Distance (round-trip)
0.33 mi
Time
0.5 hrs
Elevation Gain
22 ft
Season
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
Weather
–
Welcome to Joshua Tree’s most dangerous hike! It’s not rugged trails or exposed ridges that make this trail so treacherous; it’s the Teddy Bear Cholla that you need to watch out for. Ironically this is exactly the reason why you should absolutely stop here and stroll through this casual 1/3 mile garden trail. As you are walking be aware that even slightly brushing against a cholla will cause the spines to dive into your shoes, clothes, and/or skin. Speaking from personal experience, pulling out the spines is quite unpleasant. The cholla detaches its joints onto unsuspecting animals and birds as a means of dispersal; when these joints fall off they create new stands of cactus, just like this one.
This trail is located on the lonely western edge of Pinto Basin. More importantly, it’s located on the western threshold of the Colorado Desert, just as it starts to gain elevation. This area provides a unique blend of seasonally plentiful water (4 inches) from Wilson Canyon, and a loose mixture of soil and rock (to trap and hold the water).
This trail is well worth the drive any time of the day, but if you can visit during the last hour of light before sunset the cacti really glow. Spring bloom is another special time to stop by, which usually happens in March or April.
Grab a free interpretive brochure and start by hiking counter-clockwise. 16 markers are found along the trail, which refer to the topics in the brochure describing the unique blend of flora and fauna found within the garden.
The trail focuses on teaching hikers why the cholla cactus garden is so unique and what adaptations plants and animals have developed to live here successfully. Take your time and read through the brochure at each sign-post — there is a lot of good information here 0n both the plants themselves and the unique desert transition zone that makes up most of the land in Joshua Tree National Park.
If you plan on spending a day driving around the park, this is a great addition to your itinerary (along with other quick stops such as Key’s View, Skull Rock, Hidden Valley Trail, and Barker Dam Trail). If you are coming in from the Cottonwood entrance (south side of the park), then this trail is an easy stop on your way in. Even though it doesn’t offer a long or challenging experience (other than avoiding the cholla!) this hike is well worth the side trip next time you are in Joshua Tree.
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Kid-Friendly
Views / Vista
Trail Conditions
Flat, hard packed dirt. Some chollas reach out over the trail, so you need to pay attention to where you are going. This is a great family-friendly trail, but kids should be supervised so that they don't impale themselves on the cactuses.
Camping Info
First-come, first-served camping is found nearby at White Tank, Jumbo Rocks, and Belle campgrounds. Other National Park campgrounds include Cottonwood, Ryan, and Hidden Valley. Reservable sites are located on the north side of the park at Indian Cove and Black Rock campgrounds.
Weekends fill up fast from the end of November through mid-April. Arrive early and secure your campsite right away if you are planning on visiting on a winter weekend.
How to get there
From the south entrance on I-10, take the Cottonwood Springs exit towards Twentynine Palms. Continue on Cottonwood Springs Road for 6.8 miles. Just after the visitors center continue on Pinto Basin Road for 19.9 miles, look for a large parking lot on your left.
2 Comments
I can only imagine... I happened to get just a few spines in my leg (on another hike) but that was enough of a reminder to keep my eye's peeled in the future!
Leave a Reply to Brian Eagen Cancel reply
This is a great place, especially in the spring. However - and I can't emphasize this enough - do not leave the trail. I did this. I regretted it. For days.