National Park Service Visitor Guide U.S. Department of the Interior Joshua Tree National Park A planning guide for visitors to Joshua Tree National Park Fall 2007 Planning Your Fall Visit IN THIS ISSUE Entrance Fees even for a day trip. And, if you will be attending an evening Information 2 The park entrance fee is $15 per vehicle. It is good for seven program or camping, you will want to have additional warm Keys View Road 3 days. The cost of a Joshua Tree annual pass is $30. If you clothing to layer on, including gloves and a hat. A graph of the plan to visit several parks or other federal lands this year, an average monthly temperatures is located on page nine. Desert Glue 3 interagency annual pass is available for $80. Campgrounds 4 Keys View Road Campgrounds Although currently under construction (see page three What To See And Do 4 Black Rock, Cottonwood, and Indian Cove campsites are $15 for information about when the road is open during the Backcountry Roads 4 per night and Belle, Hidden Valley, Jumbo Rocks, Ryan, and construction period), this popular destination, perched on Backcountry Camping, White Tank campsites cost $10 per night. Reservations are the crest of the Little San Bernardino Mountains, provides available for Black Rock and Indian Cove and for all group panoramic views of the Coachella Valley and is well worth the Hiking, & Horseback Riding 5 sites. See page four for additional information. 20-minute drive from Park Boulevard down Keys View Road. Black Rock Canyon 5 The lookout is wheelchair accessible, or take the .2-mile-loop Ranger Programs trail up the ridge for especially nice views (see photo above). Park Map 6 Ranger-guided walks, talks, and evening programs are a good Self-guiding Trails 7 way to increase your appreciation of the plants, animals, and natural and cultural features of Joshua Tree National Hiking Trails 7 Park. Weekly schedules are available at entrance stations Desert Fan Palm Oases 8 and visitor centers and are posted on campground bulletin Cottonwood Spring 8 boards. We also post them on our website: www.nps.gov/jotr. Weather 9 For Kids Star Gazing 9 Kids, stop at an entrance station or visitor center and pick up a Junior Ranger booklet. Complete the activities inside and Rock Formations 9 return it to a ranger at an entrance station or visitor center. Joshua Trees 10 When you've finished, you'll receive a Joshua Tree Junior Ranger badge. Desert Institute Classes 10 Publications 11 Fall Weather When we hear "desert," we often think "hot." That is not Rating Climbs 12 always the case however. Joshua Tree's fall and winter The Trickster 12 temperatures can be quite chilly, especially after the sun sets or on a windy day. So don't forget to bring your jacket, Learn more about this issue's featured animal on Page 12. VISITOR CENTER HOURS Oasis 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Joshua Tree 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Cottonwood 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Black Rock October - May Daily (except Fridays) 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Fridays Noon - 8 p.m. EMERGENCIES Call 909-383-5651 or dial 911 or contact a park ranger. Cell LLZZ% e:> 'sui|ed aumAiua/vu phone coverage in the park is 3Aup >ped leuopeu S8tn>A spotty. sped leuopeu aajj enqsof EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA — Important information accessibility environment tures as they lose their fear of humans. not enter old mine workings. The nature trails at Bajada, Cap Rock, Two deserts, two large ecosystems It is also illegal! and the Oasis of Mara are accessible. whose characteristics are determined take only pictures Keys View is accessible and Site 122 at primarily by elevation, come together at leave no trace Over 1.25 million people visit Joshua Jumbo Rocks Campground is wheel­ Joshua Tree National Park. Below 3,000 During your visit please pick up trash Tree National Park each year. If each chair accessible. feet, the Colorado Desert encompasses around campgrounds and trails. Your visitor took just one rock or one plant, the eastern part of the park and features actions will inspire other park visitors. the park, our national heritage, would all terrain vehicles natural gardens of ocotillo and cholla soon be gone. Removal, disturbance, ATVs may not be used in the park. cactus. The higher, moister, and slightly lost & found destruction, or disfigurement of any­ cooler Mojave Desert is the special Report lost, and turn in found, items at thing in the park is unlawful. bicycling habitat of the Joshua tree. Joshua tree any visitor center or ranger station. Lost Bicycling is permitted on public roads, forests occur in the western half of the articles will be returned if found. trash