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Natural

Arches, peaks, overlooks, fossils, caves, and natural areas

20 posts

Fried Liver Wash

Fried Liver Wash

Fried Liver Wash is one of those hikes in Joshua Tree that really tests your appreciation for subtle desert landscapes. The canyon itself is pretty unremarkable - just a long stretch of typical desert scenery. And when I say long, I mean it. This is a 15.4-mile one-way trek,

Ryan Mountain

Ryan Mountain

Ryan Mountain, rising above the boulder-strewn plains of Lost Horse and Queen Valleys, is one of the best and most popular hikes in Joshua Tree National Park. It is a signature hike. The mountain rises above the boulder-strewn plains of Lost Horse and Queen Valleys and offers fantastic panoramic views

The Lost Arch

The Lost Arch

No, there is another... In 2022, while brainstorming for our annual Turkey Day Vacay, I recalled a saguaro that I’d seen in Vidal Valley and wondered if it was still there. The problem was that I’d never been to Vidal Valley, so I couldn’t possibly have seen

Duct Peak

Duct Peak

In early 2016, I dusted off my peak-bagging boots and climbed up the 3,137 ft Duct Peak. It's a small peak in the far eastern part of Joshua Tree in what I call the "Empty Quarter" of the park. This section of the park is

Fortynine Palms Oasis

Fortynine Palms Oasis

The Fortynine Palms Oasis is a popular and well-traveled hike to a shady palm oasis just outside of Twentynine Palms. The trail was once part of an old Indian trail. The Serrano and Chemehuevi Indians knew this oasis well, ate fruit from the palms, and used the fronds in their

Barker Dam

Barker Dam

It goes without saying that water is vital in the desert, and Joshua Tree is no different. A rancher named C.O. Barker built the dam around 1902 to improve the natural tank for his cattle. Along with the nearby Cow Camp reservoir, the tank was an important watering hole

Window Rock

Window Rock

I'm a fan of arches. I don't know why, but they are always fun to find. There aren't that many in the heart of Joshua Tree National Park (Arch Rock and Garrett's Arch come to mind), but there is a lesser-known one