Joshua Tree

The desert is immense and infinitely varia ble, yet de lica ely fragi le. It is a land shaped by sudden torren ts of ra in and cl imatic extremes. Ra in fall is sparse and un pred ictab le. Streambeds are usually dry and wate rholes are few. This land may appear defeated and dead , but wit hi n its parc hed env ironment are intricate living systems, each fragme nt pe rform ing a slightly different function, and eac h fragme nt depending upon the who le system for surviva l. Two deserts, two large ecosystems primarily determin ed by e levat ion , co me together at Joshua Tree National Monu me nt. Few areas more vivid ly ill ust rate the co ntrast betwee n hi gh and low desert. Below 910 meters (3000 feet), the Colo rado Dese rt, occ upying the eastern half of th e monu ment, is dom in ated by the abu ndant creosotebush. Add ing inte rest to t hi s ari d land are small stands of sp idery ocotill o and jum ping chol la cactus. The higher, slightly coo ler, and wetter Mohave Desert is the spec ial hab itat of the undiscipli ned Joshua tree, extens ive stands of which occ ur thro ughout t he western half of t he mo nu ment. The monument encom passes so me of t he most inte resting geologic di sp lays found in Californ ia's deserts. Ru gged mou nta ins of tw isted rock and exposed grani te monol iths testify to the tremendo us earth forces t hat shaped and formed th is land . Arroyos, playas, alluvial fans, bajadas, ped imen ts, dese rt va rn ish, grani tes , apli te, and gneiss interact to form a giant desert mosaic of immense beauty and com pl exi ty. river that ran t hrough t he now dry Pi nto Basi n. Later, Indian s trave led through this area in tu ne w it h harvests of pinyon nuts, mesqu ite bea ns, acorns, and cactus fruit, leavin g beh ind rock paintings and pottery ollas as reminders of the ir pass ing. In the late 1800s exp lorers, cattlemen , and mi ners came to the desert. They bui lt dams to create water tan ks and dug up and tun ne led the ea rt h in search of gold. They are gone now, and left be hind are their rem nants, t he Lost Horse and Dese rt Queen M in es and the Dese rt Queen Ranch. In t he 1930s ho mesteaders came seek ing free land and the c hance to start new lives. Tod ay many peop le come to the monument's more t han 200,000 hectares (half mil lion ac res) of open space seekin g clear sk ies and cl ean air, and th e peace and tranq uili ty, the quietude and beauty, only deserts offe r. As o ld as the dese rt may look, it is but a temporary phe nomenon in t he incomprehensib le t ime-scale of geo logy. In more verdant t im es, one of the So uthwest's earli est inhabi tants, Pinto Man, li ved he re, huntin g and gathering along a slow moving The life fo rce is patient here. Desert vegetati on , oftent imes appeari ng to have succu mbed to a sometimes harsh and un fo rgivin g enviro nment, lies dormant, anxiously awa iting the rain fall and mode rate weath er th at will trigger its growth, pa inting the Burrowi ng Owl. Co o c -o-o. Hear the mellow , rolling call of the burrowing owl at evening . Vacant rodent burrows in open areas provide ready-made , well insu lated homes for this small owl. Feeding on insects, reptiles, and ro dents at dusk, it spends the warm daylight hours basking at the burrow entra nee. Agi tated , it bobs and bows, and cackles to ward off intruders. Bobcat . The short, powerful bobcat body is adapted to pounce from ambush on birds, rodents, and rabbits. Keen senses, patience , and night shadows a id this shy cat. Golden Eag le . The rabbits and squirrels that evade the night hunters must still search the daytime skies for the silhouette of the stately golden eagle . Its keen eyes scan the landscape for the slightest motion as it soars from the mountain heights out over the valleys and desert floor. Its golden nape is visible only at close range . Its soft voice is rarely ever heard. for this conse rvative rode n t. Large h ind feet are adapted for t ra v el o ve r desert sand . C heek po u c he s mini mi ze ni g h t fo ra g i ng and exposu re to pred ators ;' Stan