Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [252]
If you'd like to learn the sport of rock climbing from scratch, it's easier than
you think. The folks at (aptly named) Uprising (☎ 888/254-6266 or 760/366-3799; www.uprising.com) in Joshua Tree have accredited, experienced climbing guides who'll orchestrate your entire excursion, starting with detailed instruction on rock-climbing basics. Later, the guide will lead each climb, setting up ropes for belay and rappelling, then guiding students every step of the way. All-day excursions are about $150 per person in groups of three or more, $175 each for two people, or $285 for one person. The company operates year-round, and prices include all necessary gear.
Camping
The park has nine developed drive-in campgrounds. At this writing, you can make reservations for individual sites only at Black Rock Canyon and Indian Cove (☎ 800/365-CAMP [2267]; http://reservations.nps.gov). You can make group camping reservations (sites accommodate 10–70 people) at the same number and website. Belle Campground, on Pinto Basin Road 9 miles south of Twentynine Palms, has chemical toilets. Black Rock Canyon Campground is in the northwest corner, at the head of the 35-mile California Riding and Hiking Trail (to reach it you have to leave the park boundaries), and is the most developed campground. There is also a visitor center here. Cottonwood Campground is in the southern portion of the park, near the Cottonwood Visitor Center. Hidden Valley Campground, 14 miles south of Joshua Tree, California, is on the main park road. Indian Cove is just inside park boundaries west
of Twentynine Palms; as at Black Rock, there are many hiking trails leading farther into Joshua Tree, but no roads. Jumbo Rocks Campground, named for its—surprise!—jumbo rocks, is 11 miles south of Twentynine Palms. Take Park Boulevard to reach Ryan Campground, 16 miles southeast of Joshua Tree, California. Sheep Pass group camp, a few miles east of Ryan Campground, has group sites only. White Tank Campground is 2 miles beyond the Belle Campground. There are no showers or laundry facilities at any of the campgrounds, and you can make fires only in the fire pits provided at each campsite (bring your own wood).
The park also allows backcountry camping in the wilderness areas; regulations include mandatory registration at 1 of 12 boards (see the Park Service map for locations). Park honchos recommend backcountry enthusiasts buy the Trails Illustrated topographic map of the park (available through the park association) before embarking on a backpacking trip.
Outside of the park boundaries, there are a few commercial campgrounds. One of the best is the Joshua Tree Lake RV & Campground, 5 miles north of Calif. 62 on Sunfair Road near the town of Joshua Tree (☎ 760/366-1213). It has a fishing lake (with bass, bluegill, and catfish), a dump station, a small convenience store, and 44 RV hookups. Tent sites are $7 plus $2 per person. Showers cost $3.
Where to Stay
Aside from camping, there are no overnight accommodations available within the boundaries of Joshua Tree National Park.
NEAR THE PARK
America's Best Value Inn & Suites: Oasis of Eden
56377 Twentynine Palms Hwy., Yucca Valley, CA 92284. ☎ 800/606-6686 or 760/365-6321. Fax 760/365-9592. www.oasisofeden.com. 38
units. A/C TV TEL. $59–$199 double. Rates include continental breakfast. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V.
It may look like a plain roadside motel, but the Oasis of Eden has surprises behind its doors. If you think the name makes it sound like a good place for illicit liaisons, wait till you see one of the 14 "theme rooms," each with a whirlpool and VCR. The Oasis of Eden is a less grand cousin to San Luis Obispo's famous Madonna Inn; here you can go back to the heyday of Elvis and sleep in a bed shaped like a '59 Cadillac