Day 127 The Ultimate USA road trip Palm Desert Joshua Tree National Park roundtrip
This route was brought to you by:
RouteXpert René Plücken (MRA Master)
Last edit: 05-04-2024
Route Summary I have further supplemented the Road Trip with even more special points that you can visit in the USA. Today we drive from Wrightwood to Palm Desert, a spectacular route through forests, deserts and mountains. The ride is 325km.
We drive over beautiful scenic highways and along the way you will enjoy beautiful views, beautiful nature, there are a number of sights to visit and many beautiful viewpoints. I rate this route 5 stars.
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Animation
Verdict
Duration
11h 58m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
298.89 km
Countries
RouteXpert Review But before we leave we start the day with shopping, because we need a lot of drinks (water) and food for the road.
First stop is on the edge of town at Red Jeep Tours at the Metate Ranch. Enjoy the 3-hour Red Jeep San Andreas Tour and spectacular views and unique geological features. The Red Jeep makes its way through the labyrinth of geological cuts and canyons of the San Andreas Fault Zone. The guide tells stories about the plants, animals, geology, seismology and history of the California desert. Walk among the walls of canyons created by the powerful forces of plate tectonics, water, wind, and time, as your guide describes the geological forces and local history that shaped the Coachella Valley.
After this beautiful tour we drive to the Thousand Palms Oasis reserve. This beautiful oasis is free to enter but donations are greatly appreciated. Here you can walk, have a picnic and visit the rustic visitor center, the 'Palm House'. Enjoy some of the more than 20,000 acres of desert wilderness, wildlife and hiking trails. Take part in one of the guided walks or rest in the shade of the beautiful palm trees.
We drive to Joshua Tree, where we fill up our motorcycles, because there are no gas stations in Joshua Tree National Park. We have lunch at the Joshua Tree Saloon and shop for some nice souvenirs at the Coyote Corner.
Before entering Joshua Tree National Park we visit the Joshua Tree Visitor Center, which offers educational exhibits, a bookstore and information about the park. Grab a park map and talk to a park ranger to get all your questions answered before you enter the park! A digital access pass can be purchased online ($25 motorcycle, $30 car), if you don't have one you can also purchase one here. Please note that there is limited mobile phone reception in the park. Prepare well for the ride, more information about Joshua Tree National Park at the links in this review.
As you drive through the park you will be treated to beautiful views with rocks, desert, palms, cacti and much more. There are an incredible number of points where you can stop, many of which are picnic areas where benches, tables and BBQs have been set up, and there are often sanitary facilities. Some places require you to take a walk on a well-constructed path. Pay close attention to rock formations because there may be loose and wet stones in between. This review includes a number of stops with a Waypoint and POI that you certainly don't want to miss.
Stop to take some photos at Quail Springs Picnic Area, which is the first picnic area along Park Boulevard as you enter from the west entrance. Picnic tables and grills are nestled among Joshua trees, small trees and shrubs, next to large rock formations. The area also contains restrooms and trailheads for the Quail Springs Historic Trail and Ryan Johnnie Connector Trail, as well as quick access to the Boy Scout Trail.
Stop to take some photos at the Hidden Valley Picnic Area, a large expansive picnic area along Park Boulevard in the middle of the park. Located in an area of large rock formations with many Joshua trees, there are many picnic tables and grills available. The picnic area is a short walk from the Hidden Valley Trailhead.
Visit the Barkerdam. Walk the 1.3 mile loop trail, it's an easy route and takes an average of 26 minutes to complete. Barker Dam, also known as the Big Horn Dam, is a dam with a water storage reservoir. The dam was built in 1900 by early pastoralists including CO Barker. The dam was built in 1949 by farmer William F. Keys. It is a gathering place for desert wildlife, including many species of birds and desert bighorn sheep.
You might consider stopping at the Hall of Horrors. Experience this 1.0 km loop trail that is generally considered an easy route. You walk a part between the steep rock walls that are very close together. This is a very popular area for birdwatching, walking and hiking, so you're likely to encounter other people as you explore. The trail is open all year round and is beautiful to visit at any time.
Another possible stop is at the Skull Rock Trail. This 1.7 mile loop route is generally considered an easy route. This is a very popular area for camping, hiking and walking, so you're likely to encounter other people as you explore. You will see the Skull Rock, Elephant Rock and some other rock formations.