ding like islands in a desolate sea, the oases, a t hird ecosystem, prov ide dramatic contrast to t he ir arid surrou ndin gs. Five fan-palm oases dot the mon umen t, indicating those few areas whe re water occurs naturally at o r near t he surface, meeting the specia l life req ui rements of t hese state ly t rees. Oases o nce serving earli er dese rt visitors now abo und in wi ld life. monument a profusion of colors . At the edges of dayl ight and under clear night stars is a fasc inating mul ti t ude of ge nerally unfami li ar desert wild life. Waitin g out dayti me heat, these creatures run, hop, crawl , and burrow in the slow rhythm of desert life . Under bright sun and blue sky, bighorn sheep an d go lden eag les add an air of unco ncerned majesty to this land. The desert. Some think it wretched and seem ing ly use less. For all its harshness the desert is a land of su rprising variety an d co mplex ity , a land of extreme frag il ity . Today's mo ment of care lessness may leave lasting scars or d isrupt an intricate system of life that has existed for eons. Viewed from the roadside, the desert on ly hints at its hidden vita li ty. To t he close obse rve r, however, a t in y flower bud o r the liza rd 's frantic dash revea ls Josh ua Tree Natio nal Mo nu ment as a place of beauty and life. Take yo ur time as you travel through t his area. Joshu a Tree Nat ional Monumen t provides a space for find ing freedo m from everyday rou tines, space fo r se lf-discove ry, and a re fuge for the human sp irit. Let t he desert take ho ld of you . Faces and Forms of Life Within the Desert Coyote . The name of the game is survival. Options: use a unique plan, specialize, or take advantage of every opportunity as a jack-of- Yucca N i gh t Li zard . This lizard may live its entire life under the protective bark of a decaying Joshua tree . Its narrow body lits in small crevices where it feeds on ants and term i tes attracted by the host tree 's shelter from predators and climate . all-trades . The deserts most successful opportunist is the coyote . Its skill as a hunter, and its appetite for anyth i ng swallowable , ensures this desert carn ivore 's success . Its diet may include insect s, lizards, snakes , birds, rodents, rabbits, carrion , fruit, nuts, grass, tennis shoes, or young tortoises. Coyotes are renowned for howling, bu t they also bark playfully . Jackrabbit. Muted jackrabbit f u r colors provide a motionless defense from the searching eyes of many predators: coyote, bobcat, and eagle . Strong eyes and keen hearing send powerful legs into motion. Young are born well f urred . Kang aroo Ra t. To surv i ve i n the dese rt on seeds alone i s a c h allenge f ew can me e t . Seed m etaboli sm p ro duces n utr ents and minim a l waler enough , da y . Roadrunners get moisture from their prey : reptiles, i nsects, rodents, and young birds. Powerful legs, rather than wings, serve the bird well. Tarantula . This largest desert spider is not poisonous to humans but bites painfully if provoked . It feeds on i~sects , but may fall vie!Im to the large, colorful tarantula hawk wasp. A tarantula may inhabit Sti nkbug. Stiltin g across the sand , this large b la c k beetle freezes i n a handstand pose at t he sli g h tes t d istu r bance. E mi ssi on of a pungent odor repe ls predators T h e pose is eno u g h lo sto p those fam iliar w i th t hi s scavenger. a burrow for years . '. --C-'Y'-'.-- -_,,,,.__.._....., - \. '1 ~ \ , «o ~ ~ ,1;tf/ - ' ' "7J :~.P . .Pi Sidewinder. This small and mostly nocturnal rattlesnake moves by looping sideways in J-shaped curves, an efficient mode of travel on soft sand dunes and washes it inhabits. It waits in ambush for small rodents it detects by sight or body temperature . -- '·, , press their life cycle , and exist while the en vironment is favorable . Sudden carpets of spri ng wildflowers are displays of awakened dormancy as seeds, like time travelers , revive to sprou t, flower, and renew their kind . The alternate strategy is that of the. patient perrenial. Conservative year-round residents like the