Anyone been to Joshua Tree National Park?

[sbj405]

I have a conference in a few weeks in San Diego. This seemed like a good time to work in a 2-3 day backpacking trip. Looking at Joshua Tree, but don't know what to expect weatherwise, trailwise, etc. Anyone been? I have book coming from bn, but I figured I might get answer quicker out of DU. Thanks.

[Ernesto]

1. As a Sac valley resident

I often take my crew south around spring break time to escape the fog & rain. Joshua Tree is nice but Death Valley is our favorite. Many folks can't imagine why anyone would go there but it just took us one "thaw out trip" to get hooked....

[Kolesar]

2. I was there at the end of December.

It gets cold, cold, cold at night in the high desert. It went down to 10 degrees F. It was a long time ago, and I cannot remember the trails. Watch your stuff, though. Campground burglaries happen there.

Anza Borrego Desert Park in San Diego County is nice. I spent Christmas Eve there.

[sbj405]

3. Thanks for the info. Based on logistics, I think we're gonna have to car

camp. Do you remember which campground you stayed at?

[Kolesar]

4. I recall hiking in the Queen Valley

Understand that this was many years and many beers ago. Cannot depend on my recollection. I think we stayed one night in Cottonwood Campground. We were on our way back to LA from AZ and just stopped for one night. Sorry I cannot recall more.

There has been a Joshua Tree NM poster up in office for 14 years since then.

[bemildred]

5. Several times.

I like it, but this time of year it can get exciting, and
we ARE having weather in S. California now. Worry about
lightning, flash floods, and stormy weather. All the critters
will be too cold to move.

I would recommend car camping in Cottonwood (S. part of park)
before undertaking any backpacking trips, just so you know the
conditions you will be dealing with. You can day hike from there
in a number of directions and drive around and explore the park.

I recommend Spring as the best time, March to May.

[Xithras]

6. Cool, I'll be there myself soon

I have a conference in Palm Springs at the end of February.

I'm more interested in photo ops than hiking, can anyone recommend the best views in the park? Are the big rock piles near the road, or should I plan on some hiking? How is the weather at that time of year?

Also, how bad are the snakes? I've been warned about rattlers in the park, but will inevitably end up doing some off-trail hiking to get good shots. Are the snakes bad there in Feb?

[kwassa]

7. Camped there in April years ago

I car-camped there with a group years ago in April. Daytime temps were about 80, overnight went below freezing, with ice in a water-bucket left outdoors.

Some young ladies attempting to modestly dress behind nearby rocks encountered a rattlesnake, so yes, there are snakes, and close to the road.

As I recall, the roads go quite close to the interesting rock formations. There were quite a few rock-climbers, too.

Expect it to get very cold at night in February.

[hvn_nbr_2]

8. I used to go out there all the time when I lived in So. Cal.

That was back when it was still a national monument, not a national park. I did a lot of photography and a fair amount of hiking but not backpacking. In the desert I typically used 2 gallons of water the first day and a gallon per day after that, even in spring and fall when I went. Too much water for me to carry backpacking, so I carcamped.

You should be prepared for big variations in weather any time of year. One thing nobody else mentioned is wind. There can be very strong winds there.

For whoever mentioned photography, it's a great place for that. If you still use film, consider taking a camera with black and white film. Or if you're digital, think about how shots might look in grey scale. Think light & shadow, shape, texture, zone system.

One place to go there for photography is the cholla cactus garden, don't remember the exact name of it. Go near sunrise or sunset to get the cholla cactus (AKA "jumping cholla" and "teddy bear cactus") backlit by the low sun. I'm looking at picture of that on my office wall right now.