Bikes only at J-Tree.
#1
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Bikes only at J-Tree.
Here is cut and paste from the National Park Service web site:
This is good news if you want to ride there. The entrance fee is waived and you have the road to yourself, no cars.
More here https://www.nps.gov/jotr/index.htm
Joshua Tree National Park Entrances Closed to Vehicles. Joshua Tree National Park entrances are closed to cars until further notice to adhere to the latest health guidance. The park remains open to bicycle and hiker access. Please read our latest news release for more information.
More here https://www.nps.gov/jotr/index.htm
#2
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interesting. wish it were a little closer. for those of you that haven’t ridden it, imho, the most spectacular parts are between hidden valley (close to the west entrance of park blvd) and jumbo rocks. i’d include the 10 mile rt sidebar to keys view in that assessment.
wasn’t planning on it but may hafta sneak out of the county to investigate...
wasn’t planning on it but may hafta sneak out of the county to investigate...
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With a lot of campgrounds being closed right now I'm sure there are some spectacular rides with no traffic in our State and National Park areas.
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We've left a car at the vacant lot behind Coyote Corner for years to car pool into the park to rock climb with no incidents.
That will add a few miles and a few hundred feet to get to the park, but Quail springs road is narrow with few places you could get all the way off the pavement close to the entrance and the side roads are all narrow dirt. There's no parking room immediately outside the entrance kiosk. It might be worth driving up to check out a closer parking spot, but make sure you aren't encroaching on the locals.
The east entrance has plenty of places you could park close to the park entrance or at least within a 1/4 mile or so, has wider pullouts and is not nearly as populated.
That will add a few miles and a few hundred feet to get to the park, but Quail springs road is narrow with few places you could get all the way off the pavement close to the entrance and the side roads are all narrow dirt. There's no parking room immediately outside the entrance kiosk. It might be worth driving up to check out a closer parking spot, but make sure you aren't encroaching on the locals.
The east entrance has plenty of places you could park close to the park entrance or at least within a 1/4 mile or so, has wider pullouts and is not nearly as populated.
#7
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always prefer the west/park blvd entrance. did the east/north/whatever entrance in 29 palms from the visitor center a few years ago. it's a thankless and
pretty boring ascent until you finally hit jumbo rocks. a much longer payoff.
it's approx five (mostly uphill but not too steep) miles from the intersection of hwy 62/park blvd to the park boundary/west entrance station.
once in, it's about another 1.5 miles before things flatten out and start getting really scenic. i think you're better off parking in town and riding up.
some of the shoulders along park blvd are super soft.
if you have time and wanna extend your roadie ride after jtnp or do another ride, i recommend the pioneertown loop. it's a little over 20 scenic miles with some decent climbing on the west/north side of hwy 62
fairly close by the i-section of hwy 62/park blvd.
pretty boring ascent until you finally hit jumbo rocks. a much longer payoff.
it's approx five (mostly uphill but not too steep) miles from the intersection of hwy 62/park blvd to the park boundary/west entrance station.
once in, it's about another 1.5 miles before things flatten out and start getting really scenic. i think you're better off parking in town and riding up.
some of the shoulders along park blvd are super soft.
if you have time and wanna extend your roadie ride after jtnp or do another ride, i recommend the pioneertown loop. it's a little over 20 scenic miles with some decent climbing on the west/north side of hwy 62
fairly close by the i-section of hwy 62/park blvd.
#8
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As it turns out there has been a little bit of an issue with HUNDREDS of cars being parked outside the park. Many illegally. Now they have sigs and are enforcing the rules. I doubt you could predict where an open spot would be so I think just drive to the gate then make a u-turn and art in the first legal spot you see. I hear there are some signs now pointing to parking after residents complained about people larking in their yards and driveways stuff like that.
Hikers care more about being close but if you have a bike an extra four miles is not a big deal.
People are camping on the BLM land adjacent to the park because they can drive a car there and "tailgate camp". But you can still camp legally in the park so long as you are one mile from any road.
Hikers care more about being close but if you have a bike an extra four miles is not a big deal.
People are camping on the BLM land adjacent to the park because they can drive a car there and "tailgate camp". But you can still camp legally in the park so long as you are one mile from any road.
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As it turns out there has been a little bit of an issue with HUNDREDS of cars being parked outside the park. Many illegally. Now they have sigs and are enforcing the rules. I doubt you could predict where an open spot would be so I think just drive to the gate then make a u-turn and art in the first legal spot you see. I hear there are some signs now pointing to parking after residents complained about people larking in their yards and driveways stuff like that.
Hikers care more about being close but if you have a bike an extra four miles is not a big deal.
People are camping on the BLM land adjacent to the park because they can drive a car there and "tailgate camp". But you can still camp legally in the park so long as you are one mile from any road.
Hikers care more about being close but if you have a bike an extra four miles is not a big deal.
People are camping on the BLM land adjacent to the park because they can drive a car there and "tailgate camp". But you can still camp legally in the park so long as you are one mile from any road.
#10
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looks like jtnp is open to bikes again.
https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
expecting the upcoming holiday weekend to be a total goateff.
https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
expecting the upcoming holiday weekend to be a total goateff.
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I heard on the news this morning that JT is opening up to everything. I didn't catch the date but I believe if it wasn't immediately, it was going to be really soon. Maybe for the holiday?
#12
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^the jtnp page on nps.gov said everything open but group camping/group campsites and visitor centers.