Weekend Getaways: Joshua Tree (part 3)

After visiting Split Rock, we hopped back into the car and drove to the north end of the park to do the 49 Palms Oasis hike. The trailhead is outside of the national park, near the city of Twentynine Palms.

The flora on the hike was not spectacular compared to what we had already seen, but seeing an oasis of palm trees in the middle of this uninviting, harsh landscape was something I didn't want to miss. The hike itself was only 3 miles roundtrip and took us about 2 hours to do including the time we spent relaxing at the oasis.

You can see the patch of palm trees in the middle of the desert landscape

Cactus along the trail

Quail along the hike

Arriving at the oasis

When I hear the word "oasis," I imagine a nice blue pool of fresh, clear water. What it really means is a festering tiny pool of green, stinky water. At least there was shade and interesting dragonflys buzzing around. I still think it was worth the journey to see the way nature can sustain itself in the middle of the desert.

Tons of hikers were just beginning their hikes as we were leaving the trail, by that time it was close to noon and it was pretty hot out. I'm glad we were finished with our most strenuous activities by that point in the afternoon.