We stop to take pictures at the Arch and Heart Rock. You have to drive a short distance on a dirt path, then it is a short walk to the Arch Rock and a little further you will see the Heart Rock. It is a nice place to take photos of these unusually shaped rocks.
You can stop at the Cholla Cactus Garden. The path takes you through almost 4 hectares of landscape dominated by the Teddy Bear cholla. This unusual collection of cacti is located in the Pinto Basin, a large expanse of alluvial fans covered in creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) and burrobush (Ambrosia dumosa) as far as the eye can see. With their chocolate brown stems and fluffy golden arms, the Teddy Bear chollas resemble cuddly toys and seem friendlier than other desert dwellers.
We visit the Cottonwood Visitor Center, one of the more remote park shops in the national park. Located near the south entrance, it is the gateway to many hiking trails, including the Cottonwood Springs area and a unique palm and poplar grove. We take some nice pictures here and for enthusiasts there is a walking path to Lost Palms Oasis.
We leave the Joshua Tree National Park and drive via the Box Canyon back to the resort in Palm Desert to recover from all the impressions.
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Use of this GPS route is at your own expense and risk. The route has been carefully composed and checked by a MyRoute-app accredited RouteXpert for use on TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation.
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Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
Nearby routes 
California
About this region
California is a state in the Western United States. It shares a border with Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and the Mexican state of Baja California to the south. With over 39.5 million residents across a total area of approximately 163,696 square miles (423,970 km2), it is the most populous and the third-largest U.S. state by area. It is also the most populated subnational entity in North America and the 34th most populous in the world. The Greater Los Angeles area and the San Francisco Bay Area are the nation's second and fifth most populous urban regions respectively, with the former having more than 18.7 million residents and the latter having over 9.6 million. Sacramento is the state's capital, while Los Angeles is the most populous city in the state and the second most populous city in the country (after New York City). Los Angeles County is the country's most populous, while San Bernardino County is the largest county by area in the country. San Francisco, which is both a city and a county, is the second most densely populated major city in the country (after New York City) and the fifth most densely populated county in the country, behind four of New York City's five boroughs.
The economy of California, with a gross state product of $3.2 trillion as of 2019, is the largest sub-national economy in the world. If it were a country, it would be the 37th most populous country and the fifth largest economy as of 2020. The Greater Los Angeles area and the San Francisco Bay Area are the nation's second- and third-largest urban economies ($1.0 trillion and $0.5 trillion respectively as of 2020), after the New York metropolitan area ($1.8 trillion). The San Francisco Bay Area Combined Statistical Area had the nation's highest gross domestic product per capita ($106,757) among large primary statistical areas in 2018, and is home to five of the world's ten largest companies by market capitalization and four of the world's ten richest people.Prior to European colonization, California was one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse areas in pre-Columbian North America and contained the highest Native American population density north of what is now Mexico. European exploration in the 16th and 17th centuries led to the colonization of California by the Spanish Empire. In 1804, it was included in Alta California province within the Viceroyalty of New Spain. The area became a part of Mexico in 1821, following its successful war for independence, but was ceded to the United States in 1848 after the Mexican–American War. The western portion of Alta California was then organized and admitted as the 31st state on September 9, 1850, following the Compromise of 1850. The California Gold Rush started in 1848 and led to dramatic social and demographic changes, including large-scale immigration into California, a worldwide economic boom, and the California genocide of indigenous people.
Notable contributions to popular culture, for example in entertainment and sports, have their origins in California. The state also has made noteworthy contributions in the fields of communication, information, innovation, environmentalism, economics, and politics. It is the home of Hollywood, the oldest and largest film industry in the world, which has had a profound effect on global entertainment. It is considered the origin of the hippie counterculture, beach and car culture, and the personal computer, among other innovations. The San Francisco Bay Area and the Greater Los Angeles Area are widely seen as centers of the global technology and entertainment industries, respectively. California's economy is very diverse: 58% of it is based on finance, government, real estate services, technology, and professional, scientific, and technical business services. Although it accounts for only 1.5% of the state's economy, California's agriculture industry has the highest output of any U.S. state. California's ports and harbors handle about a third of all U.S. imports, most originating in Pacific Rim international trade.
