Today we headed back to Joshua Tree National Park. The desert is something I miss dearly when I’m on the east coast. I have so many memories here; sunrise, sunset, long hikes in the backcountry, the milky way and endless starry nights. It’s a magic place… hard to put into words, really.
We hiked one of my favorite trails today, the Panorama Loop from Black Rock Campground. At the beginning of the hike, there was a raven perched in a joshua tree. I took a moment to make his acquaintance and listen to what he had to say. His message clearly stated, “Welcome back! We’ve missed you!” (As I said, the desert is a magical place.) :)
The hike on the Panorama loop starts in the far northwest section of Joshua Tree National Park. Much of the trail is hiking through a sandy wash with a moderate incline until you reach the base of a mountain where you’ll make your way up to the high point of the loop. The trail winds through the canyon walls and the scenery is lush and green abundant with juniper, pinyon pine and oak. It’s a very diverse section of desert and that’s why I love it so much. There’s also a spring which contributes to the greenery on this section of trail. At the top of the loop the views are some of the best I’ve seen in the park, in my opinion. You can look out to Mt. San Gorgonio, Mt. San Jacinto, Yucca Valley, Coachella Valley and the Salton Sea. The winds were really strong today and we descended just below the high point and took shelter behind some boulders to sit and have a bite to eat while we enjoyed our surroundings. A few groups of horseback riders passed us as they made their way down from the top of the loop. To me, horses and desert encompass everything that is wild and free. This resonates so deep within my heart that it brought a tear of joy to my eye. I guess I am sentimental that way. Being here in this moment and being home again in the places that I love, I was filled with contentment. I laid atop a boulder and just let the winds pass over my body while looking up at the blue sky. As much as I could have stayed there forever, we needed to start heading back. We continued along the trail through the pinyon pines and joshua trees until we arrived back at the start of the loop. It was a wonderful day!
Hiking the Panorama Loop from Black Rock Campground. This hike starts in the far northwest section of Joshua Tree National Park. You can park at the Black Rock Canyon Campground where there’s a visitors center and bathrooms. From there, look for campsite #30 and you’ll find the trailhead. You’ll see a water tank and a dirt road which you will follow southeast for a short distance until you are on a dirt trail. You’ll reach a sign for the Panorama Loop and Warren Peak via Black Rock Canyon Trail. Much of the trail is hiking through a sandy wash with a moderate incline. You’ll be winding through canyon walls here and as you continue, you’ll notice the lush greenery beginning to present itself. This area is abundant with pinyon pine, juniper and oak. You’ll also discover a spring. But keep your eyes peeled because it’s easy to miss. When we were here in February it was just a trickle. However, there is plenty of wildlife to be seen in this area such as insects, birds, rabbits, and ground squirrels. It’s a very unique section of the park. At about 1.7 miles in you’ll find the signage for the start of the loop to Panorama Peak. If you hike it clockwise, you’ll have a steeper climb up, but it will save your knees on the way down the other side. As you do the work to ascend, you’ll be rewarded with views of snow capped Mt. San Gorgonio. Continue upward on the steep switchbacks for incredible panoramic views of Mt. San Jacinto, Yucca Valley, Mt. San Gorgonio and the Coachella Valley. You can even catch a glimpse of the Salton Sea. When you’re ready to return, follow the ridge and descend down into a wash where you’ll continue to enjoy the lush terrain along with majestic Joshua Trees. Eventually, you’ll be back at the start of the loop and return the way you came. It was a beautiful hike. Much different then the typical terrain I’m used to seeing in the desert.
I love the hike to Devil’s Chair. We did it in October of 2017 and it’s a beautiful part of the San Gabriels hidden away to the far north. The geological formations that have been formed throughout the years by the San Andreas and Punchbowl Faults are an incredible spectacle to witness firsthand. This area is also a transition zone between high desert and subalpine, and it’s interesting to see how the plants change as you travel the undulating trail. This time it seemed the trail was a bit more eroded in sections then the last time we hiked it, but it was still easily passable without being unsafe. As we approached the Devil’s Chair we descended the switchbacks and navigated the over narrow, rocky cliffs. Thankfully, there’s a metal fence put in place here that allows you to go all the way out to the edge. Otherwise you would not be able to hike here. The views from the Chair were spectacular. Once we’d taken it all in, we climbed back up and had a quick snack break before starting our return. The clouds were starting to roll in and it looked pretty chilly up in the higher elevations on Pleasant View Ridge and Mt. Lewis. The temperature dropped to about 43 degrees as we made our way back and the wind kicked up making it a chilly end to a beautiful winter day.
