Joshua Tree Desert Trek
Offered between October and April. Come and see parts of the Park that are rarely explored by anyone!

Sample Intinerary
(subject to change according to conditions)

The itinerary for the Joshua Tree Treks is highly variable, according to weather, trail conditions, and the experience and interest of the group members. Some trips will involve a ‘round-trip’ itinerary (beginning and ending in the same location), some trips are one-way (with different starting and ending points), requiring a vehicle shuttle. The following is very general description of the flow of the trip:

We meet at a picnic area or campground in the midst of Joshua Tree National Park at 8 am. With the direction of your Guides, we will carefully select the gear that we will need, paying close attention to ensuring light packs and sufficient equipment for the variety of conditions we might encounter. We will spend time designating small ‘cook groups’, and plan meals based upon these small groups, designing and packing food according to your unique needs. Since this is a desert, we will be carrying typically 5-6 liters of water, but we will replenish our supply at pre-placed water ‘caches’. If necessary, we will do a vehicle shuttle to our ending location. After an overview of the trip itinerary and a review of basic navigation skills, we will travel to our trailhead (if necessary), and ‘hit the trail’, usually around noon.

Our itinerary over the 3 days often involves hikes to prominent peaks or mountains, where spectacular views can be had of Joshua Tree National Park and sweeping views of the desert landscape. We may pass unique human history sites, including historic structures and sites such as homesteads, mines, and on occasion, archaeological sites. Animal and plant life abounds here in the Park, including a myriad of bird species, and the ever-present coyote. And of course, all along the way our views are framed by the unique Joshua Tree and the unusual rock formations that abound here. Nights are usually spent under a blanket of brilliant stars- shooting stars are commonly observed.

On Day 3, we head back to our vehicles, arriving usually around 3 pm. After spending time de-issuing, cleaning and organizing the equipment, we spend a short time debriefing the trip as a group, usually departing around 4:30 pm or so.

What to bring
Generally speaking, you will need to bring your personal equipment, including clothing, and boots, backpack, sleeping bag and pad, as well as your own lunches and snacks. We provide tents and shelters, stoves, cooking equipment, first aid kits, water treatment, and navigational gear such as maps and compasses. We provide dinner and breakfast during the trip, starting with dinner on Day 1, ending with breakfast on Day 3.