California South

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Joshua Tree National Park
Chemehuevi Mountains Wilderness
Carrizo Plain National Monument

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Joshua Tree National Park

I did a few short overnight walks in Joshua Tree National Park.  The trails are popular during the day, but empty in the evenings and mornings

The area in the north of park has the highest concentration of Joshua trees and boulder formations

My favorite campsite was on the west side of the Boy Scout Trail

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Chemehuevi Wilderness

In early February, I walked around the Chemehuevi Mountains Wilderness on the border of California and Arizona (34 miles, 3 days)

Crossing over the pass on the first day

The loop started at Snaggletooth going east through Trampas Wash and returning west through Red Rock Falls Wash. The river is lined with a wall of tamarisk, but there are two places to resupply water -- an inlet at the end of Trampas Wash and northeast of the main wash that leads into Devils Elbow (requires scrambling to get to a beach). Give yourself extra time for backtracking the ravines and canyons around the Colorado River, no easy way on day two. Burro tracks often help.

Sunset on the first night over Trampas Wash

The Colorado River section was the highlight of the area, challenging terrain and beautiful when the river comes into view

Devils Elbow of Topock Gorge

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​Carrizo Plain National Monumnet

The superbloom in Carrizo Plain National Monument (2017).  There is a clearly defined trail off Elkhorn Road, which starts at a wooden gate a few miles south of the Wallace Creek parking area ​​

I visited the first week of April, peak bloom was the week prior in late March

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