Joshua Tree National Park

We left Joshua Tree National Park this morning and are now in Flagstaff, Arizona, hoping to see some of the Sedona area. We spent tree nights in Joshua Tree, did a lot of hiking in areas we had not seen before and enjoyed the warm weather and sunshine. The photo is of an area in the Tonto Basin where thousands of Teddy-bear Cholla grow, and which is known as the Cholla Garden. Tis Cholla is also known as the Jumping Cholla, since sections of the cactus very easily come loose and lodge themselves in arms and legs.

Taken in Joshua Tree National Park the first night we were there (we stayed three nights). We found a campsite, did a short hike and watched the sunset at Intersection Rock. We had traveled to Joshua Tree from the Salton Sea and Redlands. We spent our time in the park, the third time we've been there, hiking some new trails, exploring areas we had visited previously and enjoying the sunshine and warm weather.

Skull Rock is along the main road in Joshua Tree National Park and is a favorite stopping place for those visiting the park. We stopped briefly on our way out of the park and on our way to Sedona, Arizona.

Our last night in Joshua Tree National Park we spent hiking up Ryan Mountain and watching the sunset as we came down again. The photo was taken near the trailhead.

The photo is of young Joshua Trees which have not yet developed the arms that make them a familiar sight in the Mojave Desert. The photo is from a hike to the location of Pine City, where we found only some Junipers and no trace of the city.

This photo was taken at Cottonwood Springs in Joshua Tree National Park. Cottonwood Springs is an oasis from which we began our hike that day to another oasis, Lost Palms, and to Mastodon Mountain and its mines. The hike was not in an area like this but in the desert.

Most of the Ocotillo we saw in southern California were not in bloom, but near Mastodon Peak in Joshua Tree National Park we found a few plants blooming.

On our hike from Cottonwood Springs in Joshua Tree National Park we followed a side trail to Mastodon Peak and visited an old mine site there.

There are many old gold mines in Joshua Tree National Park. This mine was operated intermittently from the 1930's to the 1970's.but was largely unsuccessful.