Tips for Camping in Joshua Tree in the Summer

Essential Knowledge for Camping in Joshua Tree During the Summer

Part II
(Part I is here)

This article will give you some tips for camping in Joshua Tree in the summer!

First of all, don’t die. I am dead serious. Bad word-play aside, safety first at all times is critical to having a favorable experience in the heat of the desert summer. Like all environments, the desert can be lethal. With extreme temperatures and minimal water sources, the desert can be even more dangerous than other environments. Dehydration and heat illness can become a life-threatening issue in very little time. Too often unfortunate souls get swallowed up by the deserts of the Southwest. Many more close calls happen, and it can be a very harrowing experience to be unprepared out in the heat of desert summers. By preparing a plan, water, sun protection, and shade, a desert camper can safely enjoy hot summer days in Joshua Tree and the deserts of Southern California. Let’s get on to some specifics!

Make Sure You Have a Plan

The number one thing to know about summer camping in Joshua Tree is to have a plan. Hiking in Joshua Tree can be more dangerous than in other places for a variety of reasons in addition to temperature. The strange terrain can make it difficult for non-experts and experts alike to note landmarks. Landmarks in Joshua Tree can be easily obscured by tall rock piles and deep canyons. Having a plan means not hiking alone whenever possible and notifying emergency contacts of your intended locations ahead of time, along with an estimated return time. That way if you are hurt or lost, help can be on the way.

If you get lost – stay put! Find shade as quickly as possible. Staying put, remaining calm, and seeking shade will greatly increase your chances of survival.

Water Consumption

Each person in desert heat requires: One Gallon of Water per Day Sedentary | Two Gallons of Water per Day Active

The other number one thing to know about camping in Joshua Tree during the summer is water consumption. In hot weather we each need to drink one gallon of drinking water per day. If you are walking or hiking, you’ll need two gallons per day. Since taking precautions is easy, I personally double or triple my water needs and count on four to six gallons of water per person per day in desert summers. It is obviously not particularly feasible to hike with six gallons of water, yet bringing extra water in a car is generally easy, so you may as well do it. It feels amazing to splash yourself with water throughout the day in desert summers!

A general hiking rule of thumb is to only hike until you are half out of water and turn back. That’s pretty good general advice, yet in the desert summers, I prefer to once again increase safety levels. I personally prefer to hike until I am one third out of water, or even a quarter out of water on super hot days – three quarters left – and then turn back. That way, I will hope to have at least a third of water left on completion of the hike. In summer hiking, it is not completely unexpected to be more tired and hot on the way back than the way out, and therefore it is nice to know you’ll have a little more water to drink on the return trip. It is also nice to know you’ll have a little extra in the event you encounter someone that needs a little extra. That being said, it is extremely important to drink water when you are thirsty. Trying to conserve water while hiking can quickly lead to heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

People that are overheating and are heading toward heatstroke, or are already there, tend to dump their water on themselves to cool off. If you are hiking with limited water, do not do this! Your body needs water internally much more than the short burst of external cooling pouring water on yourself might give. If you are at your campsite, or hiking with a group of several people with excess water than is needed for drinking, then OK, if you are overheating, sparingly splashing yourself with water is a great way to cool off!

Sun Protection

Long-Sleeved Shirts | Wide-Brimmed Hat | Sunscreen | Structural Shade

After planning and water consumption, appropriate sun protection is the next most critical consideration while camping out in a Joshua Tree summer. Wearing long sleeved shirts is an easy way to keep the energy of the sun away from you. Clothing is portable sun protection. Although it might seem intuitive to wear short sleeves and shorts, it is often more comfortable to wear light-weight and light-colored long sleeves.…

Summer Camping in Joshua Tree

Tips and Tricks for Camping in the Heat of Summer

Part I – Why Camp in Joshua Tree in the Summer? Isn’t it hot?

