Mastodon Peak and Lost Palms Oasis - 1.21.2017
Just before reaching the Cottonwood Visitors Center of Joshua Tree National Park, turn right on the Cottonwood Spring road and drive a mile or so to the end of the road.
|
Hike a very short distance and find some beautiful fan palms at Cottonwood Spring.
|
We found this sign after hiking a total of .2 miles.
|
Looking back toward Cottonwood Spring... Monument Mountain is in the distance on the left.
|
After hiking a total of .7 miles we will stay on the trail leading to Lost Palms Oasis.
|
The trail to Lost Palms Oasis crosses over several washes.
|
Continuing for the oasis.
|
Continuing for the oasis.
|
Continuing for the oasis.
|
Finally we arrive at the Lost Palms Oasis.
|
Looking down on the Lost Palms Oasis... I will need to go down and check things out.
|
Nice Fan Palm Trees.
|
Leaving the Lost Palms Oasis I hiked a couple of miles and then headed cross-country for Mastodon Peak on the left... I named the one in the foreground Little Mastodon.
|
Mastodon Peak from Little Mastodon... there is a Class 2 scramble up to the summit of Mastodon Peak... and that's where I'm heading.
|
Looking back in the direction of Lost Palms Oasis from the summit of Mastodon Peak.
|
On the summit of Mastodon Peak... with Monument Mountain in the distance.
|
The Salton Sea from the summit of Mastodon Peak.
|
I decided to make a short visit to the Mastodon Mine after I left the Mastodon summit... and I will continue a short loop hike back to the car.
|
Heading for the Cottonwood Spring parking area... today's hike was 8.5 miles roundtrip, gaining 1264 feet of elevation.
|
A bonus pic of Pinto Mountain... after we completed the hike to Lost Palms Oasis we continued to drive through the park and out the west entrance... part of that drive took us through Pinto Basin.
|
