Cali49

Let's go see what we can find

Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park - Places of interest, hidden spots off the beaten path.

Joshua Tree National Park

“Yeah, Desert Sky - Dream beneath the Desert Sky”

— Bono

A drive through Joshua Tree National Park might take a couple hours, viewing the park from the road. An exploration of the park would take a lifetime. Joshua Tree National Park has over 550,000 acres of wilderness filled with a variety of plants and animals that make their home in this land shaped by strong winds, unpredictable torrents of rain, and climatic extremes. Every now and then, man intrudes in this wilderness and leaves his brief, passing mark among the surreal geologic features that cover the landscape. Let’s go see what we can find.

November 03, 2016

Desert Queen Ranch, Part 2 - Joshua Tree National Park

November 03, 2016/ Keys Ranch/ Elliot Koeppel

Put the Desert Queen Ranch, aka Keys Ranch, on your list of things to see on your next visit to Joshua Tree National Park. It's a glimpse back in time to a hardier era, and into the mind of one of the area's most notable early-day settlers, Bill Keys. The Ranch is only accessible via Ranger-guided tours, and generally only on the weekends. Check in at any of the visitor centers located at the park entrances to make a reservation.

January 15, 2015

Desert Queen Ranch

January 15, 2015/ Desert Queen Ranch/ Elliot Koeppel

I remember visiting the Desert Queen Ranch over forty years ago, when I was but a mere lad. I was amazed back then at all the stuff Bill Keys had accumulated and built on the property and was re-amazed recently when I had the opportunity to visit it again. He was an amazing man.

Cali49

Joshua Tree National Park, the California Gold Country, forgotten places in the Mojave Desert. These are a few of my favorite things.