Well, yeah, it does get pretty hot. That being said, there are several compelling reasons you might want to camp in Joshua Tree in the summer, namely: less people, brilliant night skies, and cool nights.

Less People

Less crowding is a huge reason many come to visit desert nature in the hotter months. Over the last ten years or so, Joshua Tree National Park has become extremely popular – and for good reasons! The Park is mind-bogglingly beautiful! Joshua Tree is also close to Los Angeles, San Diego and a variety of other desert cities. Palm Springs is an international airport, so access to the Park is worldwide, even not considering the proximity of some of the largest cities in the country. So having less tourists around is a tempting draw to coming out in the soaring Mojave temperatures, generally with highs around 100°F in the summer months.

Night Skies

Another reason people venture the scorching heat to camp in Joshua Tree is the star gazing. The night skies are phenomenal in the summer, for a number of reasons. First, July, August and September are statistically the least windy months.1 Less wind means less dust in the air for clearer vision of the stars, and also less smog blown in from Los Angeles. Also, the Milky Way view is brighter in summer months, making for a spectacular wash of cloud-like light overhead across the night sky. It’s brighter because in the summer months you are looking into the center of the galaxy, while in the winter months, you are looking out and away from the center into the less star-dense spiral.2 Finally, the Perseid Meteor Shower in mid-August is one of the more consistently amazing meteor showers of the year, lasting for about 10 days, peaking around August 12th.3

Cool Nights

Finally, many people forget that the Mojave Desert temperature variations are quite drastic. We generally have a 30°F temperature variation between night and day. So on a 100°F degree day, by the break of dawn, you would be likely to see temperatures around 70°F.1 Keep in mind that it can get to 115°F or even hotter rare occasions. That means morning temperature could be around 90°F. Generally, the average high in July and August is 99°F and the average low is 73°F.

Alright! Are you ready to pack up the car or jump on the plane and camp out in Joshua Tree this summer? Great! Let’s get on to a few basics, and then we’ll cover some more advanced yet strongly recommended tips!

Coming up Next:
Essential Knowledge for Camping in Joshua Tree During the Summer

References:
  1. https://weatherspark.com/y/2133/Average-Weather-in-Joshua-Tree-California-United-States-Year-Round
  2. https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/star-seasonal-appearance-brightness
  3. https://earthsky.org/?p=165416
…

Barker Dam Loop

Barker Dam Loop Introduction

The Barker Dam loop is an easy 1.1 mile loop with minimal elevation change of about 50 ft.1 It is suitable for children and families and is a great way to explore flora and fauna of Joshua Tree National Park without going on a major expedition. In addition to plants and wildlife, historic western and native sites are on the loop, making this an excellent all around experience for visitors of Joshua Tree.

One thing you should not do on the Barker dam loop is to bring your barker! Dogs are not allowed on any trails in Joshua Tree National Park, and while this is extremely important on all trails, it is especially important on this loop. Watering holes are far and few between in the Joshua Tree. The Barker Dam reservoir is an essential water source for wildlife such as coyotes, rabbits, birds, and desert bighorn sheep – a federally endangered species. Even the mere presence of a dog is enough to leave a scent that can scare away wildlife and prevent them from getting what can be a life-saving drink. Surely that should be deterrent enough for decent folk. Just in case, rangers do patrol this loop and the normally easy-going rangers of the Park will issue citations for dogs on this trail!

Native Americans of the Barker Dam Loop Area

The Barker dam loop is named after an old dam built by cattlemen. Long before the dam though, Native Americans inhabited the area. Natural rainwater collection areas provided drinking water long after rains had passed. Along with the natural pools of water, wild game such as rabbits and desert bighorns provided essential nutrition for the native tribes of the area. These native groups were first the Pinto culture, and then the Chemehuevi, Serrano, and Cahuilla tribes. While not so long ago it was believed that the tribes might have only inhabited the area a few thousand years, the Park now acknowledges the Natives inhabited the area at least 5,000 years2, while the tribes acknowledge the presence of their Native peoples at least 10,000 years, long before European settlers arrived in 1769.3

The Native settlers left art that is still visible today in the form of petroglyphs and pictographs. Petroglyphs are rock carvings while pictographs are rock paintings. Toward the end of the loop is an overhang with such native art. It is fun to imagine the people that made the art and what the symbols might have meant. Just be sure to not walk on or touch the perhaps ancient art, as it can be easily damaged and some art may be faded and not immediately visible.

