Surprise Springs - 12.20.2024
From Park Blvd in Joshua Tree National Park... turn south onto Geology Tour Road... then drive 1.5 miles and park where the California Riding and Hiking Trail crosses the road.
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From Geology Tour Road we start hiking SW on the California Riding and Hiking Trail... with Queen Mountain on the extreme right horizon... Ryan Mountain on the right-center horizon... and Lost Horse Mountain on the left-center horizon.
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The sun has really faded this sign near where we began hiking.
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After hiking a total of three-quarters of a mile we have left the California Riding and Hiking Trail and are continuing to hike SW across Queen Valley toward Lost Horse Mountain on the horizon.
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Heading for that rock formation in the right foreground.
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After hiking a total of 2 miles we have reached the rock formation in the previous photo... looking across Queen Valley to Lost Horse Mountain on the left horizon and Ryan Mountain on the right horizon.
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We have left the rock formation in the previous photo and are now hiking east back toward the Geology Tour Road... looking for some more rock formation exploration.
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Heading for that rock formation that looks like a cathedral.
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Denali Girl and the cathedral.
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No trail... just working our way among the rock formations.
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No trail... just working our way among the rock formations.
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No trail... just working our way among the rock formations.
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No trail... just working our way among the rock formations.
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No trail... just working our way among the rock formations.
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No trail... just working our way among the rock formations.
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No trail... just working our way among the rock formations.
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No trail... just working our way among the rock formations.
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No trail... just working our way among the rock formations... taking a break at what looks like a dance floor.
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Taking a break... left to right... Denali Girl, Katclaw and Star Dancer.
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Now hiking north... heading back toward the California Riding and Hiking Trail... but it looks like there is a dam a couple hundred yards out there.
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We have arrived at a dried up Surprise Springs.
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Rock formations near Surprise Springs.
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Here looking back at the Surprise Springs area as we are now hiking NE back toward the California Riding and Hiking Trail.
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Continuing to hike NE back toward the California Riding and Hiking Trail and the Geology Tour Road.
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We have returned to the California Riding and Hiking Trail... and are only a stone's throw away from our car... the total hike was 4.9 miles, gaining 338 feet of elevation.
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