Tag: Mojave

The Mojave Desert, located in the southwestern United States, is a striking landscape characterized by vast expanses of arid terrain and rugged mountains. Spanning parts of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona, it is known for its iconic Joshua trees, which dot the sandy plains alongside hardy shrubs and cacti adapted to the harsh desert environment. The Mojave Desert experiences extreme temperatures, with scorching hot summers and chilly winters, while its unique geological features include ancient lava flows, dry lake beds, and towering sand dunes. This desert region is not only a testament to resilience in nature but also harbors a rich diversity of wildlife and holds a cultural significance as a home to indigenous peoples and a backdrop for explorers and adventurers alike.

Black Rock Canyon Campground

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Black Rock Canyon Campground
Black Rock Canyon Campground

Black Rock Canyon Campground is a large campground with 99 campsites located in the northwest corner of the Joshua Tree National Park. Joshua Tree National Park is a fantastic destination for those interested in Outdoor recreation including hiking, biking, horseback riding, rock climbing, bouldering, star-gazing, flowers and wildlife viewing. There are many historic sites in Joshua Tree National Park.

Each campsite has a picnic table, fire ring with rest rooms and water nearby. Campsites vary in size and can accommodate both tents and RVs. A day-use picnic area and a dump station are also available.

For horse owners, a separate area is provided for camping or for staging a ride.

Because of the park’s very dry climate, fire danger in Joshua Tree is almost always very high. Be cautious. Campfires are allowed only in designated fire rings or grills that are found in park campgrounds or picnic areas. Keep fires small.

Bring your own firewood. You may not gather park vegetation, whether living or dead, to fuel your campfire. If you plan to have a campfire, bring extra water to douse it thoroughly.

Campground Summary

NameBlack Rock Canyon Campground
Location Joshua Tree National Park,
San Bernardino, California
Latitude, Longitude34.0733332,-116.3919464
Number of Sites99
Elevation4.030 feet
AmenitiesFire Rings, Tables, Flush Toilets, Water, Dump Station

Campground Map

References

Hidden Valley Campground

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Hidden Valley Campground is location on Joshua Tree National Park
Hidden Valley Campground is location on Joshua Tree National Park

The Hidden Valley Campground is an established year round campground location in Joshua Tree National Park in California. Joshua Tree National Park is a fantastic destination for those interested in Outdoor recreation including hiking, biking, horseback riding, rock climbing, bouldering, star-gazing, flowers and wildlife viewing. There are many historic sites in Joshua Tree National Park.

The Mohave desert campground hosts features 44 campsites, pit toilets and no water. The campground is located off of Park Boulevard approximately fourteen miles from the town of Joshua Tree.

The campground is surrounded by large boulders and decorated with Joshua Trees. All of the campsites at Hidden Valley Campground are first-come, first-served. Camping fees must be pre-paid at an entrance station.

Because of the park’s very dry climate, fire danger in Joshua Tree is almost always very high. Be cautious. Campfires are allowed only in designated fire rings or grills that are found in park campgrounds or picnic areas.

Keep fires small. Bring your own firewood. You may not gather park vegetation, whether living or dead, to fuel your campfire.

If you plan to have a campfire, bring extra water to douse it thoroughly.

Campground Summary

NameHidden Valley Campground
Location Joshua Tree National Park,
San Bernardino, California
Latitude, Longitude34.0178521,-116.1640167
Number of Sites44
Elevation4200 feet
AmenitiesVault Toilets, Tables, Fire Rings

Campground Map

Directions

The campground is off of Park Boulevard approximately 14 miles from the town of Joshua Tree. The campground is located near Barker Dam and the Hidden Valley Nature Trail. If entering from the West Entrance in Joshua Tree, continue for about 10 miles. The campground will be on your left. If entering from the North Entrance of Joshua Tree National Park in Twentynine Palms, proceed for about 16 miles on Park Boulevard and the campground will be on your right.

References

Belle Campground

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Belle Campground in Joshua Tree National Park
Belle Campground in Joshua Tree National Park

Belle Campground is a small campground with 18 campsites located in Joshua Tree National Park in California. Joshua Tree National Park is a fantastic destination for those interested in Outdoor recreation including hiking, biking, horseback riding, rock climbing, bouldering, star-gazing, flowers and wildlife viewing. There are many historic sites in Joshua Tree National Park.

