Top trails to explore JT’s rugged mountains

Rugged mountains - like the Pinto Mountains shown here - divide Joshua
Tree National Park into several small ranges and basins.

Several minor mountain ranges divide Joshua Tree National Park into a series of desert basins. Though they appear desolate and foreboding in the hot sun, many miners often clambered about these ranges looking for gold, silver and other minerals that would make them rich men. Today, the rocky mountains offer the wealth of beautiful and spectacular vistas.

The best trails to explore the park’s rugged mountains include:
• Lost Horse Mine Loop – You'll gain 550 feet in elevation from some great views on this 6.5 miles loop. The trailhead is at the end of Lost Horse Mine Road, which branches from Keys View Road.
• Inspiration Peak Trail – This 1.2-mile round trip hike from Keys View offers fantastic views of the Coachella Valley and the Salton Sea. The summit is at 5,550-feet.
• Mastodon Peak Trail – This 3-mile loop in the park's southeastern section is perfect at sunset as the rocks glow orange in the dimming light. Reaching the craggy granite summit requires an off-trail rock scramble. The trailhead is in the Cottonwood Spring parking area with a 375-foot change in elevation; some maps refer to it as the Mastodon Mine Loop Trail.
• Panorama Loop – The 6.6 miles trail gains 1,100 feet in elevation as heading up a wash the along a ridgeline in the Little San Bernardino Mountains, offering plenty of scenic views. Park at leave from the Black Rock Nature Center.
• Ryan Mountain Trail – An excellent spot to enjoy either sunrise or sunset, the trail runs 3 miles round trip to a 5,457-foot summit with 360 degree views. Along the 1050-foot climb, the Hall of Horrors rock area and Saddle Rock can be seen from above. The trailhead is off of Park Boulevard between Sheep Pass and Ryan campgrounds.
• South Park Peak Trail – The O.6-mile loop heads up to a peak overlooking Yucca Valley with great views of Mt. San Gorgonio and San Jacinto Peak. The sunsets here are spectacular. Though technically not in the national park, it is accessed via the park’s Black Rock Canyon Campground.
• Warren Peak Trail – The reward for this 6.2-miles round trip with 1,100 feet in elevation gain are the incredible views of San Jacinto Peak and Mt. San Gorgonio. Do the hike in spring when Joshua Tree's temperatures are pleasant but the two peaks are snow-capped. Park at and leave from the Black Rock Nature Center.