49 PALMS CANYON CLOSED TO ALL BUT THIRSTY BIGHORN SHEEP

The popular 49 Palms Canyon Hiking trail from Twentynine Palms into Joshua Tree National Park is closed to anything but thirsty Bighorn Sheep. Because of four years of drought, other water sources for bighorn sheep in that part of Joshua Tree National Park have dried up, leaving the 49 Palms Oasis as the only water source available for thirsty animals. A Park spokesman said the park’s bighorn sheep are even using the trail to get down to the 49 Palms Oasis, something rangers hadn’t seen before. The Park spokesman said the trail would probably remain closed until the park receives a good rain, which would replenish other water sources. In the meantime, the trail will be open only to sheep.