“Oooh, where the streets have no naaaaammmmeee!” Sorry, it’s hard to think of the Joshua Tree without the opening chords of the mega-selling U2 album entering our heads. But the sunglassed savior's moody lyrics can’t do justice to the stunning rock formations, Native American sites, challenging rock climbing, and diverse flora and fauna the Joshua Tree National Park has to offer. If you still haven’t found what you’re looking for on your Californian vacation, you should join Ethan on his desert hike. Cause this man's going hiking, with or without you...
Get the most out of your Joshua Tree experience with a guided adventure hike through The Wonderland of Rocks. This rugged area of the park consists of thousands of rock formations densely packed together. Ethan will guide you through sandy washes and over rocks as you explore the Wonderland's maze-like dimensions. As you travel through the Wonderland you will see and learn about the national park's flora and fauna, cultural history, geology and desert ecology. Other possible destinations include visiting Native American sites, abandond gold mining operations, and ranching ruins. This hike is a great way to immerse yourself in a seldom traveled area of Joshua Tree and enjoy the surreal desert landscape without worrying about difficult route finding.
From challenging rock scrambling to mostly flat walking, Ethan can customize the hike to suit the needs of the hikers.
The hike is generally 3-4 miles long. The terrain consists of a mix of sandy washes and some uneven rocky terrain. A scramble up to the top of a granite dome is optional on the hike. This hike can easily be turned into a full day experience to suit the needs of your group. Looking for something even more adventurous? For those with a full day, a willingness for exploration and some rock scrambling experience, a through hike of the entire Wonderland is available. On all Joshua Tree adventures Ethan will provide some kind of treat (usually farmers market fruit, dark chocolate or even a cup of turkish coffee if you request it!) We generally meet outside the park at a cafe in town and drive 15 minutes into the park to the Wonderland parking area.
Ethan has lived, explored and guided groups in Joshua Tree for the past 6 years. His love of rock climbing brought him to California from the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. Over the years he has worked for several outdoor education companies and also for private schools guiding people throughout the wilderness of California. Ethan has also guided professionally in Death Valley National Park, Yosemite National Park, Channel Islands, and in the San Jacinto wilderness. He holds a current Wilderness First Responder certification and is a graduate of a National Outdoor Leadership School instructor course. His favorite pastimes include cooking, rock climbing, backpacking, surfing and mountain biking in the moonlight. Hope to see you in the desert soon! Full profile
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