Best trails to see Joshua Tree ex-ranch sites

Barker Dam was constructed by ranchers more than a century ago to capture
much-needed water in the desert at Joshua Tree National Park.

Despite that the desert receives less than 10 inches of rain a year, settlers tried decades ago to farm it. At least in what is now Joshua Tree National Park, those efforts at ranching and homesteading by and large failed. Still, remnants of their efforts on such marginal land holdings remain a testament to their rugged individualism.

Among the best trails to explore the park’s ranching history are:
• Barker Dam Nature Trail – To collect and preserve the scarce water, ranchers long ago built rainwater catchments called “tanks.” This 1.1-mile nature loops heads to one such such, Barker Dam. It's among the best places int he park to see wildlife, including bighorn sheep, jack rabbits, birds and even frogs. The trailhead is on Park Boulevard.
• Hidden Valley Trail – The 1-mile trail doesn't lead to a ranch but to a 55-acre box canyon allegedly used by cattle rustlers, the McHaney Gang. The best time to hike this trail off of Park Boulevard is early morning and late afternoon, as it will be crowded at midday.
• Ryan Ranch Trail – The easy 1-mile round trip trail heads along an old ranch road to a century-old adobe homestead. See if you can spot a bright sheen on the adobe bricks, as they were constructed with gold dust from a local mine. The trailhead is off of Park Boulevard east of the road to Ryan Campground.
• Wonderland Wash Trail – Discover the Wonderland Ranch ruins after passing through the impressive Wonderland of Rocks on this 2.1-mile trail. The trailhead is the same as that for the Wall Street Mill Trail off of Park Boulevard.