The state's extremely diverse geography ranges from the Pacific Coast and metropolitan areas in the west to the Sierra Nevada mountains in the east, and from the redwood and Douglas fir forests in the northwest to the Mojave Desert in the southeast. The Central Valley, a major agricultural area, dominates the state's center. Although California is well known for its warm Mediterranean climate and monsoon seasonal weather, the large size of the state results in climates that vary from moist temperate rainforest in the north to arid desert in the interior, as well as snowy alpine in the mountains. All these factors lead to an enormous demand for water. Over time, droughts and wildfires have increased in frequency and become less seasonal and more year-round, further straining California's water security.
Read more on Wikipedia
The economy of California, with a gross state product of $3.2 trillion as of 2019, is the largest sub-national economy in the world. If it were a country, it would be the 37th most populous country and the fifth largest economy as of 2020. The Greater Los Angeles area and the San Francisco Bay Area are the nation's second- and third-largest urban economies ($1.0 trillion and $0.5 trillion respectively as of 2020), after the New York metropolitan area ($1.8 trillion). The San Francisco Bay Area Combined Statistical Area had the nation's highest gross domestic product per capita ($106,757) among large primary statistical areas in 2018, and is home to five of the world's ten largest companies by market capitalization and four of the world's ten richest people.Prior to European colonization, California was one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse areas in pre-Columbian North America and contained the highest Native American population density north of what is now Mexico. European exploration in the 16th and 17th centuries led to the colonization of California by the Spanish Empire. In 1804, it was included in Alta California province within the Viceroyalty of New Spain. The area became a part of Mexico in 1821, following its successful war for independence, but was ceded to the United States in 1848 after the Mexican–American War. The western portion of Alta California was then organized and admitted as the 31st state on September 9, 1850, following the Compromise of 1850. The California Gold Rush started in 1848 and led to dramatic social and demographic changes, including large-scale immigration into California, a worldwide economic boom, and the California genocide of indigenous people.
Notable contributions to popular culture, for example in entertainment and sports, have their origins in California. The state also has made noteworthy contributions in the fields of communication, information, innovation, environmentalism, economics, and politics. It is the home of Hollywood, the oldest and largest film industry in the world, which has had a profound effect on global entertainment. It is considered the origin of the hippie counterculture, beach and car culture, and the personal computer, among other innovations. The San Francisco Bay Area and the Greater Los Angeles Area are widely seen as centers of the global technology and entertainment industries, respectively. California's economy is very diverse: 58% of it is based on finance, government, real estate services, technology, and professional, scientific, and technical business services. Although it accounts for only 1.5% of the state's economy, California's agriculture industry has the highest output of any U.S. state. California's ports and harbors handle about a third of all U.S. imports, most originating in Pacific Rim international trade.
The state's extremely diverse geography ranges from the Pacific Coast and metropolitan areas in the west to the Sierra Nevada mountains in the east, and from the redwood and Douglas fir forests in the northwest to the Mojave Desert in the southeast. The Central Valley, a major agricultural area, dominates the state's center. Although California is well known for its warm Mediterranean climate and monsoon seasonal weather, the large size of the state results in climates that vary from moist temperate rainforest in the north to arid desert in the interior, as well as snowy alpine in the mountains. All these factors lead to an enormous demand for water. Over time, droughts and wildfires have increased in frequency and become less seasonal and more year-round, further straining California's water security.
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Statistics 
43Amount of RX reviews (California)
29320Amount of visitors (California)
768Amount of downloads (California)
Route Collections in this region Car or motorcycle tour through the western US
This collection contains all 15 routes driven by MRA Goldmember André ter Schegget during his three-week tour through the west of America.
The places to visit, the attractions and beautiful photo spots are nicely marked on the routes. The routes have been fully checked and made equal for the Garmin and the TomTom. Enjoy this wonderful trip and let us know how it was! Enjoy and stay safe!
