If you love being outside this is your time of the year. The mild temperatures of spring bring more people out to the park than any other season as visitors and locals alike have to pack in long hikes and loops that would be dangerous to do in the triple-digit summer months.
So if you are itching to get outside on the weekend but want to avoid the long lines and crowded lots in the National Park, there are a few alternatives that should provide a more relaxed and less populated experience.
The Desert View Conservation Area is free and open to everyone. It’s also locally known as Section 6, and it is over 600 acres of undeveloped desert that is available for exploring right off Quail Springs road as you head into the west entrance to Joshua Tree National Park. It’s open 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. – so don’t get locked in.
The Nancy Karl trail in the Friendly Hills neighborhood of Joshua Tree is also adjacent to the park and is dog friendly – however there are wild animals on the trail that are sensitive to canines. Just last week I was on the trail and saw a mojave desert tortoise making their way toward the hills that create the northern border of the national park.
Just halfway down the hill, the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve is always a great destination any time of the year. The riparian habitat can actually be a few degrees cooler than other spots in the desert, something to remember when July and August hit.
And don’t forget about our State Parks. Mt. San Jacinto is over 14,000 acres of rugged mountains and pine forest that provide a change of scenery from the hi desert for a pretty short drive, and you can check out a state park pass from your local library branch for free admission.
More hike alternatives outside Joshua Tree National Park
Fortynine Palms Oasis
Black Rock Campground, Hi-View and Westside Loops
