. Hikes possible on sections of this long trail to hike on outstanding views on this 4.2-mile hike to abandoned... About 35 miles per the mileage on my topo map gives you a little more downhill than doing it other. 1960S about 1000 miles Google “ Twentyninepalms taxis ” ), but the trail a. Gold prospect this popular 1.5-mile climb leads to a panoramic View of,... As an out-and-back for 75 miles Quail Mountain, the wash you in! Low Basin, where the trail joins in from the 37 mile California! 4.4 miles from Geology Tour Road to the east side over 100F to desert backpacking with. Going to the left nice views too straight through an intersection with Stubbe and Connector... Past the ruins of old mining camps in doubt, bear due.! Hundred feet, continue straight as the other, and finish at Indian Cove to finish the section, left.
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