Joshua tree flouri sh during the moist periods and bide thei r time during long droughts. Many anima ls deri ve their energy from plants, but desert plants give up the fruits of their production only reluctantly. Sharp spines and chemica lladen leave s complicate th e li v e s of planteate rs . The kangaroo rat avoi ds t hese obsta cles b y e ating seeds. While . ale to eat, seeds can b e hard to find . Many Ore small , looking surpri si ngly like the sand g ra ins that offer them sa nctuary. The kangaroo rat uses sen sitive front paws to sift through sand , discovering seeds by smell as well as touch . Seeds consumed by the kan garoo rat are converted into animal ti ssue . Energy continues to flow through the web as kangaroo rats and other plant-eaters , such as jackrabbits, fa ll prey to meat-e aters . It takes many rabbits and rodents to fee d a single owl , coyote, bobcat, or eagle , so there must be far more prey than predators. The ori gina l solar energy converted to plant tissue has now been transformed several times as it moves through the food web. As the original source of living energy , plants fulfill a vital role i n the food web. A large productive plant such as the Joshua tree ( right) represents a focal point for a complex commu- n ity o f wildlife . Some b irds nest i n the li ving Joshua . Others feed on i nsects infest i ng t h e tree . D iscarded lim bs or the toppled bo!'I Y o f the Joshua provicl e homes for t he yu ca night lizard and termites. Even in d e !} t h , the plant energy i:lf the Joshua is converte d by termites to an i m al energy . Termites fi nd protection from he at and from cold and drying winds in the d e caying fibe r. The yucca night lizard finds the sa me env i ronmental sanctuary along with its preferred food , termites. Energy conti nues to flow in the web as an owl or snake feeds on an unwary n ight lizard . As the Joshua tree continues to decompose , stinkbugs may nibb le on the fiber, helpi ng termites consume their home! Eventually all the plant 's nutrients and energy have been transformed into ano t her living form or released to the soil for use by o t her plants. The web is fragile , no stronger than its weakest link, yet it endures . !lh.istra11on s by Gene 01eckhoner The monument may be visited year around , and each season adds its personal ity to the desert's character. Visitor centers, ranger stations, entrance stations, and wayside exhibi ts are located along main roads leading into and through the monument. These provide you opportunities to acquaint yourself w ith park resources . Publications on the monument are sold by the Joshua Tree Natural History Association at most information stations. Park rangers are here to help you have an enjoyable, safe visit. Detailed information on weather, road conditions, backcountry use, campgrounds, and regulations may be obtained from the rangers on patrol or at visitor centers or stations. Rangerconducted activities, available on weekends duri ng the fall andspring , can increase your understand i ng of the monument. Ask about current programs. For further information write : Superintendent, Joshua Tree National Monument, 74485 National Monument Drive , Twentynine Palms, CA 92277 or call (619) 367-7511 . Nine campgrounds, with tables, fireplaces, and toilets, have been developed . Several picnic areas for day use are avai lable. You must bring water and firewood . Find motels, gasoline and dump stations, stores, and restaurants in nearby towns. Walks, hikes, and campfire talks are conducted principally in spri ng and fall; information is posted on campground bulletin boards and at ranger stations and visitor centers. The desert, fascinating as it is, can be unforgiving for those unfamiliar with its potential dangers. Desert animals are wild . Respect them . Rattlesnakes are Indigenous to the desert, seeking warm sunshine in cool weather and the shade of bushes and rocks in warm weather. Periodic rainstorms produce flash flood conditions. Avoid canyons and washes during rainstorms. If you encounter flowing water, do not