Barker Dam

Barker dam was made by early western settlers, namely C. O. Barker, in 1900. Back then, there was more rainfall in the area and the area was used for cattle grazing, so a water source was essential. The dam was originally 9’ tall. Stone and cement were used in construction, with stone facing on the non-water filled side. The dam is approximately 150’ long with a unique indented pattern. Back in 1900, cars were an extreme rarity. Sixteen 8-day-long trips were required to haul the cement, forms, and other material from Banning, presumably by horse or mule.4

In 1917, Bill Keys acquired the dam along with Desert Queen in around 1917. 5 Keys and his family raised the dam another 6 ‘ in 1949-50 using cement.6 This allowed for the collection of even move rain water. In addition to drinking water, the water was also used to irrigate a small orchard and garden, and also used as a swimming hole. With less rainfall these days, and also the importance of the reservoir to local wildlife, entering the water is not allowed.

Climbers

Hidden Valley, on the Barker Dam loop, is a great source of bouldering and climbing routes for the more adventurous. For the more casual visitor, watching people scale the rocks can be great fun! While it is important to not trample vegetation and to stay on trail, there are various side trails that sprout off from the mail trail to bring you closer to the large boulders and climbing routes. Hours of fun can be had exploring Hidden Valley of the main loop trail.

Conclusion – The Barker Dam Loop has Something for Everyone

The Barker dam loop is a favorite of many Park visitors, including myself! There is so much nature and history all around! Because it is such an easy trail it is a great starting place for almost any visitor. Other nearby attractions include the Wall Street Mill, Desert Queen mine, and by reservation only Keys Ranch. One downside to the popularity of this trail is that it can be hard to find parking.…

Indian Cove Nature Trail

Joshua Tree Day Hikes

Located at the west side of the Indian Cove campground is a half-mile loop trail, the Indian Cove Nature trail. This trail provides for a self-guided learning experience via unobtrusive signs describing the flora, fauna, and native american people that once inhabited the cove. The trail is fairly flat, and suitable for children, though there is one section that is a steepish decline of about 20 feet. A wheel chair wouldn’t be suited for the trail, unless, perhaps, the occupant is an experienced X-Games competitor. The overall elevation change is about 70 feet and goes through a sandy wash for a portion.

Taking in the sites and the signs is a wonderful way to become more acquainted with the mojave desert. Animals you might spot on the trail, as well as learn about from the placards, include jackrabbits, cotton tails, packrats and tortoises. On very rare occasion, you may even spot a jackalope! Among the plants you are likely to come across include silver chollas, pencil chollas and creosote bushes. Many of these plants and animals were used by native americans for food and medicine. These too are described on the placards. For example, Native Americans used creosote bush for stomach aches, a general pain killer, a diuretic, sore joints and more.

Another nice feature of this hike is the proximity of boulder piles and a desert wash. The trail is a nice transition from open desert to the boulder piles making up the northern face of the Wonderland of Rocks, a world renowned climbing mecca. Let me tell you, some of these rock piles are huge – and quite bold indeed! With hundreds of climbing routes you might see some climbers clinging to the rock walls like oversized spiders. For the adventurous, it’s an excellent entry point to a good scramble.

