Joshua Tree National Park - November 26 - 27, 2010

We've spent the last few days in the Coachella Valley, parked at the Oasis Palms RV Park about 33 miles from Palm Springs and 12 miles from the Salton Sea. The weather has been moderate, with most days right around 62, however when the Sun goes down grab your thermal vest, jacket or sweatshirt....the temperature drips dramatically. And it's an early dip...right around 4:45pm, as most of the valley is surrounded by mountains.

Once we got into the park from the south entrance, we were met with this impressive monzogranite hills - part of the Mojave.

Monzogranite hills - Mojave Desert

Within Joshua Tree Park two deserts converge---Mojave and the Colorado - each with distinctive differences.

The Cholla Gardens is a great opportunity to get out and walk the loop...bet it is stunning when in full bloom.

Cholla bush - Cholla gardens



Cholla flower pods (red in bloom)


Rock climbing is one of the activities in the Colorado desert campgrounds.



San Andreas Fault Zone info at Keys View



Fault line runs through the center of this photo













From Keys View, the highest point in the park you an look over the valley, locate the San Andreas fault line.....and in the distance see Mt. Diablo, Santa Rosa Mts and Mt San Jacinto.

We had two days to explore this large and diverse park....oh, have you every seen a Joshua tree.....


Queen's Forest

 "Young sprouts may grow several inches in the first five years, then slow down, averaging one-half inch per year thereafter. The tallest Joshua tree in the park looms a whopping forty feet high, a grand presence in the Queen Valley forest; it is estimated to be about 300 years old! These “trees” do not have growth rings like you would find in an oak or pine." from the park brochure.