Queen Valley Prospects Camp - Joshua Tree National Park
Working on a hunch, due to the time of year, I put a question to several fellow JT exploratographers as to where a wanderer might find some color in the park. Double M verified my inkling that heading to the Cottonwoods area would not be blooming profitable. Peak time had passed. He suggested the area around Odell parking area, a seldom visited area of the park only reachable by those who really want to get there. And the adventure was afoot.
Upon closing in on the destination, braving the JT pinstriping, there were a lot of yellow flowers visible to the east of the dirt road. So upon parking, that’s where I headed first and discovered the remains of Queen Valley Prospects Camp.
If you’ve been out here, you’ve probably noticed this pile of waste material from one of the prospect holes, shown in the photo on the left. The photo on the right shows what’s left of the hole it came out of, mostly filled in now to keep people from falling into trouble. I prefer to have the option, but that’s just me.
Heading to the yellow, something caught my eye. A small can dump. Many folks consider this trash and wonder why someone doesn’t clean it up. It’s not trash anymore, it’s history. In this case, folks who know what they’re doing could determine a date estimate of when the cans were placed there. Who might have left them or the length of time the spot was occupied, short term, long term etc. I love finding spots like this and poking around to see what I can find and photograph. Desert Gold.
Right nearby, some interesting scraps of wood. The remains of some kind of shelter? Probably never know, but fun to wonder about.
Someone brought a mattress out here, maybe indicating staying at the location for a length of time. Or someone just really liked to sleep comfortably. No idea what that large rectangular thingamagib was, perhaps some kind of interstellar craft?
Big. Round. Rusty. Bottom of a water tank? Something from Bed, Bath & Beyond? I don’t know. Let’s head over to the cactus patches.
The Grizzly Bear Cactus was really showing off. This area is the largest, densest home of these guys that I’ve yet to hike across over many years of exploring JT.
After wandering about the Grizz for quite a spell, I headed back to the truck for some refreshment. The parking area is one of several staging spots for folks who want wander deeper into Queen Valley, or the really adventurous who want to summit Queen Mountain (a grinding feat of endurance, not for the faint of heart or body). As the day was still young, I headed up the remains of the old road that led into the valley.
Climbing a small rise to get this view of where the road leads. This photo is a bit misleading, but above the pile of gray rocks in the upper center, there is a low notch in the hills that leads into Queen Valley proper. Beyond those hills is the valley and beyond the valley are the taller mountains you see in the upper right of the picture. This entire area is criss-crossed with the dirt road the old timers used to get from place to place. Sometimes it’s fun just to find one and then hike along it until your legs give out.
Off to the northwest, a surprising view of San Gorgonio opened up.
Before
After
The road ahead always seems to be uphill. And then a look at the road behind.
Perhaps the last Globemallow bloom in the park. Along the way up to the pass, the wildflowers were scarce. A Barrel Cactus offered me this beauty.
A few weeks later and this Cholla would be blazing.
Everything in the desert wants to hurt you.
Yes, this is the final stretch of the “road” leading up to the pass. Sorry, no “rocky road” jokes that would do this justice.
This is looking back down the road. So many Joshua Trees out there! But time to continue on up and over the pass, to see what’s on the other side.
This view is taken from atop the western ridge side of the pass (approximately 4600 ft. elevation), it looks out into the valley. I don’t know for sure, but I believe the high point of the mountain shown is near the summit of Queen Mountain, near 5,700 ft. elevation. So you’d think it would be an easy climb. I’ve yet to try it, but have heard from several sources that it’s not for the faint of heart. And the “easier” route goes through some beautiful country.
Just through the pass, there is an amazing little cove full of Perry Nolinas, in various stages of their life.
2024 may well be referred to from this point on as the Year of the Nolina.
Hiking along the ridge, climb a rock, see something a little farther on, go check it out, then look over there, then go over there, but back there is something you didn’t see when you were first there, so head back, then look the other way, more stuff. Anyone else have this problem?
The Piñon Pine. I like spelling it with the little accent thingee. These guys are perhaps my favorite trees of all time. Enduring, photogenic, shady.
Desert Indian Paintbrush, a nice fiery red that definitely stands out and is easy to see. Despite being a little late in the season for wildflowers in the park, there was a nice variety still hanging tough. Maybe they knew I would be visiting.
As it was nearing noon, it was just about time to head back to the truck and then on to the next adventure of the day. The Wonderland of Rocks was calling. Here are a couple last shots before this story ends.
A panorama from atop Nolina Ridge, looking back towards Sheep Pass and beyond.
And getting closer to the cold and delicious treasures stored in my truck, this happy Juniper posed for a quik pik. Which also captured Mt. San Jacinto and Mt. San Gorgonio in the same frame 😃.
Hope you enjoyed this brief trek into an area of the park that doesn’t get much attention. Those are my kind of places. Most of the pictures are clickable to make them bigger. Love to read comments in the comments section below.
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