Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park (#10) – Day 1

Joshua Tree National Park:

A Religious Experience

Thursday, April 27, 2023

Day 1: In God’s Country

In 1987, U2 wrote an album that deeply resonated with me (…and 25 million other people). In 2023, I visited their spiritual land with its desert plains and highest mountains– Joshua Tree National Park.

Joshua Tree is a place for wandering and wondering.  I was fortunate to visit the park in the spring, the season of renewal and rebirth. Spring is here again, along with its religious holidays, and is a perfect time to reflect and introspect.

My husband, Sean, and I arrived in the park at about 6:00pm on a Thursday evening in late April. As we traveled along Park Boulevard, I was struck by the expansive and seemingly inhospitable landscape of spiked trees and large boulders. Anticipating large crowds this time of year, I was surprised that we were the only car on the road for the twenty miles to Keys View.

The isolating drive, along with the bizarre and incomprehensible landscape, resulted in a first impression of the park that is best described as befuddlement. But as we pulled into the parking lot at Keys View minutes before sunset, those unpleasantries were washed away.  Nestled into the side of the Little San Bernadino Mountains, a small crowd was already gathered to watch the sunset over the Coachella Valley. Through the hushed whispers of anticipation, there was a silent communion amongst us. Together, we watched the spectacular colors of the sun bleed into one. And even though we took the same lonely road out of the park, there were only feelings of contentment and understanding.

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Joshua Tree National Park – Day 2

Friday, April 28, 2023

Joshua Tree National Park

Day 2: The Stations of Joshua Tree

Skull Rock

Day two of our trip was busy. The first stop on our pilgrimage was Skull Rock. A great motivator to begin a spiritual quest is the idea of death and our own mortality. As you stare into the hollow eyes of the giant skull, perhaps you are reminded of the meaninglessness of the human experience or of victory over death. Or maybe all you get from the heady stare is poison and pirates. Whatever the rock means to you, get there early. It is a popular spot.

Heart Rock

After the heavy reminder of death, where better to run than the temple of love?  Our second station, Heart Rock, is a fun and happy place to visit. Shooting up like a bloom from the stony ground, this large heart is the appropriate place to contemplate the One-ness of it all.

Arch Rock

Adjacent to Heart Rock, the third station we visited was Arch Rock. We honored the sanctity of Spring by walking through the symbol of rebirth and renewal, leaving behind the old and entering the new.

Cholla Cactus Garden

Station four was Cholla Cactus Garden. The Cholla Cactus Garden is an adorable, 10-acre, non-petting zoo of desert vegetation. Rivaling puppy yoga for sheer cuteness, the Teddy bear cholla cacti are the sweetest things! Neither puppy yoga nor Teddy bear chollas have religious or spiritual meaning, so the only way I can tie them into this analogy is that this garden brings me great joy. On your spiritual pilgrimage to Joshua Tree, take a break from all the seriousness and go play in the cactus garden.

Hall of Horrors

Our fifth stop of the day was The Hall of Horrors. This large area is confusing and the streets have no names. If you are fortunate enough to find the slot canyons, the tight squeeze will give you an interesting perspective about narrow paths.

Hidden Valley

Hidden Valley was station six. The name comes from the legend that it was a place where rustlers hid stolen livestock during the transportation between California and Arizona. Concealed by a ring of massive boulders, this flat, one-mile hike is the perfect, secretive place to contemplate the Parable of the Hidden Treasure or the Tibetan Buddhists’ beyuls.

Fortynine Palms Oasis

The seventh and last stop of the day was Fortynine Palms Oasis. This challenging hike was the pinnacle of my spiritual journey as it was the place I came closest to death. We started the hike at noon, thinking we were adequately prepared with hats, sun protection, water, and snacks. We were not. I started feeling a little uneasy about three quarters of the way to the oasis. Just when I was about to suggest turning around, I could see the oasis in the distance, so we persevered. Had I not been experiencing some mild heat exhaustion, I don’t think I would have appreciated the literal and spiritual meanings of the word as much as I did that day. It is an absolute must see, but PLEASE hike in the morning.

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Joshua Tree National Park – Day 3

Saturday, April 29, 2023

Joshua Tree National Park

Day 3: The (2nd) Highest Mountain

There was one goal for the 3rd day of our trip: hike Ryan Mountain before heading back to Las Vegas.

Having learned valuable lessons from the previous afternoon, we were atop Ryan Mountain by 7:30am. Although no oasis greeted us at the peak, we did see Satan… or just a rattlesnake. To end our trip at this 2nd highest peak in the park felt victorious. What a beautiful day!

On our drive back to Las Vegas, we passed acres and acres of Joshua Trees. A last symbol of this spiritual journey, the tree is rumored to be named by Mormon missionaries after the biblical figure, Joshua. Whether the upward branches of the tree were seen as his prayerful arms lifted towards heaven, or the sword-like leaves were reminiscent of the biblical war leader, Bono was not the first to find this land spiritually inspiring. Joshua Tree, with its mysterious ways, is a place of surprise and fascination. Come meander its dusty ground and just maybe you’ll find what you’re looking for.

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