03/29/2026
Yesterday, members of our Trilogy La Quinta Hiking Club hiked the 6.7 mile long Black Rock Canyon, Burnt Hill, and Canyon View Loop Trail in Joshua Tree National Park and we climbed 965 feet doing so.
It was a pleasant day with a starting temperature of 75 F at 9 AM and noon temperature of 83 F when we finished. The high clouds and breeze kept us very comfortable. It was much better than the 100+F in the desert!
As usual, we saw lots of beautiful Joshua trees in the park. We also saw many wildflowers, especially the desert dandelions which were widespread along our hike.
From a wildlife perspective, we ran across a Desert Horned Desert (aka Horned Toad). The desert horned lizard (Phrynosoma platyrhinos) is a species of phrynosomatid lizard native to western North America. They are often referred to as "h***y toads", although they are not toads, but lizards.
Joshua Tree National Park was established in 1994. Back in 1970, the Black Rock Campground where we started our hike today was a private campground called Jellystone Park Campgrounds. The campground operated from 1970 to 1976 when it was acquired by the National Park Service. There are still Jellystone Parks operating in other parts of the US. See below for a 1970 Desert Sun article about the Jellystone Park.
Joshua Trees: Yucca brevifolia (also known as the Joshua tree, yucca palm, tree yucca, and palm tree yucca) is a plant species belonging to the genus Yucca. It is tree-like in habit, which is reflected in its common names. This monocotyledonous tree is native to the arid Southwestern United States, specifically California, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada, and northwestern Mexico. It is confined mostly to the Mojave Desert between 400 and 1,800 m (1,300 and 5,900 ft) elevation.
The name "Joshua tree" is commonly said to have been given by a group of Mormon settlers crossing the Mojave Desert in the mid-19th century: The tree's role in guiding them through the desert combined with its unique shape reminded them of a biblical story in which Joshua keeps his hands reached out for an extended period of time to enable the Israelites in their conquest of Canaan.
Jellystone Park Campground: Joshua Tree National Park was established in 1994. Back in 1970, the Black Rock Campground where we started our hike today was a private campground called Jellystone Park Campgrounds. The campground operated from 1970 to 1976 when it was acquired by the National Park Service. The newspaper article below was published in the Desert Sun on September 25, 1970 just prior to the campground’s grand opening.
“YUCCA VALLEY - A new concept in family camping has come to Southern California. It’s the Yogi Bear Jellystone Park Campgrounds at Yucca Valley, the home of that lovable rascal, Yogi Bear, and his friends, Ranger Smith, Cindy, and Boo-Boo. Jellystone Campgrounds Ltd., a Wisconsin-based corporation, are the exclusive owners and franchise agents for Yogi Bear Jellystone Park Campgrounds. Parks are now In operation in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, and Florida. The Yucca Valley Park is the first in California. Yogi Bear Jellystone Parks are predicated on the concept that the majority of today’s 40 million campers desire more than just a place to “rough it”. They want convenience deluxe campsites, modern facilities, and recreational activities. Jellystone Parks fit this bill perfectly. They have large campsites, heated swimming pools, and spanking clean laundry and rest room facilities with plenty of hot water. Free recreation equipment includes tennis, shuffleboard, basketball, horseshoe, volleyball, and a host of other activities. Each park has a miniature golf course. For the parent who camps for relaxation, Jellystone Parks are a godsend, providing built-in sitting services for youngsters of all ages. Special Jellystone features include Old Faithful Geyser, Sundae Mountain, Boo-Boo’s Fishing Pond ( for fishermen under 12), and Ribbon Falls. Yogi cartoons and movies are shown at the outdoor theater on scheduled evenings. The real “magic”, however, is Yogi Bear himself, as he makes his daily appearance in costume, begging for a handout or sneaking off with someone’s lunch basket with Ranger Smith in hot pursuit!”
