In much need of an escape from the New York rat race, we decided to take a long weekend out in the High Desert. We had visited years ago on our honeymoon roadtrip, but that visit was stymied by heat waves and forest fires - so we always wanted to return. This trip was something completely different.
After flying in to the Palm Springs airport (which is open air! no stuffy airport hallways!), we picked up our rental car and shot east toward the Mojave. It rained quite a bit on the drive out there and that first night in our airbnb - which has us feeling a little low about our prospects. Who wants to hike through the desert if it’s muddy and rainy?
We woke up the next morning to an uncharacteristic grey and foggy day (a little damp here and there sure, but hardly the soggy mess we were afraid of). It was eerie, surreal and so beautiful. We grabbed breakfast at a great little diner right outside the West Entrance and got to the gates just as the park was opening, and found we had the whole park to ourselves.
We made our way out to the Hidden Valley Trail, which takes you through the Lost Horse Valley. We hiked, scrambled, explored for ages without ever seeing another person. The landscape looked even more beautiful and alien in the foggy light, and we had it all for the two of us.
Next up was a hike out to Barker Dam, a water reservoir built over a 100 years ago. Naturally, Ben wanted to climb on the dam despite the posted signs restricting access.
As you head southeast, the landscape starts to change. The Mojave desert gives way to the Pinto Basin, and with that means a very interesting series of rock formations.
After scrambling and exploring our way through several more trails, we got back in the car and continued Southeast. As you pass through Wilson Canyon, the landscape smoothes out and drops off into the basin. This is where you’ll find the Cholla Cactus Garden. Fields of these beautiful cacti stretching out before you and the great desert.
This was our final stop on our tour of the park, and we arrived right as the clouds parted. Could not have made for a better last destination.
While this trip will be a hard one to top, we cannot wait for a chance to come back!