Trip Date: 2/12/2017

Location: Joshua Tree National Park

Permit/Pass: 7 Day Permit ($15), JT Annual Pass ($30) or National Parks Pass

Trails: NPS

Directions: From Interstate 10 about 25 miles east of Indio take the Mecca/Twentynine Palms exit and turn left (north) onto Cottonwood Springs Rd. Drive 11.4 miles (about 4.5 miles past Cottonwood Visitor Center) to a right turn into parking for an established exhibit just past the Smoke Tree Wash sign.

Synopsis: This is a hike for which 2 miles barely scratches the surface. This wash provides a rich experience, but even if one hasn't the time to explore it at great length it's well worth any time you can spare. There are great desert plants and the always interesting Joshua Tree geology. And the long Colorado desert views provide a perspective that is seductively expansive.

Trail sequence: (Off-trail - Smoke Tree Wash out to the east, for about a mile, then loop around a low rock mound and head back through the wash)

Type: Out and back

Distance: 1.9 miles

Elevation: Min. - 2669’, Max. - 2763'

Profile:

Rating: Easy (factors: heat, orienteering, sandy wash)

Notes: 

Tracks: Smoke Tree Wash (east) - Joshua Tree NP - Alltrails, GaiaGPS

Turn by turn: 

  -- Strike out from the parking area into the sandy wash. Heading east from here the hiker is at the southern bank of this very broad flood plain, and following this course leads directly to the first low rock pile in view.

  -- Upon reaching the rock pile loop around in either direction (we didn't have time to climb it so cannot comment on those options) and head back toward the parking area by retracing your outbound steps.

Photos: Flickr