Once we had set up in our site at Jumbo Rocks Campground we had intended to walk around and explore the campground, but the winds had blown in quite the rainstorm. We hustled back and climbed into our tent, for what ended up being a wild night of wind and pouring rain. Everyone stayed cozy and dry, with only a little leak around the tent zipper, I was impressed that our tent held up to the weather we enjoyed that night!
Morning came with sunny skies and calmer winds. We were amazed to see the rain storm had eroded a small “creek” bed in the sand under our tent, it had really been coming down! One of the boys rolled his eyes and commented that we must be cursed to be getting rain storms even on our desert camping trip.
It was chilly and our campsite didn’t get the morning sun so we decided to drive back to the park entrance and meander our way from there back to our campsite throughout the day. Probably my best move on this trip was to download the NPS app for the first time. Nearly every park we visited had little to no cell service, and being able to save park details and maps offline on the app was so easy and useful!
We did a couple brief stops on our way from the Joshua Tree entrance headed south, spied some rock climbers and did some scrambling of our own. The boys loved the accessibility of this park and the opportunities to climb on the rocks. Our first main stop this morning was Hidden Valley Nature Trail. This short and level loop trail was perfect for our tired and slightly sleep-deprived crew! It enters into a box canyon and loops around it. It was a great first stop to see the unique rock formations of JTNP up close, and had markers with information about both history of the area and plant life.
Our next stop was Baker Dam. The park brochure listed it on the best hikes for kids so we decided to try it out. On our way in the sign said the parking lot for Baker Dam was full and directed us to park at the overflow lot at Keys Ranch road. My advice for future travelers would be drive on up to the Baker Dam lot, and double check that information is correct, particularly if there have been 50 mph winds possibly blowing the signs a bit. (Insert face palm here.)
We parked in the overflow lot and headed out. The good news is this was a very cool hike, leaving from the overflow lot part of the trail goes over and through rock formations and your first stop actually on the Baker Dam Trail are these petroglyphs which are at the end of the Baker Dam Trail.
We also saw our only wildlife in the park on this trail, spotting several small lizards that we didn’t get a close enough look at to identify. Tortoises, hares, and tarantulas all evaded us, even though it was prime tarantula season!
The Baker Dam trail was really cool, between up close rock formations, the historic dam, and petroglyphs. This trail also had a variety of informational markers. After seeing the dam we needed to head back the way we came to get to the car. But one kiddo needed a restroom, and it wasn’t the kind of need you could just sneak off the side of the trail to take care of.
Knowing we were a couple miles from the car and the toilets in that lot I thought we’d be closer to the actual Baker Dam trailhead. Turns out I was not correct, whoops! We finally made it to the Baker Dam trailhead and took care of business in the toilets at the very much not full main parking lot.
At this point I had three tired kids who were ready for more lunch than the granola bars and jerky I had in my hiking pack. After a closer look at the map (and having a better idea of where exactly on it we were) we elected to walk back along the road instead of looping around on the trails. While this was definitely the quicker and right choice for our crew and situation it was disappointing not to get to go back through the more impressive but longer trail.
Next time I go I will definitely make the 2 minute drive to the main lot to ensure we need to park in the overflow lot. That being said, if you are ready for a longer hike, I highly recommend the trail from the overflow lot. It was probably my favorite hike that we did, despite the shenanigans.
When we did get back to the car, knowing I had worn out my hikers, we changed plans and went back to the campsite for some lunch and relaxation, skipping past a few stops we had planned for the day. After lunch, and some time clambering around the rocks of our campsite they were ready for some more fun. Since we had completed our Junior Ranger packets and planned to leave in the morning before visitor centers were open we headed to the center at Oasis.
The boys were sworn in and got their badges, and each picked out a souvenir, and then we headed back out to see some more of the park. We again meandered, stopping at a few roadside markers and taking pictures. Then we elected to see one more stop that had piqued our interest before heading back to camp to make dinner.
The boys had all been excited to see the “Hall of Horrors” all day, but it turned out to be a letdown for them. I have no idea why they somehow got it in their heads that this was some kind of national park haunted house, but there you have it. Luckily it also had some great climbing rocks along just a short loop or I may have had a rebellion on my hands.
Then it was back to camp for dinner, sunset, card games and hitting the sack early after a busy day of adventure! Our highlights of the two nights there:
M “the stars!” (They really were so amazing the second night when it was clear. They made me dizzy looking up there were so many, and I’m a country girl used to seeing a lot of stars!)
J & L “Rock climbing” (or as the ranger that swore them in told them it was called “technical scrambling.” So often we rightly make them stay on the trail and off the fun climbing rocks they see, but Joshua Tree is a climber’s, or scrambler’s, dream!)
Mom “the hiking and sunsets/sunrises” Also, Jumbo Rocks Campground was sooooo cool!
Night number two was much drier but also cold! We awoke to ice chunks in our water jug! But it warmed up quickly once the sun was up and we hit the road. On the way out we did make a stop at the Cholla Garden, this side of the park was so different from where we spent the rest of the time. If we came again we could absolutely spend longer than what was essentially a single day.
As we left we all agreed that this was our favorite stop of the trip so far. A couple boys even said they thought this may be their favorites national park they’ve visited so far. Even I had to say it was probably second place (I can’t dethrone Glacier from my Queen of the Parks, just yet.) Next stop, Tempe!
