This hike was closed over a year ago by a flash flood that exposed mining waste but the trail was in great shape. To visit the Oasis and return it was just under 8 miles and an elevation change of about 540 feet. As one hiker said why did we have to walk so far to see a few palm trees.
The hike starts at a parking lot beside the Cottonwood Oasis and headed southeast across a scenery of boulders and desert plants before dropping into a valley that has the largest grouping of palm trees in Joshua Tree National Park.
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| Cottonwood Oasis |
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| Cottonwood tree just right of center |
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| Oasis and parking lot |
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| quartz monzonite formations dot the landscape along the trail and it was fun to ask the group what they saw in the rock forms. |
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| ???? |
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| Row of rock teeth |
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| Juniper bush that has seen better days |
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| How did those rocks get embedded. |
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| Yucca tree beside a small rock formation |
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| The trail followed along a wash is some places. |
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| Salton Sea of in the distance |
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| First view of the Lost Palms |
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| Great picnic spot among the palms |
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| No picnic for this poor animal |
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| View from cliff above the oasis |
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| Rock looks like an Elvis wig |
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| Definite assortment of rock types here, almost looks like it was man-made. |
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| Pug's face? |
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| Pencil Cholla - don't mess with this cactus! |
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| This mortar hole is located at the Cottonwood Oasis. Used by the Cahuilla natives. |
Hi Geo, My name is Anndee Laskoe, I work for the Greater Palm Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau. I absolutely LOVE the photos you have taken of some of the Coachella Valley's most amazing hikes. I would love your permission to use some of your photos on our website visitgreaterpalmsprings.com, as we have articles on many of these hikes. I am happy to give you photo credit. I look forward to hearing from you in regards to this. Thanks so much Anndee
ReplyDeletealaskoe@palmspringsoasis.com