As a girl that is lucky enough to call Oregon home the desert is like a whole other planet. A few weeks back after a quick stop in Hogsmead I was lucky enough to spend a sun soaked weekend tromping through Joshua Tree National Park. If you have ever been there then you know how beautiful it is, if you have never been. Add it to the list of places you need to experience in this lifetime.
A friend was celebrating her 30th birthday and wanted to celebrate it at Joshua Tree, so we booked ourselves a great house for the weekend and figured we would figure out everything we needed to know on the fly. This was the first time either of us had ever used air bnb's and it was a huge success. I feel like it set the bar high and future air bnb’s.
This is the place, honestly it was perfect. it is about a 10 min drive to the main gate at Joshua Tree, it is private but you don't feel unsafe. For us, two women traveling alone that is important. Especially since I have seen way to many Criminal Minds and my imagination goes to the worst and scary place possible. So the thought of being in this home secluded in the desert in a new town was a little intimidating, but the house was perfect. Other houses near by and the welcome book was so detailed and thought through it put any little worry at bay. One of the best things in the book was an introduction and photo of a near by dog, Nana who lived near by but likes to visit. Although it made us laugh so hard it was good because the next morning she did come over for a visit. As an owner of a pug, large dogs always seem so much larger so it was good to know Nana is nice and a welcome guest. The house was cozy and comfortable. Crazy views and lovely decks to enjoy coffee on in the morning.
After a few morning cups of coffee we felt like we were ready to go explore the park and find some food. Lucky for enough one bit of advise from the welcome binder was the suggestion for the Crossroads Cafe. It is about a half block from the road that leads to the Joshua Tree Gate (The West Gate) and is delicious. Honestly possibly the best eggs Benedict I have ever had. It was so good, we actually went back on Monday before leaving town!
So with a few more cups of coffee and a very good breakfast we were really ready. As I said we had not really planned a ton out, my friend had bookmarked a few easy hikes for us to do, so we had a ruff game plan. But one thing we did not have was a full tank of gas or much water. So learn from our mistakes and make sure before you go in the park your gas tank is full as your many water bottles. So since we were not great at planning that day we just stuck to a short hike called the Hidden Valley route. It is a mile loop through a bolder inclosed valley. It was a great hike, very easy and pretty level. But don't think that just because it is easy does not mean it is was spectacular. We spent the one mile just walking around completely baffled and trying to figure out how boulders could just get stacked like that.
I am a beach girl through and through. Im always reminded of how big God is and how small I am during my time on the beach. JoshuaTree was definitely added to the list of places that remind me of what a big and creative God there is. After walking finishing the short hike we ended up deciding to drive around the park. The sun was out and the radio was blasting so we were happy to cruz and stop and take photos to try and capture the amazingness.
We drove all the way in to the park, from the West Gate down south across the whole park to the Cottonwood Visitor Center. The park is huge. HUGE. Lie you think some how you have missed a road and are certainly going to run out of gas and die in the park huge. But we had not missed a road, we were just un prepared. But we did make it to the other side of the park and back to Hwy 10. Lucky for us that put is in the way of In-n-Out. Not a bad pick me up after a day walking around in beauty.
After refueling, both the car and us we made our way back to Yucca Valley, the town where the house is. We went into a few of the shops and finished up with a stop at the grocery store to make sure we were better prepared for the next day of hiking and exploring.
Sunday started again with coffee on the deck, a visit from Nana and watching for road runners. We debated going back to Crossroads Cafe but decided to try a new place. It was not the best and we both regretted not following the instinct to stick to crossroads cafe. But non the less, we headed back into the park but this time with a game plan, water and a full tank of gas.
We headed over to Baker Damn area to do a few hikes. Both start from the same trail head. Baker damn was not my favorite. The trails were not supper well marked and the trail was sand so it was not one I enjoyed or would want to do again. The other hike from the same trail head was great, I can not remember what is was called but it was a pretty easy loop and took you through bolder fields and Joshua Tree groves.
It was a great day full of lovely weather and a beautiful park. We finished up the day with some pizza at a great spot right near the West Gate right in Joshua Tree. Its called Pie for the People and it was the perfect thing after a long day.
Sadly we had to head home the next day, but not before an amazing sunset enjoyed from the deck of the lovely rental home. We had a to make a quick spot back at the Crossroads cafe before heading back to LA to catch our flight back to PDX. Although it was a quick trip it was refreshing and relaxing, which sometimes weekend trips are not. We had seen warnings posted about such fun things as snakes, scorpions and the like. So when all we every encountered along the trail were a few jack rabbits and lizards I considered it a huge sign from nature that the park was happy to have had us there.
Of course because the place is so freaking beautiful I took a LOT of photos and tried to narrow them down a bit.
