Wednesday, February 6, 2013 (Black Rock Campground, Joshua Tree National Park, CA)

Another beautiful sunny day today...but it is definitely cooler, especially with the breeze.  We headed out shortly after 10:00 again today...this time we are going to stop at the Oasis Visitors Center in Twentynine Palms before going into the north entrance of Joshua Tree National Park.

As usual, there is a display describing the area.  We wandered around taking in all of the information, spoke to a ranger about the hiking areas...







...and then went out the back of the center...there is a short nature walk but we decided not to bother, instead we hopped back in the truck and headed to the north entrance of the park.

We didn't find the scenery as nice as the west entrance. Eventually we came to Skull Rock Trail...time for a hike. The 1.7 mile nature trail loops through a jumbled garden of rock formations. We parked the truck and started the trail across the road at Skull Rock...note the rock with a hole in it to the far right.

An interesting layer of rock running through this formation...

The trail took us through some incredible rock formations.  Part of the trail went through Jumbo Rock Campground.

Can you see the rock climber?

Can you see the sleeping Elephant?

This is a tight spot...

I came across this little fellow...he didn't move a muscle, I think he figured I didn't see him...






We're almost back to the truck...

Another great hike!  Back at the truck, we continued along the road...lots of beautiful Joshua Trees.

Time to go for another hike...The 2.2 mile round trip Wall Street Mill Trail is in the same area as the Barker Dam Trail that we did yesterday.

We followed a split in the trail that took us to some old ruins...

Hey baby...need a ride?

Back on the main trail, we came across this grave marker.  This is the spot Bill Keys shot and killed Worth Bagley in 1943 over a dispute over water.  Keys said it was self-defense.  He spent 5 years in San Quentin before receiving a full pardon. I think it says  "Here is where Worth Bagley bit the dust at the hand of W.E.Keys May 1 1943"

We arrived at the mill site...

We continued a little further down the trail and found a small pool of water...

There are all sorts of things scattered around the area...

This is the water pumping station...

See the rock climbers?

We had another great hike...but my feet are sore!  My hiking boots are a little tight on my left foot...ouch!

More rock climbers...Crazy!

We left the park through the west entrance and were back home shortly before 4:00...another great day! The west entrance is the most scenic and has most of the hiking trails, picnic and camping areas. We will miss Cottonwood Springs located about 40 miles away at the southern entrance. This is a very large park.