both paved and dirt, but not on trails. park, which also includes some of the Our dry desert climate cannot quickly There are no bicycle paths and many off-road driving most interesting geologic displays found decompose such things as orange peels, roads are narrow, so ride cautiously. Vehicles, including bicycles, are prohib­ in California's deserts. In addition, five apple cores, egg shells, and other picnic ited off established roads. The desert fan palm oases dot the park, indicat­ remains. Loose paper blows into bushes campfires ecosystem is fragile. Off-road driving ing those few areas where water occurs creating an unsightly mess, and plastic Campfires are permitted in camp­ and riding creates ruts, upsets delicate naturally and where wildlife abounds. six-pack rings can strangle wildlife. grounds and in picnic areas where fire drainage patterns, compacts the soil, Dispose of your trash in a responsible and leaves visual scars for years. Plants grates are provided. Campfires are not entrance fees manner and recycle whatever you can. are crushed and uprooted. Wildlife allowed in the backcountry. Collecting Admission to the park is $15 per vehicle shelters are destroyed, and food and vegetation, living or dead, is prohibited, and is good for seven consecutive days. vehicle laws water supplies are altered or obliterated. so bring firewood. A Joshua Tree Pass may be purchased Park roads are narrow and winding. for $30 and a Federal Lands Pass, which Some areas are congested. Speed limits climate is good for all federal recreation sites, overnight parking are there for your safety and well-being. Days are typically clear with less than costs $80. Both are good for 12 months. There is no overflow parking in the State and federal vehicle laws apply 25 percent humidity. Temperatures are A Senior Pass may be purchased by any park, at visitor centers, or park head­ within the park. most comfortable in the spring and fall, U.S. citizen 62 or older for $10, and it is quarters. Unattended vehicles may not with an average high/low of 85°F and good for life. be parked outside of campgrounds and visitor activities 50°F respectively. Winter brings cooler backcountry boards between 10 p.m. Ranger-led programs are offered on the days, around 60°F, and freezing nights. firearms and weapons and 6 a.m. weekends from mid-October through It occasionally snows at higher eleva­ Firearms, including fireworks, traps, mid-December and from mid-February parking tions. Summers are hot, over—some­ bows, BB guns, paint-ball guns, and through May. Schedules are available at Park roads, even the paved roads, are times well over—100°F during the day slingshots are not allowed in the park. visitor centers, at entrance stations, and and not cooling much below 75°F until narrow, winding, and have soft, sandy on campground bulletin boards. the early hours of the morning. food, lodging, services shoulders. Accidents occur when There are no concessions within the visitors stop along the road to admire a visitor centers commercial filming park. However, surrounding communi­ view or make a picture. There are many The Oasis Visitor Center is located in pullouts and parking lots, so wait until When filming or photography involves ties can fulfill most visitor needs. Con­ Twentynine Palms and is open 8 a.m. to you get to one before stopping. advertising a product or service, the use tact local chambers of commerce for 5 p.m. The Joshua Tree Visitor Center, of models, sets, props, or the use of a information. Their contact information located in Joshua Tree Village, is also pets restricted site, a film permit is required. is listed on page six of this publication. open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Cottonwood While pets are allowed in the park, their Visitor Center serves the southern day-use and restricted areas food storage activities are restricted. They must be on entrance to the park and is open from Some areas within the park are privately Store food in hard-sided containers or a leash at all times and cannot be more 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Black Rock Nature than 100 feet from a road, picnic area, owned; others protect wildlife or his­ in your vehicle to prevent ravens, coy­ Center, located in Black Rock Camp­ or campground; they are prohibited torical sites. Entering these areas is pro­ otes, and other wildlife from eating it. ground, is open October through May. hibited. Day-use areas are set aside to from trails, and they must never be left protect sensitive populations of wildlife. getting to the park unattended—not even in a vehicle. wildflowers They are closed from dusk to dawn. The park is located about 140 miles Spring blooming periods vary with east of Los Angeles via 1-10.