Wonderland of Rocks

The Wonderland of Rocks in Palm Springs is located along the Barker Dam Loop Trail in the Joshua Tree National Forest. The trail is in the center of the park and is 1.8 miles in length. The trail offers great views of the Wonderland of Rocks, as well as the Native American petroglyphs in the park. The Barker Dam is a manmade reservoir along the way that treats hikers to a view of water in the middle of the desert. The elevation of the hike is about 70 feet and the hike is simple, usually taking hikers about 45 minutes to complete. Once inside Joshua Tree, head off Park Boulevard toward the Hidden Valley campground and look for the circular parking lot beyond Keys Ranch Road. The trail is well known for its interpretive plaque, homesteading history that has been preserved and the petroglyphs. The hike is ideal for inexperienced hikers and works well for those who want to get in a quick hike before sunset. The Wonderland is along the trail and features an impressive series of boulders, which total about twelve square miles in size. Rock climbers are often seen traversing the rocks and sometimes hikers even stop to sit or climb. There are a number of narrow canyons that lead into the Wonderland and if you veer off the loop trail, you may need a compass to find your way through the Wonderland.