Skull Rocks, Discovery, Face Rock and Split Rock Trails: Joshua Tree NP, Twentynine Palms, CA ❤️❤️❤️❤️

10/9/2018: A very pleasant hike from Jumbo Rocks Campground. Lots of crazy rock formations, desert, cacti and, of course, Joshua Trees. We took the Skull Rock Trail that leaves from the campground and does a loop, but we also did Discovery Trail and part of Split Rock Trail and Face Rock. It is a great, easy hike for your first day in Joshua Tree National Park.

• 4.9 Miles loop – Family Friendly. Many places to turn to shorten the hike. 5-year old grandson? Yes.
• Difficulty: Easy
• Elevation range: 4225' to 4438' gross: +532'
• Traffic: Heavy (less so towards Split Rock)
• Getting There: No issues
• Trail Obstacles: None. Take water; it gets hot.
• Fees: Yes – National Park Fees
• Trailhead Coordinates: 33.99806, -116.06009
• Driving Directions
• Trail Map – Note: We did not do this entire trail. You can get a sense of our hike from the Geo-mapped Photos. Next time, we will do the entire loop. You can pick and choose from many hiking options to make this hike shorter or longer.
• Search this Trail
• Photos
• Geo-mapped Photos
• Management: National Park Service - Joshua Tree NP
• Alltrails Info

Rod’s Ramblings from the Trail: We drove from Lake Isabella KOA Campground to Jumbo Rocks. We are at campsite 116 and we like it a lot because it has a shade when it gets really hot and has a tree over us. We took the Skull Rock Trail that leaves from this campground and does a loop, but we also did Discovery Trail and part of Split Rock Trail and Face Rock. We went 3.1 miles, Marguerite says. It was a real nice hike, and we met a couple that was going to get married somewhere on one of the trails, but out of the way of the beating crowd. They were cute.

Tomorrow we are going to hike more. It was not the most exciting day in the world, but we got our feet wet and now have an idea of what we’re going to do. We will be here for four nights. I am not sure I will be able to stand Marguerite that long. Ha-ha.

And finally, we sat on a rock above our camp and watched the Stars come out. It’s a little windy and a little chilly but it’s a beautiful night. Goodnight.