Backcountry Camping Josua Tree

It's been many years since I have been there, but I think the hike to Lost Palm Oasis would be a great one nighter. But you are not allowed to stay over night too close to the palms because that is the only water around for countless miles for the desert animals and they don't want people to scare them off.

You can get there and back in a day hike, as I have, so take your time on an over-nigher. And make sure you don't get lost out there!

-Don- Auburn, CA

Well, it is desert and the odds are you won't see anybody else. But I don't know about the trail these days, as I have no clue how much use it gets. When I was there last, many years ago, the trail was obvious in some places but not in other areas and no trails at all when you get near the palms so you had to remember where you came from. Or was it too many trails near the palms? All I remember is that when I got down there, I had to be sure which way to go back to get back on the main trail.

I just looked here and the trail looks a lot better these days, with a well used trail and signs. I think it was the late 1970's I was there last, so things have changed a lot.

-Don- Auburn, CA

You really can't go wrong since most of the least desirable places to camp for your needs would be off limits to overnight camping anyway. Know that for overnight backcountry camping, you need to park at a "backcountry board" and register before departing. If you're OK with driving maintained dirt roads, camping at Hexahedron Mine would place you high up in a fairly wide open spot. The trailhead is the Pleasant Valley backcountry board off of Geology Tour Rd. Juniper flats is wide open area with many Joshua trees. Juniper Flats can be accessed from a short somewhat uninteresting route from Park View Rd, at the Juniper Flats backcountry board, or a longer more interesting route from Covington Flats, which requires a bit of dirt road driving to access. 

OGG,

I looked at pictures of Hexahedron Mine, it looked pretty sparse up there, wouldn't it be better to camp elsewhere, maybe in an area that had some Joshua Trees? I guess that is why you mentioned the alternative of Juniper Flats. Is there a trail from Covington Flats to Juniper Flats? Looking at the NPS website for the Covington Flats Trailhead, I couldn't really tell.

Thanks!

rebeccad: That is a good idea, but what do you mean that you can be back at the car soon after the light has gone bad? Aren't you camping in the desert? Isn't that the point to eat dinner before the hike in?

I guess it could be considered sparse and I can see how that might not be appealing. I like camping in wide open areas and wouldn't necessarily consider camping among Joshua Trees "better" than not having them around, but that's just me. I had interpreted your post as seeking advice for campsites with ideal night sky viewing conditions. Looking back at at it, I guess you were looking for a more general recommendation. The campsite at Hexahedron is high up in the Hexie Mtns and should have a less obscured horizon all around, which might improve the night sky view experience, compared to some other areas. I was just looking at some old photos of mine. Views from the camp and the trail up to it were pretty nice. Juniper flats is certainly less sparse in that there is quite a bit more vegetation there. There is a trail to Juniper Flats from Covington Flats. I've stayed at Juniper Flats twice, once I went in from Parkview Rd and stayed lower down on the east end and second time I came in from Covington Flats and stayed higher up on the West end, which I found to be a more interesting area with a better view from the campsite.