Day Hike - Joshua Tree National Park

This is a one-way shuttle hike and will require several cars-a minimum of two cars that can each seat five people for a group size of five or fewer or four cars for a group larger than five.  The group size may be limited if we do not have enough shuttle cars.  Alternatively the trip could be changed (not my favorite) to a 9-12 miles out and back to the great viewpoint turn-around on the Boy Scout trail.  

We will need to determine the starting time when we have more car shuttle information--likely rather early-say 8 AM.

This trip is part of  six days of hikes in Joshua Tree National Park--March 9-14, 2025.  Boy Scout Trail with WIllow Hole is Trip #3.  I have not hike this trail before and there will be details we will need to figure out as we go.  This is a well used and popular trail in the park.  Part of the connecting hike between Willow Hole and the Boy Scout trail may be off-trail through flat looking terrain (likely there is a way trail that cuts this corner shortcut). 

Here is the proposed route for Boy Scout with Willow Hole:  https://www.gaiagps.com/map/?loc=12.3/-116.1915/34.0940&pubLink=cjS6l7LDKhEPLUgd0U8W2GYW&trackId=d71c7e1f-4eae-481d-91eb-0ea3100351b3

This extended trip to Joshua Tree NP is juxtaposed with the prior "Week of hiking in Palm Springs and Coachella Valley" extended trip.  I will be car camping five nights (March 9-14, out the 14th) in Joshua Tree NP at Jumbo Rocks Campground.  Others are welcome to join me with prior approval--as room allows.

This is a "Special Leader's Permission" hike and trip.  In requesting permission:

1)  Please telling me about your hiking experience

2) Where you are thinking of staying--your own accommodations and car or the Jumbo Rocks Campground in JTNP (see also below)?

3)  Are you hoping to ride in my car to the TH, to/from the airport (see more info. below)?

3) How many of the six JTNP area hikes do you plan to do?  

4) If I haven't hiked with you before please provide a recommendation from a Mountaineers leader I know and respect.

Please request permission as soon as you are ready, have research the cost (airflight, car rental, hotel, meals, etc.) and are confident that you can and will do this trip if selected.  Please don't ask my permission in case you "may" want to go.  I will review all the applications and get back to folks no later than Jan. 12th. Note it will take me a couple of days to get all six day hikes posted.   I will pick the group that seems the most compatible.

Participants are responsible for getting to the Joshua Tree NP area and to the TH each day and all other necessary accommodations. Some folks on past similar trips have gone together on hotel/AirB&B  and a rental car.  Some prefer only solo accommodations and transportation.  There are two towns north of JTNP that may have accommodations--Joshua Tree and Twenty-nine Palms.  

I will be staying at car campground on the Salton Sea before this hike--Mecca Campground in the Salton Sea State Recreation Area.  Others are welcome to stay with me--Saturday night 3/8--one night if there is room.  You can also get you own site-adjacent or not.  Note:  The Salton Sea is known to have a negative smell in the summer months and sometimes other times of the year.  There could be a unpleasant smell at the camp area.  Please let me know if you want this option.

I have reserved two adjacent National Park Campground sites at Jumbo Rocks.  These sites, as with most in the park have picnic table, vault toilets, firepits, but no water.  There may be water at the park ranger station or we will need to bring it all in from town.  From NP website:  Water bottle fill stations are located at the Black Rock Nature Center, the West Entrance Station, and the Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center. Water jugs can be filled at the West Entrance Station, Indian Cove Ranger Station, Black Rock and Cottonwood campgrounds, and at Park Headquarters (in the Northeast section of the parking lot).  These are all a 12+ miles drive away from our camp.  I anticipate room for at least 6 tents.  I will be bringing a two-burner camp stove and pots/pans and other camping stuff I can share.  Let me know if you have interest in staying here with me and how many nights.  Friday, March 14th, is our last hike, we will check out of campground that morning and proceed to the last hike in the northwest part of the park  (Black Rock).  I can drive those that choose to ride with me/share car to the Palm Springs area after this hike.  You would need to stay in a hotel overnight and likely fly out of Palm Springs airport the next day.  At the beginning of the trip, March 8th, I could pick up folks in the early morning (at Palm Springs Airport) before the March 8th --Palm Springs and Coachella Valley hike to Ladder Canyon/Painted Canyon. You would need to spend that night at the Salton Sea Campground the night prior to the six hikes in JTNP.  There would be a $10 per day charge to use my car (I will be the only driver), plus your share of the gas.  I can drive you to the THs and resupply trips to town.  There are limited spots in my car for this option.  If you desire to stay at Jumbo Rocks and are bringing your own car, there may be an additional charge or maybe not room for more than the one spot allocated for each camp spot.  This would need to be investigated.  Most information and clarification will follow.  I will be posting the remain JTNP hikes within the next couple of days.  Thanks.  Rob