CRHT: Twin Tanks to North Entrance Station - 14.7 Miles Round-Trip

Joshua Tree National Park's California Riding and Hiking Trail (CRHT) stretches 37 miles from the Black Rock Campground in Yucca Valley to the Park's North Entrance Station in 29 Palms.

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The easternmost section of this versatile and varied trail glides gently down a vast bajada in the low Mojave desert region. True desert lovers will enjoy its boundless open space, light crowds and subtle but complex ecological variations.

The following description travels north on the CRHT from the Twin Tanks Trailhead to the North Entrance Station parking lot. The trailhead is located just north of the California Riding and Hiking Trail on Pinto Basin Road.

From Twin Tanks, walk a short spur south .12 miles and follow signs (east) over Pinto Basin Road. Once over the trail may initially be obscured by washouts, but an intuitive heading will lead you to it.

The trail bends north on wide, packed gravel through open desert framed by high ridgelines to the east and west, and rugged silhouettes of the Hexie Mountains at your back.

The stark expanse ahead belies a rich scrub and brush community with plants from the mid and low Mojave deserts. Creosote is predominant, while Joshua Tree, Mojave yucca and juniper are sparse, though fairly abundant between 2-3 miles.

Lower elevations see greater variety with chuparosa, paperbag bush, jojoba, various colla, mound, hedgehog and barrel cacti. Coyote Melons, a softball size gourd that grows from stringy vines on the ground, are prevalent throughout. Look for coyote, jackrabbit, quail, chuckwalla, snakes and desert tortoise along the way.

The trail moves easily down the bajada, highlighted by large monzogranite boulder fields to the east and a few accessible piles to the west. You'll pass the Belle Campground (1.35 miles) and over a Park facility road (2.7 miles : 3,643') to the first major wash crossing (2.8 miles : 3,623').

The trail edges east and scales a low saddle (3.0 miles : 3,636') with perspective on the expanse through which you just came, and series of washes you're about to enter. Note dark basalt rock on this saddle and slopes above, a sharp contrast to the light monzogranite of previous miles.

The trail drops from sight of the road into and across a wash (3.1 miles), the first of many between the saddle and North Entrance. Joshua Trees are all but gone as you enter the low desert.

You'll cross three consecutive washes to the west (3.65 miles : 3,495'), then a wide one back to the east (4.1 miles : 3,408'). The trail merges with and becomes a wash between 5.15 and 5.85 miles, slowing travel in both directions. Notable on this stretch are barrel and mound cacti growing in well-drained basalt walls to the east.

In 6.45 miles (2,882') the trail bends decisively northwest, marking the final approach. The grade now moderates and undulates across several washes in the lower bajada to the CRHT's eastern terminus at the North Entrance Station (7.35 miles : 2,885').