Where the Streets Have No Name

Nestled far away from heavy traffic and pollution yet only a couple of hours from LA, a national treasure can be found. The town that surrounds it is filled with an eclectic group of nature enthusiasts, artists, poets and, since a military base is nearby, plenty of marines.

Joshua Tree National Park was proclaimed a National Monument August 10, 1936 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and redesignated a National Park on October 31, 1994. A scenic drive through the park makes it easy to understand why. Fields of desertscape with different cacti and palm trees sprinkle the range. You won’t be able to view all 825,000 acres of the Park, but the vistas seem never-ending because of the vastness of land.

Birding in Joshua Tree is a fun way to spend the day, rambling up the fascinating rocks with a pair of binoculars. Spring is the best time for birding because of the wide spectrum of bird species traveling through. Stop by the visitor center for a checklist.

Camping is primitive. There is no water, so you need to be sure to pack in plenty of it. Since there is no water, that means no showers and no laundry to name only a couple of things affected by this. That is why a combo plan for the less than primitive campers works well. Harmony Motel located on 29 Palms Highway is a great place to clean up, but do spend the extra $10 to also set up a campsite. You don’t want to miss the evening sky in the middle of the desert with no lights for miles. It is an awesome site. Camping under the stars takes on a whole new meaning.

Use your room for a base camp, but also enjoy the history of the Harmony Motel, 71161 29 Palms Hwy, Twentynine Palms, CA (760) 367-3351 http://www.harmonymotel.com/. Many artists have left a piece of their work behind for visitors to see. The rock band U2 stayed here while working on their album Joshua Tree. The prices are reasonable and the location is nearby the Park and another local favorite spot, Pioneertown.

Joshua Tree National Park is located 74485 National Park Drive, Twentynine Palms, CA, off Interstate 10 and Hwy 62 (Twentynine Palms Highway). The closest airport is Palm Springs International. There are three entrances to the park. The west entrance is located south of the junction of Highway 62 and Park Boulevard at Joshua Tree Village, The north entrance is in Twentynine Palms, south of the junction of Highway 62 and Utah Trail, and the south entrance is at Cottonwood Spring, 25 miles east of Indio, via Interstate 10.

This Park is rich in history and beauty. From the Indians that traveled through it and pioneers that tried to settle it to the unique geology and brilliant night skies that cover it, this is one remote spot filled with sites to see and trails to hike.