The campground is at an elevation of 3,800 ft (1,158 m) and camping is located around large boulders and among Joshua Trees, for which the park is named. This is a First-come, first-served campsite with vault toilets and no other service beyond trash removal.

No water so bring plenty of your own. Belle is a great campground to see dark night skies.

Because of the park’s very dry climate, fire danger in Joshua Tree is almost always very high. Be cautious. Campfires are allowed only in designated fire rings or grills that are found in park campgrounds or picnic areas. Keep fires small. Bring your own firewood. You may not gather park vegetation, whether living or dead, to fuel your campfire. If you plan to have a campfire, bring extra water to douse it thoroughly.

Campground Summary

NameBelle Campground
LocationJoshua Tree National Park,
San Bernardino, California
Latitude, Longitude34.0014648,-116.0215814
Elevation3,800 ft (1,158 m)
Number of Sites18
AmenitiesFirst Come First Serve

Belle Campground Map

Directions

From the North Entrance:

Continue along Park Blvd and turn left onto Pinto Basin Road. Drive approximately 1.5 miles south along Pinto Basin Road. Turn left into the campground at the campground sign.

From the West Entrance:

Drive along Park Blvd and turn right onto Pinto Basin Road. Turn left into the campground at the Belle Campground sign.

From the South : Drive north on Pinto Basin Road. Turn right at the campground.

References

Silver Star Mine

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The Silver Star Mine is a small mine site located off of the Zinc Mountain Road in San Bernardino County, California. The site rests at 4931 feet above sea level in the Ivanpah montains. The lonely site features a small humble cabin the miners used to survive and beat the heat. There is also a wrecked automobile near at the site, which has long since given up the battle against rust.

Silver Star Mine Cabin
Silver Star Mine Cabin

There is not much information available for this location on the Internet and hopefully I will be able to find some eventually. The mine site is also know as the Lucky Lode deposits. The route into the area is reasonably passable and should be suitable for most cars, provided the driver is used to operating on the back roads of the desert.

Silver Star Mine
Silver Star Mine rusted out auto

Some places claim that this mine produced lead, copper and zinc. The fact that this mine is found just off of Zinc Mountain Road offers some credence to a zinc mine. Other online sources claim this is a tungsten mine. A shallow mine shaft is located near the cabin. The shaft contains an old wooden ladder used by the miners and appears to be filled in, collapsed, or suspended after about 20 feet of workings.

Silver Star Mine Shaft
Silver Star Mine Shaft with ladder.

This stark hole in the ground reminds us what a challenges the life of a miner must endure. Hot, dry deserts, narrow, dark tunnels in a hostile landscape.

Silver Star Mine Trail Map

Resources

Coyote Melon (Cucurbita palmata)

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Coyote Melon (Cucurbita palmata)
Coyote Melon (Cucurbita palmata)

Coyote Melon (Cucurbita palmata), also known as Coyote Gourd, is a flowering plant common in the desert southwest and known to produce spherical yellow – green melons. The vine like plant is commonly found is loose, sandy or gravely, dry, well drained soil which is common in Southern California, Arizona, Nevada and exclusively in Washington County, Utah. The primary characteristic is the growth of a green melon or gourd which is quite startling when you first see them in the hot desert climates.

Sereno Watson (December 1, 1826 in East Windsor Hill, Connecticut - March 9, 1892 in Cambridge, Massachusetts) was an American botanist
Sereno Watson (December 1, 1826 in East Windsor Hill, Connecticut – March 9, 1892 in Cambridge, Massachusetts) was an American botanist

The gourd was first described in 1876 by Sereno Waston who was a Yale graduate with a degree in Biology, The Coyote Melon features a sprawling stiff vine with rough, stiff-haired stems and leaves. Cucurbita palmata produces a large yellow bell shaped flower, while the melon itself is smooth in appearance. The striped yellow – green colored gourd is known to be quite hard, however, also thin when mature. The melons are very bitter and not edible. This hearty planet can survive the harsh desert landscape through its use of a large and hearty tap root. This root system can extend several feet into the dry soil to supply the plant with nutrients and water required for survival.

The Coyote Melon (Cucurbita palmata) is extremely fibrous and although not edible to humans is known to be on the coyotes diet during the fall, hence its name. It is quite common to find the seeds of this plant in coytoe scat during the fall months.

Despite the fibrous melon being inedible by man, the native american tribes were known to consume the ground seeds of this plant. Additionally, they used the dried gourds as rattles in various dances and other ceremonies. They also utilized the plant was as soap for cleaning.

Resources