This time of year is also a time we get more physically active – maybe we have some resolutions in mind or maybe the time off finally allows us to hike one of the hundreds of trails available to us lucky desert dwellers.
Nancy Karl Trail
Since I’ve moved to the hi-desert, Part of my holiday traditions include going out for a hike, and sometimes even a picnic, on one of the Morongo Basin’s many hiking trails. This year, our big hike, planned for Christmas Day, and taking us from Yucca Valley to Desert Hot Springs, was cancelled on account of forecasted rain. I’m hoping that on Friday, with less to no rain predicted for today, I hope I can still get outside and hit some local trails.
One of my very favorite local trails is the Nancy Karl Trail. It’s land owned by the Mojave Desert Land Trust, tucked away at the tippy top of Friendly Hills in Joshua Tree. I used to live around the corner, and for my partner and I, it was our daily walk. We’ve since moved to Yucca Valley, and aren’t quite as close as we like to be. But since we’ve adopted a little dog, the Nancy Karl Trail is flat, scenic hour long hike perfect for dogs. In fact, I don’t remember the last time I did the Nancy Karl Trail without seeing a few other happy dogs and their owners.
Boom Trail
Reporter and Morongo Valley resident Gabriel Hart shared a new favorite of his:
“I love the new Boom Trail on the west end of Yucca Valley. While it’s easily accessible, it’s kind of a still-hidden gem located just a half-mile from the golf course at the very top of Fairway Drive., and it’s a perfect hike for those of us who want a nice moderate hike but don’t have a lot of time––you can do the whole two-mile loop in just under an hour, and in that short time you reach some of the highest vistas in the area, allowing an amazing panoramic view of Yucca, East Morongo Valley, and the hidden backside of Pioneertown. It’s still a newer trail so there’s usually no one else on it when I go, making it a quick and peaceful way to break up a busy day.”
West Side / Hi-View Loops
Online News Editor Robert Haydon shared (a few) of his favorites:
Out of all the hikes available to us I love to hit the Hi-View and West Side Loops out of Black Rock Campground. Even on the busiest weekends in spring visitors tend to stay away from these trails for some reason, but i’m fine with it. They are great to hike in the mornings all summer and have some spectacular views of the park, including parts of the Joshua Tree forest that burned earlier this year.
I also love a rock scramble and the opportunity to get high on a mountain, and the there-and-back-again Ryan Mountain trail gives you over 1,000 feet of altitude gain in less than 3 miles. It’s a popular hike but use the local privilege of hitting it early morning on a weekday for a frequently empty hiking experience.
