Joshua Tree National Park: Worth the PCT Side Quest?

About a month in the past, I accomplished my first PCT part of the 12 months, mountain climbing from the Southern Terminus in Campo to Paradise Valley Cafe close to mile marker 151. Although I had completed what I got down to do, I wasn’t fairly able to be achieved with my desert adventures earlier than flying house to the chilly, snowy Northeast.

It’s not unusual for long-distance hikers to embark on aspect quests whereas mountain climbing trails like the Pacific Crest Trail or the Appalachian Trail. On the PCT, widespread aspect quests embody summiting Mt. San Jacinto and Mt. Whitney and detouring via Yosemite National Park. But what a couple of Southern California aspect quest that is not typically talked about?

My History of Side Quests

Like many different hikers, I like an excellent aspect quest. As a bit hiker, I all the time search for alternatives to examine off any nationwide parks, excessive factors, cool state parks, or different sights throughout my journeys. For instance, I ended at Natural Bridge State Park after finishing a bit on the AT in Virginia on my manner house.

I additionally stopped at Acadia National Park on my manner again from finishing Mt. Katahdin, which I saved for my final day of the AT. Although I had already visited Acadia as a toddler, it was nonetheless enjoyable to discover Bar Harbor and revisit a few of the widespread spots in the park.

Visiting Acadia National Park on my manner again from finishing Mt. Katahdin

My part hikes on the PCT to this point have been no totally different. For my first part on the PCT, I flew into Portland after which took a bus to Cascade Locks to hop onto path at the Bridge of the Gods and hike southbound. When planning this part, I noticed that Multnomah Falls, the tallest waterfall in Oregon, was one among the bus stops on the technique to Cascade Locks. If you are driving to the falls, you want a reservation allow, however by taking the bus, I did not want one. How excellent! So I ended at the falls to see it and revel in a second breakfast earlier than catching the subsequent bus to Cascade Locks.

Stopping at Multnomah Falls on my technique to the PCT

Why Joshua Tree National Park?

Visiting Joshua Tree National Park isn’t a standard PCT aspect quest. In truth, I had by no means heard of different PCT hikers visiting it. But once I realized that the nationwide park was comparatively near Palm Springs, the place I used to be flying out at the finish of my part hike, I used to be instantly intrigued.

Visiting all of the nationwide parks in the US has been a dream of mine for fairly a while now. I’ve been so excited to hike via the seven nationwide parks that the PCT passes via. I even hold a scratch-off map of all of the nationwide parks hanging on the wall in my gear closet subsequent to my wall map of the PCT. Seeing simply how shut Joshua Tree National Park was to the path was particularly tempting.

The PCT wall map I hold in my gear closet, which exhibits how shut Joshua Tree National Park is to the path. The part I simply accomplished is highlighted in purple.

The park will get its title from the iconic Joshua bushes that may be discovered throughout the park. It’s thought that the bushes had been named by Mormon settlers in the space who believed that the bushes regarded like the Biblical determine Joshua. In addition to the bushes, the park is understood for its distinctive rock formations and is a well-liked place for rock climbers. The photographs I had seen regarded unbelievable, and the extra I thought of it, the extra excited I grew to become about the chance of visiting.

Standing in entrance of one among the iconic Joshua bushes that the nationwide park is called for

Getting There from the PCT

Joshua Tree National Park is about an hour’s drive from Palm Springs. After ending my part hike at Paradise Valley Cafe (close to PCT mile marker 151), I received a experience from an area path angel to the Palm Springs International Airport. Since most hikers hitch from PVC to Idyllwild (which is the other way), I organized the experience prematurely and supplied to cowl fuel cash. Although this was not a typical path angel request, I had no drawback receiving gives.

The view on the experience from the PCT to Palm Springs

At the airport, I picked up the rental automotive I had reserved to drive to my Airbnb, the place I stayed two nights. I visited the nationwide park the subsequent day after which headed again to the airport to return the rental automotive and fly house.

The view at sundown from my Airbnb

My Adventures in the Park

Since I had simply completed my 150-mile part, I did not plan any lengthy hikes in the park, totally anticipating to be sore and drained. However, the day I visited, I really felt fairly good however nonetheless opted for the shorter hikes in order that I may see extra of the park.

I arrived early, as I had learn that the park can get crowded. I used the entrance close to Twentynine Palms and arrived simply in time for dawn, the place I noticed only a few different guests. I began by taking a brief hike to see Heart Rock and Arch Rock, and I had the total space to myself! It was freezing, however it was lovely.

Arriving at Joshua Tree National Park for dawn

Arch Rock

Heart Rock

Next, I ended at Split Rock and Skull Rock, two distinctive rock formations which might be particularly widespread to go to and do not require mountain climbing to see them.

Skull Rock

I continued on to stroll round the Hall of Horrors, which was under no circumstances horrifying however was actually wonderful to see with its dense focus of Joshua bushes.

Hall of Horrors

I completed by driving as much as Keys View, which appears out over the Coachella Valley and gives views of Mt. San Jacinto and San Gorgonio. It was so cool to see the subsequent part of the PCT I’d deal with!

Keys View, the place I may see the subsequent part of the PCT I’ll be doing. Hopefully, the snow on the peaks will soften by then!

Joshua Tree National Park can also be actually widespread for mountain climbing and bouldering. One factor I actually remorse is that I did not guide a guided rock-climbing tour. Although I’m only a newbie rock climber, I’m positive it could have been numerous enjoyable. I simply did not have the proper clothes or gear after simply getting off path.

Who This Side Quest Is (and Isn’t) For

When planning this journey, I used to be on the fence on whether or not to go to Joshua Tree National Park or not. It does require no less than sooner or later to go to. Some hikers might not need to sacrifice that period of time off path. For me, that meant I needed to fly house on a Sunday as an alternative of Saturday and arrive the evening earlier than returning to work the following morning. Not precisely excellent, particularly when adjusting again to common life after being on the path and never having a day to relaxation, do laundry, go grocery buying, and mentally get better.

It was additionally costly. Food, fuel, and lodging had been very costly in the space. You must hire a automotive to get to the nationwide park, until you recognize somebody in the space who may drive you. Unless you’ve got an America the Beautiful move, it prices $30 to enter by automotive. On high of that, my flight house on Sunday was dearer than leaving Saturday.

However, in the finish, I made a decision to go for it. Since I’m on a mission to sooner or later go to each US nationwide park, I figured I used to be already so shut– what’s one further day once I was already in Palm Springs? I did not have to make use of an additional trip day since the journey fell throughout a weekend, and I may all the time get better and do laundry later in the week. Plus, Having an additional day in California earlier than flying house gave me peace of thoughts about lacking my flight in case one thing sudden occurred on path and I fell behind my deliberate schedule.

For me, it was price the go to. The nationwide park was so stunningly lovely, from the bushes to the panorama to the cool rocks. I really had numerous enjoyable in the park, even on my own.

This aspect quest in all probability is not for hikers on tight schedules or budgets, however it’s a fantastic choice for these with a versatile itinerary who take pleasure in exploring past the path.

The Bottom Line

If you are like me and concerned with a enjoyable journey that is off the overwhelmed path of the PCT (and you’ve got just a little further time and room in your price range)then this aspect quest could be for you. Joshua Tree National Park is not the most handy or least expensive detour, however it was extremely lovely and a memorable technique to prolong my desert expertise and make some progress on my nationwide parks guidelines.

Side quests are one among the many causes that make long-distance mountain climbing and part mountain climbing so rewarding for me. I’m actually trying ahead to extra aspect quests this 12 months on the PCT and in future years to come back.