First trip to Joshua Tree

The main backpacking route is the California Hiking & Riding Trail on the north side of the park, between Black Rock Campground and the North Entrance station (by the town of 29 Palms).  It’s roughly 38 miles one way.  No water, so cache some at road crossings at whatever mileage interval you want. I normally just put a gallon halfway since I will do it in 2 days or a small part of a 3rd.  The terrain is easy with no steep climbs and most climbs only a few hundred feet.  You can talk to a local outfitter to help set up a shuttle or walk out past the park boundary and call an uber.  No fee required to drive to the trailhead at Blackrock Campground, but you will need one at North Entrance station, so I would walk out past there before calling an uber (really close to the trailhead).

Most trails are more setup for day hiking as they are relatively short. The only other backpacking possibilities would be a cross country route along some of the washes or canyons (not particularly hard to do except for all the walking in sand).

It’s not that hard to do a loop, I’ve done it twice. Just get a decent map and plot out a route. There was some rock scrambling and dead-eye reckoning a few times when the trail petered out, but nothing that got us lost or caused too much time getting to where we wanted to go. Cached water in a few places and never had it disturbed on either trip, but it’s certainly possible so hide it well. The sayings carved into rock on one hill are pretty cool, would definitely suggest checking those out.

thanks    Hope to try it in about 2 – 3 weeks from now.