Order of the tour:
Route 01: from Los Angeles and via Pacific Coast Highway to Solvang
Route 02: Solvang to Monterey / Pacific Grove
Route 03A: Monterey to San Francisco
Route 03B: if you are by car instead of the motorcycle, as motorcycles are not allowed on the 17 Mile Drive: from Monterey to the 17 Mile Drive and further to San Francisco
Route 04: from San Francisco via Nappa and Eldorado National Forrest to Topaz Lake
Route 05: from Topaz Lake via Bodie and Yosemite to Oakhurst
Route 06: from Oakhurst via Kings Canyon NP and Sequoia NP and Giant Forest to Exeter
Route 07: Exeter via Isabella Lake and Ridgecrest to Death Valley
Route 08: from Death Valley via Valley Of Fire to Mesquite
Route 09: from Mesquite via Zion NP and Dixie NF to Hatch
Route 10: Hatch via Bryce Canyon to Page
Route 11: from Page via Grand Canyon to Williams
Route 12: from Williams via Seligman and Route 66 to Kingman and via Hoover Dam to Las Vegas
Route 13: from Las Vegas via Oatman and Lake Havasu to Parker
Route 14: from Parker via Joshua Tree to Rancho Mirage
Route 15: Rancho Mirage via Palm Springs to Santa Monica
The places to visit, the attractions and beautiful photo spots are nicely marked on the routes. The routes have been fully checked and made equal for the Garmin and the TomTom. Enjoy this wonderful trip and let us know how it was! Enjoy and stay safe!
Order of the tour:
Route 01: from Los Angeles and via Pacific Coast Highway to Solvang
Route 02: Solvang to Monterey / Pacific Grove
Route 03A: Monterey to San Francisco
Route 03B: if you are by car instead of the motorcycle, as motorcycles are not allowed on the 17 Mile Drive: from Monterey to the 17 Mile Drive and further to San Francisco
Route 04: from San Francisco via Nappa and Eldorado National Forrest to Topaz Lake
Route 05: from Topaz Lake via Bodie and Yosemite to Oakhurst
Route 06: from Oakhurst via Kings Canyon NP and Sequoia NP and Giant Forest to Exeter
Route 07: Exeter via Isabella Lake and Ridgecrest to Death Valley
Route 08: from Death Valley via Valley Of Fire to Mesquite
Route 09: from Mesquite via Zion NP and Dixie NF to Hatch
Route 10: Hatch via Bryce Canyon to Page
Route 11: from Page via Grand Canyon to Williams
Route 12: from Williams via Seligman and Route 66 to Kingman and via Hoover Dam to Las Vegas
Route 13: from Las Vegas via Oatman and Lake Havasu to Parker
Route 14: from Parker via Joshua Tree to Rancho Mirage
Route 15: Rancho Mirage via Palm Springs to Santa Monica
View Route Collection
The 10 most downloaded routes in the USA from RouteXpert Hans van de Ven
Hello and welcome to this collection of the Top 10 MyRoute app downloaded routes in USA.
There will be a great new event to be announced soon, where all these routes can be driven.
Download them all now and place them in a new "Top 10" folder, so that you always have them at hand.
If you are going to drive one of these routes in the meantime, track them with the MRA Mobile App or with MRA Navigation. Take some photos (moments) along the way as these will come in handy.
Create a travelogue of your Top 10 driven routes and add the recorded track to it.
There will also be some great prizes on offer, so keep an eye on the MRA-RouteXperts page and your mail.
The 10 routes are:
1. D13 Estes Park Denver
2. D03 Chadron Custer
3. D01 Pigeon Forge round trip through the Smokey Mountains
4. D08 Kalispell Sandpoint
5. D10 Colville Wenatchee
6. D09 Sandpoint Colville
7. D04 Custer Wall
8. D11 Wenatchee Seattle
9. D08 Cody Yellowstone NP
10.R13 San Francisco Monterey
There will be a great new event to be announced soon, where all these routes can be driven.
Download them all now and place them in a new "Top 10" folder, so that you always have them at hand.
If you are going to drive one of these routes in the meantime, track them with the MRA Mobile App or with MRA Navigation. Take some photos (moments) along the way as these will come in handy.
Create a travelogue of your Top 10 driven routes and add the recorded track to it.
There will also be some great prizes on offer, so keep an eye on the MRA-RouteXperts page and your mail.
The 10 routes are:
1. D13 Estes Park Denver
2. D03 Chadron Custer
3. D01 Pigeon Forge round trip through the Smokey Mountains
4. D08 Kalispell Sandpoint
5. D10 Colville Wenatchee
6. D09 Sandpoint Colville
7. D04 Custer Wall
8. D11 Wenatchee Seattle
9. D08 Cody Yellowstone NP
10.R13 San Francisco Monterey
View Route Collection