JOSHUA TREE TOUR. The SNEAK PREVIEW PHOTOS on the right were taken on the prerun, on March 25, 2004.

This year’s first Four Wheel Drive adventure will begin with a trip back through time as we tour the Joshua Tree National Park. Our journey will begin at the southwestern edge, as we traverse the less traveled Pinkham Canyon 4X4 trail to the park’s center. Our adventure then continues northward, up the "sand freeway" to a long-abandoned mining area for round two of our adventure. Our Joshua Tree Tour promises to be a most scenic, fragrant and moderately engaging event.

This outing offers a great introduction to the joys of 4x4 driving, but also some potentially exciting challenges. On our way through this high desert we will encounter some steep rocky grades and some soft sandy washes.

The route can be navigated by most stock 4 wheel drive vehicles, so even if you never have been off-roading, please plan to join us.

To ensure that our outings are safe and comply with all local, state and federal regulations of the areas we use, the following guidelines apply:

ABOUT THE PARK: Joshua Tree National Park ($10 entrance fee) consists of nearly 800,000 acres and encompasses some of the most interesting geologic displays found in California’s deserts. Below 3000 feet, the Colorado Desert, a western extension of the vast Sonoran Desert, occupies the southern and eastern parts of the park. It is characterized by stands of spike-like ocotillo plants and “jumping” cholla cactus (kids, don’t even pretend to touch this furry-looking cactus). The southern boundary of the Mojave Desert reaches across the northern part of the park. It is the habitat of the park's namesake, the Joshua tree. Extensive stands of this peculiar looking plant are found in the northwestern part of the park, which means we probably won't see them during the run. By the way, this park is home for six species of rattlesnakes.

Even before the California Gold Rush of 1849, prospectors were finding gold in southern California. As the take from the mines in the Sierras ran out, miners fanned out into the deserts. Here hot summers, scarce water, limited wood sources, and the difficulty and high cost of transporting equipment and provisions created a challenging environment in which to operate a mine. But a few hardy adventurers persevered and about 300 mines were developed in what is now Joshua Tree National Park. The existence of many of the roads and trails that we will be using are remnants of those mining operations.

Our Joshua Tree Tour will provide us with a variety of geological and ecological panoramas. We begin our trek at the 1600’ level at Interstate 10, crest in the main mining area at 2400’ and end at 1300’ on Highway 62. We should see some spectacular desert wild flowers this time of year. Soft sand, rocky flood plains and mild hill climbs are all ahead of us.

I encourage you to read through the About Us and FAQ sections of this website for important information about how we conduct our events and some sound advice as you plan for the event. If you would like to participate, please see us in the Pavilion on a Sunday prior to the event, beginning March 27. There you may sign up and be provided with vital information such as the meeting time and location.

THIS EVENT HAS ALREADY TAKEN PLACE. To see the Trip Report, click here.