The California Riding and Hiking Trail - 37.3 Miles Round-Trip

The California Riding and Hiking Trail (CRHT) stretches 37.3 miles from the Black Rock Campground in Yucca Valley to the Park's North Entrance Station in Twentynine Palms. This multi-faceted trail passes through mountainous pinyon-juniper woodlands in the west, expansive Joshua Tree flats in the middle and low-Mojave Desert ecotones in the east. 

Trail Map | Photo Gallery

The demanding through-hike leads deep into wilderness areas few visitors see, with ecological and geological variations every step of the way.

The following description travels west - east, trending down from the high elevations of Black Rock Campground to open desert bajadas at the North Entrance Station.

The CRHT's 5 distinct legs, defined by Park roads that bisect it - are summarized below. More detailed descriptions of each are provided in related links (above), and under the main California Riding and Hiking Trail heading on ProTrails.com's Joshua Tree National Park page:

BLACK ROCK CAMPGROUND TO UPPER COVINGTON FLAT
7.75 miles :: 3,983' - 4,815' (5,155' max elevation) :: +832' net elevation gain :: +1,340' total elevation gain

From the CRHT Backcountry Board, the trail merges with a wash and rises to a large sign on the left for the CRHT (.18 miles). Exit the wash and turn left on the CRHT to begin a steady climb into the foothills.

The trail crests (.85 miles : 4,185') and undulates down across a bajada to another wash and the Short Loop Trail junction (1.65 miles : 4,105'). The CRHT continues southeast, merging with and becoming a wash that slows travel on steeper grades up a narrow canyon. Note the prevalence of pinyon, oak and nolina as you climb.

Canyon walls recede and grades moderates beyond the Eureka Peak Trail junction (5.3 miles : 5,040') to Upper Covington Flat Road (5.45 miles : 5,077').

Here the landscape opens considerably to the Eureka Peak Road - Upper Covington Flat Road intersection (5.7 miles : 5,155') - the California Riding and Hiking Trail's highest point.

Follow signs across and begin a shifting, downhill course into a thick Joshua Tree forest for which these flats are known. The trail drops into and negotiates a wash that rejoins the road at the Upper Covington Flat Backcountry Board to complete the westernmost segment of the CRHT (7.75 miles : 4,815').

UPPER COVINGTON FLAT TO KEYS VIEW ROAD
11.25 miles :: 4,815' - 4,340' (5,015' max elevation) :: -475' net elevation loss :: +1,450' total elevation gain

The 11.25 mile section between Upper Covington Flat (west) Juniper Flats (east) is the CRHT's longest and arguably most interesting segment, undulating through high plateaus and rugged canyon country into vast Joshua Tree flats near Keys View Road.

From Upper Covington Flat, the trail bends east and drops steeply through a diversely vegetated hillside into a wide, barren valley. Make consecutive wash crossings to Mile Marker 28 (9.4 miles : 4,705') and bear right.

The trail tilts SE and climbs steadily to a high ridge (10.8 miles) with useful perspective on the fire-scarred valley through which you just passed, and maze of canyons and washes ahead. It negotiates a rugged descent along a thin ridge into a wash (11.35 miles : 4,612'), where cairns lead to Mile Marker 26 (11.45 miles : 4,578'). Remain vigilant through vague areas.

The trail slips through a slot and bursts into a capacious, inhospitable basin. It drops steeply to the valley floor at Mile Marker 25 (12.45 miles : 4,175') and climbs immediately back up to the encasement's northeast rim (13.75 miles : 4,795'). Here grades moderate, edging northeast across a high, Joshua Tree-filled flat.

The CRHT rolls through an expanding landscape past two connections for the Stubbe Springs Loop Trail (15.35 miles and 17.25 miles) to Keys View Road (19.0 miles : 4,340').

KEYS VIEW ROAD TO GEOLOGY TOUR ROAD
6.55 miles :: 4,340' - 4,475' (4,540' max elevation) :: +135' net elevation gain :: +610' total elevation gain

The 6.55 mile section between Keys View Road (west) and Geology Tour Road (east) begins in the great Joshua Tree forests of Juniper Flats, rises through a pass between Ryan Mountain (5,461') and Lost Horse Mountain (5,313') and ends in a desolate expanse of Queen Valley on Geology Tour Road.

The CRHT crosses Keys View Road toward Ryan Campground and turns sharply southwest along the base of Ryan and Lost Horse mountains. The trail weaves quickly through a thick Joshua Tree forest while rising up a narrow passage between the summits (20.6 miles : 4,405').

It trail crests along a basaltic rock-strewn saddle (21.7 miles : 4,540') and twists ruggedly down the east side with sweeping views across Queen Valley.

The landscape is now markedly different as you move into the low Mojave, a stark transition zone dotted with creosote, yucca, cholla, desert scrub and monzogranite rock piles. The CRHT undulates down across a wide wash (23.2 miles : 4,330'), then climbs steadily through open desert and deep sand to Geology Tour Road (25.55 miles : 4,475').

GEOLOGY TOUR ROAD TO TWIN TANKS ON PINTO BASIN ROAD
4.5 miles :: 4,475' - 3,912' (4,482' max elevation) :: -563' net elevation loss :: +25' total elevation gain

This section of the CRHT passes through Mojave desert shrub and scrub vegetation zones in a lonely, desolate corner of Queen Valley.

True desert lovers will appreciate this segment's stark beauty, boundless open space and solitude. After a brief rise to a low N-S ridge, the trail glides gently down open desert with little variation to the Twin Tanks Trailhead on Pinto Basin Road (30.05 miles : 3,912').

Ubiquitous creosote is accompanied only by an occasional Joshua Tree, or an even more rare Juniper. Worth noting along the way are Coyote Melons, a softball size gourd that grows from stringy vines on the ground. Afternoon travelers will enjoy rangy views across the Hexie Mountains.

TWIN TANKS TO THE NORTH ENTRANCE STATION
7.25 miles :: 3,912' - 2,885' (3,926' max elevation) :: -1,027' net elevation loss:: +146' total elevation gain

The easternmost section of the California Riding and Hiking Trail continues downhill from Twin Tanks to the North Entrance Station.

From Twin Tanks, the trail turns sharply north on packed gravel down a vast bajada framed by high ridges to the east and west. The stark expanse ahead belies a rich scrub and brush community with plants from the mid and low Mojave deserts: creosote is predominant, while paperbag bush, jojoba, various cholla, mound, hedgehog and barrel cacti emerge as you progress.

The trail edges east and crests a thin saddle (33.05 miles : 3,636') with useful perspective on the upper bajada. Note the dark basaltic rock on this saddle and slopes above, a sharp contrast to the light monzogranite of previous miles. The trail drops into and crosses a wash, the first of many on this final segment.

The trail bends sharply NW (32 miles : 2,882') and moderates across several washes in the lower bajada to the CRHT's terminus at the North Entrance Station (37.3 miles : 2,885').