In this edition of Beyond L.A., we tour some of Death Valley’s most famous attractions in a route that can easily be done as a two-day road trip from Los Angeles. Needless to say, there’s much more to the largest park in the continental U.S. than the hikes and sites described here, but for those…
Read more Beyond L.A.: A two day road trip to Death Valley National Park
Location: Mojave National Preserve between Barstow and Needles. From Barstow, take I-40 east for 50 miles to exit 50. Turn right and make a quick left on to National Trails Highway (also signed as county route 66 – a former segment of US Route 66). Head east for 26.4 miles to Crater Road. Turn right…
Location: Northwestern San Bernardino County, east of Ridgecrest. From US 395, exit at the Searles Station Cutoff, turn right and head northeast for 4.5 miles. Turn left onto Trona Road and go 8.5 miles to Highway 178. Turn right and head east on Highway 178 for 7.4 miles to the signed entrance to the Pinnacles.…
Location: Joshua Tree National Park. The turnoff for the Split Rock Picnic Area and the Split Rock Loop Trail is on Park Blvd., 8 miles east of the junction at Keys View and 2.2 miles west of the junction with Pinto Basin Road. Head north on the dirt road (all vehicles OK) for half a…
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Location: Mojave desert between Barstow and Baker. From Interstate 15, take exit 221 for Afton Road (38 miles northeast of Barstow, 24 miles southwest of Baker and 74 miles southwest of the state line). Follow Afton Road 3.5 miles to the campground. The road is dirt and rough in some spots but should be navigable…
Location: Riverside County, northeast of the Salton Sea. From the Salton Sea State Recreation Area near the town of North Shore on Highway 111 (10.8 miles southeast of Mecca and 67 miles north of El Centro) head east on Parkside Drive for 1.8 miles. Turn right onto Desert Aire Drive, go 0.4 mile and bear…
Location: Pinto Basin Road, Joshua Tree National Park. The Cholla Cactus Garden Trail is 18.4 miles southeast of Highway 62 (via Utah Trail, Park Blvd. and Pinto Basin Rd.) and 27 miles north of Interstate 10 (via Cottonwood Springs Rd. and Pinto Basin Rd.) Entrance to Joshua Tree National Park is $25 per vehicle (for…
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Location: Indian Cove, Joshua Tree National Park. From Highway 62, take Indian Cove Rd. (36 miles northeast of I-10, 16 miles east of Yucca Valley and 6 miles west of Twenytnine Palms). Head south on Indian Cove Rd. for 2.7 miles to the Indian Cove Campground entrance. Drive to the western end of the campground…
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Location: Mecca Hills Wilderness Area southeast of Palm Springs. From I-10 in Indio, take Highway 86 southeast for 10 miles to 62nd Ave. Bear left onto 62nd Ave. and head east for 2.2 miles to Johnson St. Turn right and go 2 miles to 66th Ave. Turn left and follow 66th Ave. for 4 miles…
Location: Joshua Tree National Park. From I-10 east of Indio, take exit 168 (Cottonwood Springs Rd.) Head north for 1.5 miles. The trail head will be on your right. If you are coming from the north, the trail head will be 5.5 miles south of the Cottonwood Visitor Center. Agency: Joshua Tree National Park Distance:…
Location: Joshua Tree National Park. From Interstate 10 east of Indio, take exit 168 for Cottonwood Springs Road. Head north for 7 miles to the Cottonwood Visitor Center where you will pay your admission fee ($25 per vehicle for a week or $40 for an annual pass; inter-agency passes also accepted). Turn right onto Cottonwood…
The Slot (Anza Borrego Desert State Park) Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. The turnoff for the Slot is a dirt road called Buttes Pass, located on Highway 78, 17 miles east of Scissors Crossing, 10 miles east of Yaqui Well Road, 1.5 miles east of Borrego springs Road and 21 miles west of Highway 86.…
High View Nature Trail (Joshua Tree National Park) Location: High desert near Yucca Valley. From I-10, take Highway 62 northeast for 21.8 miles. Turn right on Joshua Lane (opposite highway 247). Go 4.6 miles to a T-junction at San Marino Drive. Turn right and follow San Marino Drive to Black Rock Canyon Road. Drive 0.3…
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Hidden Valley Nature Trail (Joshua Tree National Park) Location: Hidden Valley, Joshua Tree National Park. From Highway 62 in Yucca Valley, take Park Blvd. south into Joshua Tree National Park. Follow it for a total of 14 miles, during which it becomes Quail Springs Road and then resumes as Park Blvd. The well-signed Hidden Valley…
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Pine City (Joshua Tree National Park) Location: Joshua Tree National Park. From Highway 62, about six miles past the junction with Highway 247 and 26 miles northeast of I-10, take Park Boulevard (signed for the park) south (turn right if you’re coming from the west, left if from the east). Follow the road for a…
Borrego Palm Canyon (Anza Borrego Desert State Park) Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park near Borrego Springs. From Highway 79, head east on San Felipe Road (County Road S2). The junction is 4.3 miles north of Highway 76 and 3.6 miles south of Warner Springs. Take S-2 for 4.7 miles and turn left onto Montezuma Valley…
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Ryan Ranch (Joshua Tree National Park) Location: Joshua Tree National Park. From Highway 62, about six miles past the junction with Highway 247 and 26 miles northeast of I-10, take Park Boulevard (signed for the park) south (turn right if you’re coming from the west, left if from the east). Follow the road for a…
Mt. Inspiration (Joshua Tree National Park) Location: Joshua Tree National Park. From Highway 62, about six miles past the junction with Highway 247 and 26 miles northeast of I-10, take Park Boulevard (signed for the park) south (turn right if you’re coming from the west, left if from the east). Follow the road for a…
Eureka Peak (Joshua Tree National Park) Location: High desert near Yucca Valley. From I-10, take Highway 62 northeast for 21.8 miles. Turn right on Joshua Lane (opposite highway 247). Go 4.6 miles to a T-junction at San Marino Drive. Turn right and follow San Marino Drive to Black Rock Canyon Road. Drive 0.3 miles to…
Mountain Palm Springs (Anza Borrego Desert State Park) Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park on County Road S2. From Highway 78, head southeast on S2 for 30.2 miles. At mile marker 47.1, shortly past Indian Gorge, look for an unsigned dirt road on the right. Follow it 0.7 miles to the Mountain Palm Springs Campground and…
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