Southern California - Riding in Palm Springs/Joshua Tree

I will be in Palm Springs next weekend and I'm hoping to rent a road bike one of the days.

I've never been to Joshua Tree National park and I'm wondering how the riding is there. I'm not looking for anything too strenuous, just something between 25-30 miles. Can someone give me the skinny on riding around the park?

Cheers.

try palm springs cyclery on palm canyon dr/hwy 111 in palm springs for
a rental.

going to joshua tree national park is a must! it's about an hour's drive from palm springs.
the (road) riding there is best from the hidden valley area to the jumbo rocks area.
this is most easily accessible from the western entrance-park blvd. from hwy 62 in yucca valley.
once you clear the western entrance/fee station, it's a mile or two uphill then it flattens
out. this is about the same time the rocks/joshua trees/views really "come out" and it's
a good place to start. you can easily do 25-30 miles noodling around. it's nearly impossible
to get lost on the paved roads since there aren't that many. it's a simple and
relatively flat there & back from hidden valley to jumbo rocks. stunning ride!

make sure to bring your camera! hopefully, you've got a small digital camera you can slip
in a jersey pocket. you'll likely be stopping way too often to snap a picture of the crazy
rock formations & wildflowers (if they're "out" yet).

if looking for something slightly more challenging, you can turn off the main road
and head the 5 miles (one way) to keys view which overlooks most of coachella valley.
the pavement last time i did it 3 years ago wasn't the smoothest but it was doable.
the last bit up to the viewpoint may give you a little workout but the view is worth it.

the pavement on the main drag through the monument is good from hidden valley to jumbo
rocks. outside of that stretch, it's generally ok but not great.

if you go, try to go early-get there before 8am. generally, the traffic is low speed but it can be
kinda heavy + lotsa rv's. weekends can be extremely busy. the mountain biking there ain't
bad either. let us know how it was and share pics if you got 'em!:) enjoy!

forgot to add that you'll be riding at approx. 5000 feet and that it can occasionally get
pretty windy up there.

I second the idea of going up to J.T. N. P. Have done the ride from the Western entrance out to Keys View. It is worth the effort, and makes the entrance fee easier to accept. You will pay if you drive your car into the park, or if you park outside and ride the bike in.

I did a century there once. It was a great tour.. A beautiful ,unique scenic desert ride...Go before May because it can be unbelievably hot.. Should you go all the way to the south end of the park , you have a long ascent back.. But, it's fun going down.. The grade is not too step, but very long.

guys,

Thanks so much for the fantastic details. I will call Palm Springs Cyclery today to see what they have for rentals, and I'm reading up JT to get a sense of where the places you mention are.

Edit: I just found a nice map (http://www.nps.gov/PWR/customcf/apps/maps/showmap.cfm?alphacode=jotr&parkname=Joshua%20Tree%20National%20Park) on the park website. Looks pretty straight forward, riding along Park Blvd from the West Entrance Station.

I'll have my Camelbak, so I'll be bringing my Canon G11, and I will be taking many photos. I'll be sure to post some here. Can't way to check out Jumbo Rocks.

I'm also really looking forward to this trip because I live in New Hampshire, where March means really, really crappy weather...cold, snowy and grey. Can't wait for some desert sun.

Thanks again for the great info!!

Scotch,

There's a visitor center at the south entrance in 29 palms. I parked there and rode through to key view. Also at the visitor center they give you bike maps too. During my weekend stay I went through both entrances. Lots to see and do.

The climb up key view is that bad. Just a steady incline. The views are amazing and the descent is fun. JT is one of my favorite Nat'l Parks. Now is a good time to go cuz it's not too hot.

You'll meet lots of local cyclists in the park. There's a shop in Joshua Tree off the main drag. The owner is a roadie too, so he can help with rentals and repairs. Make sure you get thicker tires. This time of the year there's these long thorns on the road. I flatted 3 times until I went to his shop and bought thicker tires.

Have fun.

Thanks, grrlyrida. I'll be sure to hit the visitor's center.

I'm staying in Palm Springs and found this place (http://www.bwbtours.com/rentals.html) that rents road bikes. Palm Springs cylcery doesn't rent them.

