- Joshua Tree National Park - Part 2 -

THE SOUTHERN ENTRANCE to the park lies off the main road (Highway 10) from Blythe to Palm Springs. This area forms part of the Colorado (Sonoran) Desert and vegetation is sparse and there is not much to see (although ocotillo plants are quite abundant at lower elevations around Cottonwood Springs).
    The park road continues to where the Joshua trees are to be found, and eventually enters the town of Twentynine Palms.
    About one third of the Park lies to the east of the road and is centred around the flat Pinto Basin and the Coxcomb Mountains. It is an officially designated Wilderness Area. At the half way point the Cholla Cactus Garden marks the approximate boundary with the Mojave Desert which has a higher elevation, lower temperatures and receives more rainfall than the Colorado Desert (see below and next page).

    Map of Joshua Tree National Park, California.

   Near Cottonwood Springs.

    At flood times the rainwaters rush through oddly named 'washes'. This one is situated near the Cholla Cactus Garden.

    Mojave Desert Cactus.

    An 'edited' version of the previous picture!