Some places I go I feel as if I know a fair amount about it even before having been there. Joshua Tree is not one of those places. When I think of Joshua Tree my brain immediately conjures up images of the iconic trees. Beyond that, I know very little about this mystical place.
Interesting Stuff I Didn’t Know
- JT was designated a national monument in 1936 by President Franklin Roosevelt
- JT did not become a National Park until 1994 (Where was I? Oh right – college)
- The park covers a total area of 789,745 acres (larger than the state of Rhode Island)
- The park’s oldest rocks are roughly 1.7 billion years old
- A Joshua Tree is not actually a tree – it’s a plant
To be honest, in the back of my mind I was sort of wondering if Joshua Tree could hold my attention for an entire day. Short answer – Yes.
Since it’s such an expansive park, it’s very much a – drive to an area – explore – drive to another area – type of place. With 191 miles of hiking trails I decided to tackle numerous short hikes instead of limiting myself to longer hikes in perhaps only a couple of areas.
Keys View – unfortunately the view was hazy which is common due to air pollution. On a clear day visitors can see the Mexican border from this mile-high vantage point. More often like today, visitors can barely discern the tip of 10,000-foot-high Mount San Jacinto, about 50 miles away. It was surreal standing there and thinking – “Last weekend I climbed to the top of that mountain”.
From the bizarre and twisted looking “trees” to the unusual rock formations and the vast desert wilderness, they all add to this seemingly cosmic environment that is known as Joshua Tree. Many people believe Joshua Tree is a spiritual place – that it has a certain energy. The surreal landscape alone could lull someone into a meditative state. One thing is for sure – it’s unique.
Today I received a glimpse of what this park offers. At night Joshua Tree offers something else – dark skies. Free from southern California’s extreme light pollution, it’s a stargazers paradise.
As the late afternoon sun was going down I was leaving the park. I couldn’t help but wonder if I was leaving the best part of this place unexplored. I get a sense this mystical place transforms and comes alive at night beneath the stars. Next time – I’m bringing a tent.