Like all of Joshua Tree, use caution in hotter months and bring plenty of water. Even though this is a short flat hike, there isn’t much shade so you’ll likely want to bring a hat along too!

https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/indiancove.htm…

Split Rock Loop

Easy Day Hike in Joshua Tree National Park

The Split Rock loop is 1.9 mile loop with minimal elevation gain and a well worn path making the trail a wonderful hike for almost any level of experienced hiker.  Pit toilets and picnic tables are on site in the parking lot.  The name Split Rock is derived from an enormous free-standing boulder at the beginning of the trail that has split in two.  If you are into rocks, and who isn’t?, it is a sight to behold.

Although this trail is well-used, there are enough little duck-off points to feel the breadth of nature here.  The loop is mostly without shade, but there is a small lovely juniper canopy toward the end as well as multiple rock formations large enough to shade throughout various times of early morning and late afternoon.

There is an abundance of wildlife on this trail including birds, lizards and mammals. You might see such delight as Gambel’s quail, chuckwalas, and black-tailed jack rabbits.  As always, it is important to not interfere with wildlife by feeding or pursuing.

Please note that much of the area, even very close to the trail, is undisturbed by human footsteps.  Much of the desert is held together by microbes that hold the soil together.  These microbes, in what is known as cryptobiotic crusts, are easily disturbed by human footprints.  As such, in order to keep nature intact, it is important to only travel in washes and established trails.

If you look a little too long upon the trail, you just might see some litter.  Actually, you will.  So let’s all be good sports and bring a little trash bag along and pick up a few things after the less civilized of the human race.  Happy trails!

Split Rock Loop Day Hike Photo Gallery

Split Rock Links

National Park Service Split Rock Botanical Guide

Not looking to camp? Split Rock AirBnB is a charming vacation rental with a Spa!…

Day Hikes in Joshua Tree

Here is a quick review of some lovely day hikes in Joshua Tree National Park. Whether you’ve been to Joshua Tree a hundred times, or you’re planning your first trip, there is always something new to discover!…

Welcome to Dirtbag Campground!

We provide unique camping gear rental services to visitors of Joshua Tree National Park and beyond! Our services include:

– Basic Camp Site Gear Rental with Setup
– All-Inclusive Camping Gear Rental To Go
– All-Inclusive Yurt and Glamping Gear Setup

We rent everything you need to camp comfortably and safely with our portable campsites. We specifically rent campsite gear just north of Joshua Tree National Park. We also rent gear throughout Southern California and beyond!

Our Basic site rentals include a table and chairs, a propane fire pit grill, and a propane cooking grill, propane included. Our X,Y, and Z glamping yurt rentals include all of the above, a yurt tent, and all the camping gear you could need for a comfortable camping experience.

If you are looking for a unique camping experience, Dirtbag Campground is for you! Our gear rental services are focused on appreciation of nature and following the principles of Leave No Trace.…

Joshua Tree Yurt Glamping – Dirtbag X, Y & Z

Enjoy Joshua Tree glamping in a yurt! We provide everything you need for safe and comfortable glamping experience just north of Joshua Tree National Park. Included in your fully set-up gear rental is: 15′ yurt bell tent, table, chairs, propane fire-pit & grill, cooking gear, 20 lb propane tank, USB charging station, and shared porta-potty and wash station. Seasonally we provide a portable water mister / fan and a shade structure for summer, or a propane heater for the winter.

Looking for a unique camping experience away from the crowds of Joshua Tree National Park? Dirtbag Campground is for you! We provide gear rental services for glamorous camping (glamping!) comfortably and safely about seven miles North of Joshua Tree National Park.

Each X, Y and Z gear rental includes: a fully set up yurt tent with a queen bed air mattress, ground rolls for star gazing or yoga, clean sheets, pillows and blankets, side tables, flashlights, battery powered lanterns, a propane grill, a propane fire pit grill, cooking and eating gear, a cooler with cold packs or ice, a full 20lb tank of propane, a Bluetooth portable speaker, a folding picnic table, folding chairs, a water jug for cooling off or washing, access to a shared porta-potty with a wash station, and access to a common area (Common area is not available due to Covid). Standard yurt pricing is for two people per yurt. You may have up to six people in your X, Y or Z gear rental, however it is necessary that you pay an additional $25 per night per person with air mattresses, sheets, pillows and sleeping bags provided. An additional 2-person tent is also available for groups larger than two upon request for no additional charge. Larger parties are welcome – just please drop us a line prior to booking. Please, no more than 6 people may camp in one X, Y or Z gear rental accommodation without prior arrangement. We have this limitation so that our facilities do not get overused in the course of an evening.