Yeah, going from seriously crappy new england March weather to sunny, dry and 85 will be one hell of a nice change. I can't wait. I'll also be catching some of the Indian Wells tennis tournament.

those khs bikes look pretty sweet-especially the carbon one.

fyi-joshua tree np is usually about 8-10 degrees cooler than palm springs.
i'm guessing that you'll somehow manage to htfu through 75 or so degrees.

the tennis stadium is pretty sweet. i'll be out there this coming weekend too
but no riding or tennis tourney for me. i'm kinda jealous.:p

There was a BF ride at Joshua Tree several years ago. http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?225761-nov-11-joshua-tree-national-park-ride

^^^^ That was a fun ride, from 29 Palms to Keys View. Camping the night before was a total blast. Although a bit hung over, I was able to ride the next morning.

Evan from Big Wheel Tours is hooking me up with a KHS Flite 720 (comes with helmet, lock, area maps, pump, patch kit, spare tube, tire levers, wrench set). Just gotta bring my shoes.


$70 for two days. Not a bad deal.

There was a BF ride at Joshua Tree several years ago. http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?225761-nov-11-joshua-tree-national-park-ride

We really need to do this again. Cali...can you hear me? :)

A report from a friend who rode a Harley thru the park on Thursday of last week.
Snow along the roads from Hidden Valley to Keys View. Road open just fine.
He was very cold as he didn't have chaps and had some wind chill.
It does get cold up there in the winter.
Enjoy it.

Evan from Big Wheel Tours is hooking me up with a KHS Flite 720 (comes with helmet, lock, area maps, pump, patch kit, spare tube, tire levers, wrench set). Just gotta bring my shoes.


$70 for two days. Not a bad deal.



so, how was your trip/ride? any pics to post?

My trip was great! Thanks again to everyone for the information.

My day in Joshua Tree was beautiful. A little hazy part of the day, mostly sunny the rest. It was very dry and cool, too...high of maybe 70. Just right.

I parked at the western entrance and rode out to Hidden Valley and tooled around in that area for a couple of hours. I then rode back to my car and drove through the park to Cottonwood, checking out many of the exhibits on the way (including a very painful run-in with the Jumpin' Cholla).

Here's a few pics.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2754/4457161745_e82ff67385.jpg

Rock climbers
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2705/4457161885_970ea991fd.jpg

Lone climber
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/4457161993_1f79003c6e.jpg


Keys View
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2771/4457939530_097ac62b0f.jpg

I believe this is called "Oyster Bar'
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2682/4457162247_c74a641b86.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4457939864_5bf091cc2f.jpg

The beautiful Cholla Garden
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2762/4457939968_cd3d3c49a7.jpg

Cholla spines in foot and leg = intense pain. This was after I got the cholla off my leg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4072/4457940334_faff93d1ea.jpg

A little post-JT grub! My first ever I-N-O Burger.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4021/4457940398_38cd4ccf3d.jpg

All in all a great trip. I'd like to spend a few days camping in JT sometime, as well as in Death Valley. This was really my first experience in the desert. It's a mesmerising and incredibly beautiful place.

A few more pics from my trip to CA.

Rockin' the tourist look while packing.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2763/4457160949_7b1c8f3ab6.jpg

Livin' large in US Air coach.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/4457938332_4f28b09df8.jpg

Over the USA
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/4457938474_66a82efe19.jpg

A LONG way from March in New Hampshire
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/4457938582_a88dd0ab8a.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2712/4457938780_f127850436.jpg

Massive wind farm in Palm Springs area
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2687/4457163055_3a1c5a3a54.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/4457161667_92122d0e97.jpg

Andy Roddick losing to Ivan Ljubicic at the Indian Wells final
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2727/4457940642_33a302d0b7.jpg

yeah, you captured it in the photos! looks like it was a beautiful day. in-n-out is the (mostly) california burger spot!

death valley np is absolutely gorgeous too but is the largest national park in the lower 48. distances are vast and deceiving.
definitely a must-ride but a camelbak or the like is a near necessity all year due to the lack of stores/support.
a good starting point is the furnace creek area which is central (as central as can be there) to some great challenging riding
or relatively flat mosying) and sites. it is the area with the most lodging/camping/food/support options.

fyi...if you come in contact with the teddy bear/pencil/jumping cholla(s) again, a comb is the best way to remove it. if you
spend any significant time in the desert backcountry, you eventually come in contact with it-or vice versa.
that stuff is a nightmare for dogs :(

I will be in Palm Springs next weekend and I'm hoping to rent a road bike one of the days.

