Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park in California sits in two different deserts, Colorado Desert and Mojave Desert.

Joshua trees

Tourists will find many Joshua trees in the west side of the park in the Mojave Desert.

These unusual trees received their name form the Mormons, who, according to legend saw the limbs of the trees reaching upward to the sky as if they were praying. Like Joshua in the Bible, the trees guided the Mormons to the west.

Joshua trees grow in a desert forest

Though Joshua trees grow in the desert, they are found in the Queen Valley forest.

The tallest Joshua tree in the park measures at forty feet high.

Skull Rock

Skull Rock is just one of the unusual rock formations at the park.

Stop on the main east-west park road to see the rock and then hike the nature trail.

Keys Ranch Tour

Reserve a spot on the Keys Ranch Guided Walking Tour where a ranger guides guests to the ranch where Bill and Frances Keyes worked and raised five children. Besides the ranch house, a store, workshop, and school still stand.

Beautiful overlook

The sights from the Keys View are well worth the six-mile trip. See the beautiful Coachella Valley and the Salton Sea. Look across the valley at the Sonoran Desert mountains in Mexico

Wildlife at the park

While in the park, watch for roadrunners, coyotes, jackrabbits, quail, iguanas, and bighorn sheep.

Climbing on the rocks and boulders is fun, but rattlesnakes also like them so stay alert.

 

-Sandra Merville Hart

 

Sources:

 

“Joshua Tree,” National Park Service, 2016/01/07 http://www.nps.gov/jotr/index.htm.

 

Flynn, Sarah Wassner. National Geographic Kids: National Parks Guide U.S.A., National Geographic Society, 2012.