Joshua Tree Camping

Join the CSUSB Adventure and enjoy a weekend of desert camping and star gazing! Named after the prickly Yucca, Joshua Tree National Park is home to some of the most fascinating geologic features and desert species in Southern California; the California tree frogs and a host of cacti reside exclusively in this exquisite national park. Joshua Tree NP combines two neighboring and yet distinct desert ecosystems of the Mojave and the Colorado, where the intense interactions of Earth’s crust and geothermal energy created the unique rock formations called the monzogranite, which comprise some of the park’s most iconic landscapes. Venture into the wild with the CSUSB Adventure on this unique opportunity to be one with nature.

Itinerary

Day 1: We will meet in Saturday morning at 8am at the Adventure Center, where we pack the van and begin the 2 hours (103 miles) drive to Joshua Tree National Park. Upon arrival, we shall check out the visitor center and enjoy a short hike before eating lunch and setting up camp. We will depart for Barker Dam, where we hike in the desert terrain and observe the geologic formations of the national park. The mini tour will be followed by a hike to Ryan Mountain and Keys view, which stretch 3 miles long and provide 360 degree viewpoints of the park; we will stick around and watch the sunset at Keys View before heading back to the camp, where we prepare the dinner and embark on a night exploration near the vicinity of the camp. The day’s adventure will conclude with some bonfire and s’mores.

Day 2: We will begin our Sunday morning by having a hearty breakfast at 8am. After we pack the camp, the group will depart for the Fortynine Palms Oasis and take on the first hike of the day (3 miles, 300 ft elevation gain). The hike will be followed by a short visit to the Skull Rock, which features a 1.7 miles loop trail perfect for a casual stroll in the heart of Mojave/Colorado desert.