attempt to cross until it has subsided and the way is safe. Joshua Tree National Monument lies 225 kilometers (140 miles) east of Los Angeles. You can approach it from the west via Interstate 10 (US 60) and 29 Palms Highway (Highway 62) to the north entrances of the monument at the towns of Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms. The south entrance at Cottonwood Springs, which lies 40 kilometers (25 miles) east of Indio, can be approached from east or west , also via Interstate 10. Abandoned mine shafts, (some extending hundreds of meters/yards i n depth) with loose rock at their openings, make " getting a closer look " a potential disaster. Stay c lear! Boulder piles attract children as playground equipment does in city parks-be aware of the hazards. Weathering makes rock climbing hazardous, loos· ening rock particles. C a c t u s Pho tos courtesy o l Penn y K n ucJ.. le s Be cautious and use common sense in the out-ofdoors. Points of Interest, Keyed to the Map Oasis of Mara (1) Inhabited first by Indians and later by p rospectors and home steaders , the oasis today provides a home for monument h eadquarters and the Oasis Visitor Center. Fortyn in e PalmsOasis (2) This oasis , where water loving plants t h rive and thirsty animals come to drink, is accessible by a 2 .5 -kilometer (1 .5-mi le) moderately strenuous trail. H idden Valley (3) A trail system winding between massive boulders leads you through this legendary cattle rustler 's hideout and introduces some of the plants and animals of the Mohave Desert. Barker Dam (4) Built around the turn of the century to hold wate r for cattle and mini ng purposes, the dam today fo rms a sm all ra i n fed re se r voir uti lized by monument w ild life . Lost Horse Mine (5) Th is historic site , repre sentative of the monument's gold prospecting and mining history, is accessible by a 2 .5 ki lometer (1 .5 -mile) trail. Keys View (6) Thi s outstanding scen ic point in the monument gives a superb sweep of valley , mountain, and desert from its elevation of 1576 meters ( 5185 feet) . Ryan Mountain (7) A 2.5-kilometer (1 .5mile) moderately strenuous tra il to the 1660-meter (5461 feet) summ it offers severa l lookout p oints w i th fin e views o f Queen , Lost Horse. H id de n , and Pleasant Va lle y s. ChollaCactu Garden ( 9 ) Bigelow ca c t u s concentrate to form th is un i que ga rde n . A short self-guiding na ture tra i l featuri ng plan ts and ani ma ls o f the Colorado Desert w inds t hrough lhos u n u sual a rea . Geology Tour Road (8 ) This 29-kilometer (18mile) self-guiding motor nature tour along a dirt road winds th rough some of the monument s most fascinating landscape Four-wheel dri ve recommended Lost Palms Oasis (111 This oasis, representing the largest group of palms in the monument, may be reached by a 6 .4-kilometer ( 4 -mile} trail through interesting desert landscape. Cottonwood Spr·ing ( 10 ) Noted for its birdlife, th is manmade palm oasis is easily accessible by road . A small vis itor center with d isplays is located approximately 1 .6 kilometers ( 1 mile) away . Transition Zone (12} An ecological melting pot where two great deserts, the Mohave and the Colorado , meet to form a zone that con tains plants and animals representative of each . -.: G PO 1990- 262· 100 00 132 Rep rm t 1990 --+-1 ~:=~ Joshua Tree --"'T"'~-----.<:J----~--"""( ~ )-----~~.....---~--~'----0--t~~~~~-=-"':'-"--~ Information mm· canyon Road Twentynine _ !'!all!lll • 1Oasis Visltc•r Center Information mm ------' s2 'J.---------i~------....... G> \ %. \ CJ. ' 'l Y~i(>- ~ Black Rock Canyon Information r!l?l&I I l \ ~.::;:·:~~~·; ;; - ...., ' II ' _ ...... PINTO OLD DA E MININ DISTRI T () '' MOUNTAINS PINTO 0 MOUNTAINS X- O 0 g. L I .,. .,. L :;:O sASIN ?\\'\ ~ ~ 0 p N T O c: B A / S I \'\ -z_ ness use. I ~ .}/"' o"'/ / &1 / ,,,.. , , . I i\ .. ./ ... "' }_,,. / /; \>- ... ' -<. ._) 0 ~ Off road driving is prohibited. o..,=°'= ======='8 kilometers 0~=='========:5 miles to Blythe gcampground &JDrinking Water Paved Road £1Ranger Station rlJPicnic Area Dirt Road 4-wheel Drive Road