I've never been to Joshua Tree National park and I'm wondering how the riding is there. I'm not looking for anything too strenuous, just something between 25-30 miles. Can someone give me the skinny on riding around the park?

Cheers.

it must feel good after a 30 mile bike.

Since Joshua Tree National Park is a National park, if you reached your 62 birthday, you can get a discount pass for all national parks.

I will be in Palm Springs next weekend and I'm hoping to rent a road bike one of the days.

I've never been to Joshua Tree National park and I'm wondering how the riding is there. I'm not looking for anything too strenuous, just something between 25-30 miles. Can someone give me the skinny on rv rental arizona (http://www.rvrentaloutlet.com/) around the park?


Cheers.


In Joshua Tree National park , it is the best spot for camping. There are lots of beautiful trees and rocky roads. And the lakes are clear. I suggest that you should go there. :D

June. I love Joshua Tree. Little late for a bike ride tho.. In June isn't it a little hot.. Thanks for the photos.
ps.....Inn and Out Burgers along with Rubio's . A secondary benefit of a Calif vacation.

I'm working in Barstow right now, and will have MLK weekend free. I take it Jan would be good for JT.

Any other ideas within a few hours of Barstow?

I'm working in Barstow right now,Meth lab?

I'm working in Barstow right now, and will have MLK weekend free. I take it Jan would be good for JT.

Any other ideas within a few hours of Barstow?

if we're just talking roadie action, (besides joshua tree national park) there is death valley national park and the 127 hwy heading to/from it from baker and the 15 fwy.
also, all the paved roads within mojave national preserve have spectacular views (kelbaker, kelso-cima, morning-star mine, essex, black canyon, cima) and are way underutilized.
as with pretty much all southwestern desert riding, distances are visually difficult to judge, support is nearly non-existent (don't count on cell phone coverage or 7-11's), you gotta
watch out for loose gravel in the frequent dips carved out by flash floods and the occasional (really really) windy area. as long as you've got multiple inner-tubes, food and plenty
of hydrating fluids, you'll be fine. the southern california desert riding encompasses some of the best scenery the state has to offer without the crowds. temperature-wise, the best times of the year
are between thanksgiving and usually mid-april. if you really wanna get away from it all, mojave national preserve during the weekdays can provide that.

if you end up hoofing it to (relatively) nearby las vegas, take your bike or you'll regret not doing so. valley of fire state park, red rock canyon (closest to downtown), lake mead and the
mount charleston areas are all super scenic as well.

if we're taking mtb action, someone else will have to take up that shield for specifics. i've hiked some of it and i can only imagine the mtb'ing is fantastic as well.

if go end up hoofing it to (relatively) nearby las vegas, take your bike or you'll regret not doing so. valley of fire state park, red rock canyon (closest to downtown), lake mead and the
mount charleston areas are all super scenic as well.

if we're taking mtb action, someone else will have to take up that shield for specifics. i've hiked some of it and i can only imagine the mtb'ing is fantastic as well.

The Cowboy Trails in Red Rock Canyon are some of the best, uncrowded technical MTB trails in the Mojave.

Try the Boneshaker out, it's a hoot.

http://www.mountainbikebill.com/NVCowboyTrails.htm (video at the bottom of the page)

Try Hwy 173 through Hesperia up to Lake Silverwood in the San Bernardino Mtns. Silverwood is about 3400 ft up, so shouldn't be any permenant snow. You could also go farther by turning onto Hwy 138 at the west end of Silverwood and heading about 15 miles (one way) and 1200 ft more to the Lake Gregory area. Mostly open country (except around Lake Gregory) since you'll be on the desert side of the San Berdoo Mtns.

Extra "gonzo" points if you try this: Lucerne Valley up Hwy 18 to the Big Bear Lake area. This is a MAJOR climb on a winding (but not too heavily traveled) road that tops out at about 7500 ft, so make sure you're granny gears are working. Try driving it first. Since its on the NE side of the San berdoo Mtns, and exposed to the desert, it won't get as much snow as the south and west facing slopes.