Although I have lived in Southern California for over 35 years, I had never been to Joshua Tree National Park until our recent trip from October 13th-15th. Led and guided by John Jackson, our resident Ranger (retired from Yosemite, but named a Junior ranger on this trip LOL), we enjoyed the world of two deserts: Mojave and Colorado. What an experience!

We started at Big Morongo Canyon Preserve where we delved into the ecosystem there and learned about the symbiotic relationship between Mesquite trees and Mistletoe. The landscape was lush in spots with cottonwood-willow riparian habitats and then away from water we encountered dry desert slopes. The force of nature was still evident with many downed trees remaining from the 2023 flood.

The next day we entered Joshua Tree National Park and went directly to Keys View. What a spectacular vantage point! We could see the entire Coachella Valley, Salton Sea, Santa Rosa Mountains and even the San Andreas fault. The trip would have been worth it just for the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve and the view. However, it was just the beginning of spectacular scenery.

The rock formations in Joshua Tree were unlike anything I have ever seen. We saw Cap Rock and Skull Rock. These rocks are enormous and appear to be tossed on top of each other by nature, in formations that look like skulls, dinosaurs, amphitheaters, faces, bodies. Your imagination could draw infinite shapes and silhouettes from these rocks.

We continued to the Arch Rock Nature Trail and Jumbo Rocks where we had a picnic in the desert and tried to hike up to the high rocks on top of the arch. Five intrepid Villagers reached the top – Wayne, John, Pablo, Nancy and Jocelyn! What spry billy goats! Look at Jocelyn!

The Joshua Trees were also fascinating and are not actually trees. They are a member of the agave family and only found in the park and environs. Woodpeckers seem to really enjoy drilling into them, and we saw a woodpecker and other birds in the area, especially hawks.

After Jumbo Rocks, we descended into the Southern portion of the park where the scenery changed. Joshua Trees were replaced by cactuses, especially the Cholla Cactus. Jocelyn Keene described these cactuses quite vividly, saying “the Cholla Cactuses look like cuddly teddy bears from a distance, but up close they are prickly and aggressive – stay well clear of them.” The rock formations were still impressive, but more like pillars vs. gigantic boulders.

Our walking and sightseeing were rewarded with a delicious meal at Isla Mujeres Modern Mexican Cuisine and Seafood restaurant. My Shrimp Zarandeado was delicious and eyed with envy by many of the Villagers, although we all enjoyed our meals. Good choice by our logistics coordinator, Pablo Ortiz-Morales.

Culture replaced nature on our last day. We visited the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture https://riversideartmuseum.org/ where we saw an impressive collection of Mexican American/Chicano art. The ceramics and paintings covered a variety of styles, but all highlighted unique aspects of Chicano culture such as Quinceaneras or Dia de Los Muertos. Our visit to the museum was capped by a delicious lunch at the Mission Inn – a historic landmark with beautiful Spanish mission-style architecture spanning an entire city block that has hosted numerous US presidents.

To again quote Jocelyn: “The bright blue sky was an incredible presence in our whole trip,” and I would add that the friendship and camaraderie that was displayed throughout the 3 days made the trip very special. Thanks again to John for being an invaluable guide and for his thoughtful planning.

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