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Trip

Day Hike - Joshua Tree National Park

A week hiking in Joshua Tree National Park--Hike #6 [Last Hike] Panorama Loop and Warren Peak 7.7 miles, 1,600' gain. Explore the western edge of JTNP. Expect lots of giant Joshua trees, great desert scenery and a peak with exceptional views. Optional short hike before this one to Hall of Horror-slots-0.7 mile, 35' gain. See the extended Leader's Notes. This is a "Special Leader's Permission Only" hike and extended trip.

  • Moderate
  • Moderate
  • Mileage: 7.7 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 1,600 ft
  • High Point Elevation: 5,102 ft
  • Pace: 1.5 MPH up, 2.25 MPH down

This trip is part of  six days of hikes in Joshua Tree National Park--March 9-14, 2025.  Panorama Loop and Warren Peak and optional Hall of Horrors-slots are Trip #6 (the last hike of the series).  The main event is Panorama Loop and Warren Peak--a chance to experience the different, western portion of the park.  The Hall of Horrors is located in the middle of the park off of Park Road about 5.5 miles west of Jumbo Rocks Campground. It is a very short 0.7 mile loop hike to slot canyons in the rocks that loop fun to explore.  Both of these hikes are new to the leader and changes may need to be made based on discoveries in the field. 

Here is a nice video of the Panorama Loop and Warren Peak hike:  https://hikingguy.com/hiking-trails/joshua-tree-hikes/panorama-loop-and-warren-peak-joshua-tree/

Here is the Gaia route for Panorama Loop and Warren Peak:  https://www.gaiagps.com/map/?loc=10.9/-116.5520/34.0081&pubLink=P7biwlob3YWIrIa7fjFar1p0&trackId=9d6d50b0-f13e-4199-9cfb-fcc06c47994b

Here is the Gaia route for Hall of Horrors:  https://www.gaiagps.com/map/?loc=12.2/-116.1560/34.0057&pubLink=dDGIHpYF5kIRiTr7AHamqVcl&trackId=b570399a-e3cb-41d1-81c9-65f93b35d670

The plan for Friday March 14th is to pack up the camp in the morning, drive west on Park Road 5.5 miles to Hall of Horrors TH (it is on the way) do this short hike and then head over to the Black Rock area and do the Panorama Loop and Warren Peak Hike (another 24 miles past the Hall of Horrors TH).  After the Panorama Loop and Warren Peak Hike those that need to can quickly exist the park--I-10 is 27 miles away and Palm Springs is only 36 miles away.  

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 in Joshua Tree NP at Jumbo Rocks Campground (Sunday night to Friday morning March 9-14).  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 at the Mecca/Salton Sea camp-out (see option below) before the hike and/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

Meet at Panorama Loop TH at 10 AM.  Panorama Loop and Warren Peak TH is located in the far northwest corner of the JTNP near the Black Rock Campground. Take Palomar Ave. south from HWY 62 or from Alto Loma Drive.  Continue on Palomar Ave., it will intersect Joshua Lane.  Turn left on Joshua Lane and continue south until the entrance to the Black Rock Campground--the TH will be on your left.  It may be signed at Black Rock Canyon or Panorama Loop or California Riding and Hiking Trail--they all start here.  You need to display your national park pass or receipt for prior park entry on the dash of your car.  There is a nature center at/near the campground if folks want to learn more about the area.  

Route/Place

Palm Springs and Coachella Valley


Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

The Ten Essentials

  • Navigation
  • Headlamp
  • Sun protection
  • First aid
  • Knife
  • Fire
  • Shelter
  • Extra food
  • Extra water
  • Extra clothes
Trip Reports