Page 673 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

THE DESER T S  671

Diego County is a remote and
pristine park, offering an insight
into the unique desert
environment, with its steep
ravines and rocky badlands.
The visitor center is in
Borrego Springs, the park’s
only significant town. Nearby,
the Palm Canyon Nature Trail
leads to an oasis where
endangered bighorn sheep can
often be seen. From the Box
Canyon Historical Monument,
lying southwest of the visitor
center, there are views of the
old road once used by miners Spiny-leaved Joshua trees in Joshua Tree National Park’s western half
en route to the gold fields,
which lay 500 miles (800 km) to 9 Joshua Tree 0 Mojave Desert
the north. National Park Barstow. @ n 831 Barstow Rd, (760)
The desert bursts into bloom 256-8619, (888) 422-7869.
between March and May. Cacti @ Desert Stage Lines from Palm ∑ barstowchamber.com
and desert flowers such as desert Springs to Twenty-Nine Palms. &
poppies and dune primroses Oasis Visitors’ Center: 74485 National Lying at an altitude of 2,000 ft
produce a riot of color. Park Dr, Twenty-nine Palms. Tel (760) (600 m), the Mojave Desert was
367-5500. Open 8am–5pm daily.
Much of the park, including Closed Dec 25. ∑ nps.gov the gateway to California for
its campsites, is accessible via traders in the 19th century.
the 100 miles (160 km) of roads. The Joshua Tree National Park Barstow, the largest town, is
Four-wheel drive vehicles are takes its name from the Joshua a stopover between LA and Las
recommended, however, for trees that thrive there. The Vegas. In the 1870s, gold and
the 500 miles (800 km) of tree was named by early silver were discovered and
unsurfaced roads. Mormon travelers, who saw towns such as Calico sprang
the upraised arms of the up. They were soon abandoned
8 Salton Sea State biblical Joshua in its twisted and became ghost towns when
branches. The species can
the mines became exhausted.
Recreation Area grow up to 30 ft (9 m) and Many of Calico’s buildings are
live for about 1,000 years. intact, and visitors can even
£ Mecca. @ Indio. Visitor Center:
100–225 State Park Rd, North Shore. The 1,240-sq-mile (3,200- take a ride in a mine train. To
Tel (760) 393-3059. Open daily in sq-km) park, with its form- the west, Edwards Air Force
winter, Fri–Sun in summer. ations of pink and gray rocks, Base is famous for its space
∑ parks.ca.gov abandoned mines, and oases, shuttle landings. The Red
is a climber’s and hiker’s paradise. Rock Canyon State Park
The Salton Sea was created A popular trail begins close nearby has red sandstone
by accident in 1905, when to the Oasis Visitors’ Center. and pink volcanic rock, while
the Colorado River flooded South of here, the gigantic the Mitchell Caverns have
and flowed into a newly dug boulders in Hidden Valley limestone formations. Northern
irrigation canal leading to the form corrals, which were Mojave is dominated by the
Imperial Valley. By the time hideouts for cattle rustlers. Death Valley National Park
the flow was stemmed two Farther south, Key’s View (see pp672–3).
years later, a 35-mile (55-km) offers sweeping vistas of the
inland sea had formed in the valley, desert, and mountains.
Salton Sink. Close to Key’s View, the Lost
Despite the high salinity, salt- Horse Mine was the historic
water game fish live here, with mine where over $270,000 in
10-lb (4.5-kg) orange mouth gold was extracted in its first
corvina being caught regularly. decade of operation.
Waterskiing, windsurfing, and A variety of animals, which
boating are other popular have specially adapted to this
activities. The area off Mecca environment, thrive here. The
Beach has the best spots for kangaroo rat gets its food and
swimming. The adjoining water from seeds alone, and
marshlands are a refuge for the jackrabbit has a coat of
migrating birds. On the eastern muted fur to camouflage it
side, there are hiking trails and from predators such as the Rock formations in the Mitchell Caverns,
camp sites. coyote, bobcat, and eagle. Mojave Desert

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