Joshua Tree N.P.–Day 1

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Today, we took a drive through the southern end of the park.  It is 30 miles from the southern entrance to the northern entrance. 

All of the Joshua trees are in the northern part, so we did not see any today.  Our main goal was to visit Cottonwood Spring.  The spring is located just behind the southern welcome center.

We are parked just on the other side of the mountains behind this spring.  You would never know such a beaurtiful place existed in this dry and unforgiving desert.

There are beautiful bright green Cottonwood trees and dark Palm trees all along the sandy wash.  Just under the sand, there is an abundance of water to keep them green.

 

We then drove about 18 miles down over the mountains and into the Colorado Desert.

Off to the north across the desert, we could see Pinto Mountain coming closer as we drove north.

Our journey into the park today stopped at the Cholla Cactus Garden.  I have never seen so many Cholla in one place before.  They are beautiful.

That is enough for one day.  The next time, we will drive to the northern end of the park and see the Joshua Trees.

Beautiful full moon tonight.  Dolly took a beautiful photo with the 300 mm zoom lens.

See you later.