Film Diary: Joshua Tree
Only seven months into 2024 and I’m finally organizing my thoughts and photos from the three days that Alex and I spent in Joshua Tree at the end of 2023 (better late than never).
In addition to being seven months behind schedule, this Film Diary will be a bit different than previous in that I’m going to include iPhone photos as well! I’m always more precious with the photos I take on my film cameras (cost of film, limited exposures, etc.), and on this particular trip I feel like I snapped some great iPhone pics that really captured the spirit of the desert.
Big Josh
The first day of our Joshua Tree expedition began the morning after our flight arrived. We touched down at LAX around 9pm on Tuesday, December 26, and opted to stay the night in a hotel in order to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for the three hour drive into the desert the following morning.
Our first stop when we arrived in Joshua Tree was The Station. An old gas station turned gift shop, the unconventional pit stop is home to Big Josh: a 20 ft tall cowboy who overlooks the lot and perpetually holds something that no longer exists. (An ax? A shotgun?)
The Station has everything you’d want in a quirky roadside attraction: useless tchotchkes, plenty of souvenirs, a sprinkling of drug paraphernalia throughout. It’s run by a couple of sun-tanned locals named Steve and Glen, who I suspect would have more than a few good stories should you ever get the chance to grab a beer with them. We bought a t-shirt, a magnet, and a mug for some friends back home.
Rocks
We continued our drive down 29 Palms Highway and into Joshua Tree National Park, where we made our way to Wonderland of Rocks. A location that lives up to its name, Wonderland of Rocks is full of seemingly-endless mountains of rocks and boulders. We spent the afternoon seeing how high we could climb, and concluded that playing on big rocks is still just as fun when you’re an adult.
After our Wonderland of Rocks adventure we drove to see another big rock: a popular roadside attraction called Skull Rock. Its easy access made for a rather crowded experience, but nevertheless, photos were taken, and more rock climbing ensued.
We left the park as the sun was beginning to set and plugged in the address for The Red Dog Saloon in Pioneertown. A local watering hole that served kitschy Christmas decor and Tex-Mex, Red Dog was the perfect dinner. It was also my first Modelo.
Secret Pho
The next morning, we woke up well before the crack of dawn to watch the sunrise from Keys View—a 5,185 ft overlook inside Joshua Tree National Park. Determined to procure more than just a protein bar to start the day, we set out for the only open eatery at 5:30 am: The Jelly Donut. As one would expect, The Jelly Donut is known for its donuts. As one would not expect, The Jelly Donut is also known for its Vietnamese pho. (Unfortunately, I no photos were taken, nor pho eaten, but both are on my to-do list for next time.)
Pastries and drip coffees in hand, we raced to the park in hopes of arriving at our destination before the sun did. We made it to Keys View with just enough time to settle in and enjoy breakfast with a view.
Happy Trails
With daylight in full effect, we set out to find Arch Rock. A leisurely walk through a desert nature trail led us to the landmark we were looking for, along with plenty of other natural monuments.
Next on the itinerary was our longest hike of the trip: Lost Palms Oasis. 7.5 miles of moderately-rough terrain was definitely enough to make us break a sweat, even in the desert’s late December temps. The hike was beautiful and just the right amount of challenging, but I have to admit the final destination left a lot to be desired. Perhaps Lost Palms Oasis is more of an oasis in the spring and summer seasons, but it was pretty dry on December 28, 2023. It was an enjoyable hike nonetheless.
Cholla
After a much-needed car ride to rest our legs, we stopped at a particularly groovy chunk of the desert called Cholla Cactus Garden. Home to arguably way more cacti than what the average person would consider a garden, Cholla Cactus Garden is inhabited by thousands of fuzzy, coral-like cacti sprouting up everywhere you turn. We arrived just as golden hour was setting in, resulting in some of my favorite photos from the trip.
One for the Road
As golden light faded to blue, we decided to hit one last hike before departing the park. Barker Dam, an easy, 1.3-mile loop, was the perfect nightcap. We walked along soft, sandy trails and smooth, flat rock as we watched the sun descend back beneath the horizon.
Packing Out
Our last morning in Joshua Tree was the first and only time we saw our Airbnb in daylight. We were treated to another phenomenal sunrise as we packed our bags and said goodbye to the outdoor tubs we never used.
Breakfast was at The Dez: a super fresh takeaway joint that I absolutely wish was in Pittsburgh. I had a very delicious lox bagel.
One Last Rodeo
We drove back to the park for one final hike before continuing on with the rest of our California itinerary. Lost Horse Mine was a scenic, 4-mile hike to an old, abandoned gold mine. I found the mine itself to be quite intriguing, but not necessarily aesthetically pleasing by my definition (you’ll have to Google it or see it for yourself). I personally preferred the landscape and snapped these photos along the way.
