Discover A Desert Diamond

California’s Joshua Tree National Park offers spectacular trail riding through unique desert ecosystems.

- Kent And Charlene Krone

 The park began as Joshua Tree National Monument, established in 1936. The area became a national park in 1994, when Congress passed the California Desert Protection Act.

Located 140 miles west of Los Angeles, Joshua Tree National Park is composed of nearly 800,000 acres; more than 80 percent of the park is managed as wilderness.

Two desert ecosystems come together in the park. The western portion is situated in the Mojave Desert, above 3,000 feet elevation. The eastern portion lies within the Colorado Desert, a lower, more arid, sunbaked bowl. This difference in elevation and terrain results in astounding biological diversity.

Here, we’ll tell you about our experience riding and camping in Joshua Tree National Park and our ride into and around Pioneertown and the Pioneertown Mountains Preserve.

HIGH-DESERT RIDING

We first headed to Black Rock Equestrian Campground (nps.gov/jotr/plan yourvisit/black-rock-campground .htm), which sits at 4,000 feet elevation on the park’s western edge. This camp is essentially a large dirt parking lot ringed by a low wooden fence. The equestrian sites are for campers with horses.

Amenities are basic, but there is a water source. You’ll also find hitching rails, picnic tables, and fire rings. A few Joshua trees provide some shade. Restrooms are available in the adjacent family campground. You’re required to remove your horse’s manure and place it in the manure dumpster.

This campground is a convenient launch pad for riders wishing to explore the hidden wonders of the Mojave Desert. Several loops from the campground travel through picturesque stands of Joshua trees, small canyons, and towering ridges.

At the visitor center, pick up a detailed trail map, as well as information on local plant, animal, and bird life to enhance your riding experience.