It’s the first day of fall – and you can already feel it in the air. Cooler winds and fall foliage have given some parts of the desert a yellow hue normally reserved for springtime. It’s been a wet year in California, with a strong El Nino weather system forecast, that could mean even more rain for the hi desert.
Today is also National Public Lands Day, now in itts 29 year and held annually on the fourth Saturday in September. The day is traditionally the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort.
We are lucky to be surrounded by Public Lands – Joshua Tree National Park, BLM land, OHV shared use areas and the multiple preserves – all available to the general public and within miles of most places in the morongo.
The National Parks have been described as America’s best idea – and all day today you have free access to them as fees are waived.
In addition to just getting out and exploring our beautiful surrounding mojave – There are volunteer events happening such as the Giant Rock cleanup. If you are feeling inspired to do something for the desert – you can pick up litter in your neighborhood or on MDLT land, plant some native plants on your property, or simply take a moment to realize that we live in one of the most unique and beautiful places on earth: worthy of protection and preservation.
Free admission is all day today, but if you’re a local you’ll know that Saturday can also be one the busiest for the park. If you want to avoid the possibility of long lines check this story on our website for some alternatives that can get you out and about in the hi desert, doing some good for yourself and the lands we live on.
The Big Morongo Canyon Preserve has reopened and is always free, although donations are encouraged and help support the preserve.
The Johnson Valley Shared Use area is BLM land, containing a wide variety of desert landscapes. Most of the dry lake doesn’t require an offroad vehicle to get out to, although exploration beyond the lakebed will require a vehicle with offroad capabilities.
The Mojave Desert Land Trust has hundred of acres of protected desert ripe for exploration. The Nancy Karl trail is free and right next to the National Park, and many of the areas of open desert around town are owned and protected by the land trust.
Just getting out and walking around our hi desert can help you connect with the land, and do some good too.
