Lost Palms Oasis

Awesome hike! 3.5 miles each way and +400 foot elevation gain. Take water, food and dress wisely… today was very hot!

A gorgeous hike off the beaten path of Joshua Tree SP. The trail head actually splits into 2 hikes — this one, and Mastodon Mine Loop, an easier 3-​mile hike, but still full of things to see. I ended up being short on time, so we took the loop instead of the full Oasis trail. Nevertheless, there is a gorgeous palm oasis at the beginning of this shorter trail and a ruined mine. Also, there is a large climbable rock about 1 mile in, which makes for a great vantage point of Cottonwood. All in all, a fun easy hike for a short, but very memorable day trip.

This is a very beautiful hike during the spring and not as traveled as the other oasis in the park. A moderate 7 mile hike (in and out), with a some very interesting changes in scenery. You begin at Cottonwood Springs and hike through many ocotillo patches as well as huge granite formations, ending at a canyon with beautiful palm trees and a great view of the rolling desert where the Colorado meets the Mojave. There are no services along the trail (bathrooms, trash receptacles etc), so make sure you use the restroom at the the Cottonwood campground first and pack out all of your trash.