2011 So. Cal. Road Trip

In 2011, between my trip to China with Dana and beginning my Pacific Crest Trail hike, I decided to squeeze in one more road trip: Southern California.  I was in the mood for some desert scenery, and Joshua Tree National Park, Anza Borrego Desert State Park, and the Salton Sea beckoned.

Using Moon's California Hiking as my guide, I hiked about two dozen trails from Mar 11 to Mar 16, sometimes covering several hikes in a day, and camping at the parks' campgrounds.  No hike was longer than a few hours.  I saw very few visitors.  If you like desert scenery, these are the place to go.

These are the hikes I took.  They are shown on the map above.  Click any one to jump to the page it is on.  Or Click the Next button to see the pages in succession.

1. Inaja Memorial Trail

2. Lake Henshaw

3. Stonewall Peak Trail

4. Lightning Ridge Trail

5. Green Valley Falls Trail 

6. Garnet Peak Trail

7. Anza Borrego Mountain Springs Canyon

8. Anza Borrego Pictograph Trail

9. Anza Borrego Mountain Springs Canyon

10. Anza Borrego Pictographs Trailhead

11. Anza Borrego Cactus Loop Trail

12. Anza Borrego Font's Point

13. Anza Borrego Elephant Tree Trail

14. Salton Sea

15. Tahquitz Canyon Palm Springs

16. Joshua Tree N.P. Mastodon Peak Trail

17. Joshua Tree N.P. Cholla Cactus Garden

18. Joshua Tree N.P. Skull Rock Nature Trail

19. Joshua Tree N.P. Geology Tour Road

20. Joshua Tree N.P. Ryan Mountain

21. Joshua Tree N.P. Big Falls Trail

22. Ponderosa Vista Nature Trail