Included in your glamping gear rental is access to common area gear with: porta-potty, a wash station, a full-size propane BBQ grill, a lantern, a propane grill, a propane fire pit grill, a table and chairs, and yard games such as frisbee, boccie ball, horse shoes and/or corn-hole. We also provide a seasonal shade area.

We named our Joshua Tree glamping gear rental service Dirtbag Campground because the term dirtbag has come to mean people leading simple lives closely connected to nature, often connected to climbing or other dirt sports. Pets are welcome for no additional fee – just please be sure to let us know before hand! If you have any questions, please let us know! We are available 24/7 while guests are using our gear.…

Joshua Tree Campsite – Dirtbag Campground

As a camping gear rental service, we bring a basic campground to you just north of Joshua Tree National Park. We provide everything you need to camp comfortably and safely. Each of our camping gear rentals comes equipped with chairs, a picnic table, a propane grill, a propane fire pit grill, and a full 20 lb propane tank.

We also rent camping gear to go as well as party rentals in all of Southern California! Note that tents and sleeping bags are not included in this listing.

Our camping locations have beautiful views and are close to Joshua Tree National Park – about 6 miles away. There are other campers in the area, but we space our sites 30 to 40 yards from other campers for some privacy and elbow room. A shared porta-potty – which we keep nice and clean – and wash station are available for use as well as some yard games such as corn hole and boccie ball. Car, van and RV camping is welcome. We provide propane for about 6 or 7 hours of use with the fire pit and grill each day booked. Since the propane is included and restocked daily, our camp sites are quite economical since you don’t need to be burning expensive wood bundles. Although the area has a remote feel, stores and amenities are close by, also about 6 miles to the nearest convenience store/gas station, and about 12 miles to the nearest grocery store. Restaurants and shops are also just about 6 miles away. We provide 24/7 phone support while you are camping with us.

The Coyote Dry Lake-Bed, where we setup, has been a recreating public land use area for decades. Please respect our shared natural lands and follow Leave No Trace principles. The roads can be washed out or deeply rutted, so make sure to follow the directions we send upon booking closely. Access to the sites we chose will accommodate almost any vehicle.

Joshua Tree National Park lies within a few hours drive of several major metropolitan areas. The park is located about 140 miles east of Los Angeles, 175 miles northeast of San Diego, 215 miles southwest of Las Vegas, Nevada, and 222 miles west of Phoenix, Arizona. Please doo not rely on GPS directions to navigate to our campground as vehicle navigation systems sometimes try to route you onto backcountry dirt roads with ruts or soft sand that may be impassable to your vehicle. You can approach Joshua Tree from Interstate 10 or California Highway 62 (the Twentynine Palms Highway). The closest airport is in Palm Springs. There is no public transportation to the park. There are three park entrance stations: • The West Entrance is located five miles south of the junction of Highway 62 and Park Boulevard at Joshua Tree Village. • The North Entrance is in Twentynine Palms, three miles south of the junction of Highway 62 and Utah Trail. • The South Entrance near Cottonwood Spring is an access point along Interstate 10, 25 miles east of Indio.

We named our Joshua Tree camping and glamping gear rental service Dirtbag Campground because the term dirtbag has come to mean people leading simple lives closely connected to nature, often connected to climbing or other dirt sports. Pets are welcome for no additional fee – just please be sure to let us know before hand! If you have any questions, please let us know!

We’re looking forward to hosting you!

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