Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
6.
Ryan Mountain
Heading east from Cap Rock junction, the next section of the drive skirts the mountains
separating Queen and Lost Horse valleys and leads to a strenuous 1 1/2-mile climb that af-
fordssomeofthebestviewsinsidethepark.FromthetopofRyanMountain,JoshuaTree's
central geography stands revealed, its maze of valleys, mountains, and narrow gorges laid
out like a vast topographic map. The mountain is named for Jeb and Thomas Ryan, who
were onetime proprietors of the Lost Horse Mine. Nearby are the remains of the Ryan
brothers' turn-of-the-century homestead, along with eight marked gravesites.
7.
Queen Valley
Unfolding serenely beneath blue desert skies, Queen Valley invites the traveler to linger
andgaze.VastgrovesofJoshuatrees(manyupto700yearsold)stretchtothehorizon,and
in springtime their white blossoms are beautifully balanced by the crimson flowers of Mo-
jave mound cacti. For travelers equipped with four-wheel-drive vehicles, Queen Valley is
also the beginning of the Geology Tour Road, an 18-mile route that leads through some of
the park's most distinctive formations, including the scorched basalt remnant of an unborn
volcano.
8.
Jumbo Rocks
A wide plateau of boulders, buttes, and domes, Jumbo Rocks looks as if it were tossed
together by playful giants. At sunrise and sunset the rocks glow with fiery hues—orange,
pink, and gold—and the entire area seems to tremble with color. A well-marked 1 3/4-mile
trail leads to Skull Rock, one of the site's most eerie monuments.
9.
Arch Rock Trail
Accessible byashorttrail fromtheWhite TankCampground, ArchRock isoneofnature's
more graceful creations: A granite bridge that was sculpted over the centuries by wind and
water. The “tank” itself, a man-made catchment for rain and runoff, was built and used a
hundred years ago by cattlemen to water their livestock. Finding it requires some scram-
bling over boulders to the south of the arch, where shady recesses provide inviting spots to
have a picnic or take a brief catnap.
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