Following is the second (first was Mesa Verde) of my Top Ten National Park picks, a difficult choice with so many great parks to choose from. To qualify, they had to be RV friendly, offering camping, road-touring, or optional means of seeing the park. They had to encompass some of the most breathtaking and wild scenery in the country, have abundant wildlife, and offer a variety of recreational opportunities to make it a destination choice, a place you could spend days or weeks. They represent several types of terrain spread over nine states and Canada, from Maine to California.
Joshuaa Tree National Park is the only desert park in the list, and provides an introduction to the variety and complexity of the desert environment. The park illustrates the vivid contrast between the higher Mojave and lower Colorado Deserts that range in altitude from 1,200 feet in the Pinto Basin to 5,814 feet, spanning many ecosystems.
Few roads pass through the 1,017,748-acre park, but entrances at both north and south ends of the park connect to a cross-park scenic drive, with spur roads to specific attractions, hikes, petroglyphs, campgrounds, and desert gardens.
The desert explodes with vivid hues in the spring when wildflowers burst through the sand and gravel of the desert floor, painting the desert with a profusion of color. Cacti begin to bloom in April, their neon flowers seem like creations from Photoshop. Best time to visit is in spring and fall, when temperatures moderate. Mid-winter can be cold and windy with occasional snow, while summers are hot and dry.
Hiking trails encourage exploration of the desert scenery: granite monoliths (popular with rock climbers), petroglyphs carved into the rocks by early Native Americans, the dark cavities of old abandoned mines, and the now deserted ranches. Look for wildlife and birds at the park’s five fan palm oases.
There are nine campgrounds. Reservations are available at Black Rock and Indian Cove, which also have dump stations (as does Cottonwood). Water is scarce, this is a desert, so arrive with a full tank and a couple of Jerry jugs for back-up. It's a long drive down to the visitor center to fill up.
From Palm Springs drive east on Interstate 10 to the southern entrance, or on CA62 to Twentynine Palms for the northern entrance. There is a visitor center at both entrances where you can pick up maps and information.
Learn more about desert camping with my new eBook, Snowbird Guide to Camping and Boondocking in the Southwestern Deserts.
No comments:
Post a Comment