Southern Roads Closed After Sunday's Storm

Release Date: September 9, 2013
Contact: Jennie Kish Albrinck, 760-367-5520

Summer storms continue to hammer Joshua Tree National Park. Another storm cell passed through Cottonwood on Sunday night, September 8, 2013 depositing rock, sand, and debris on Pinto Basin Road, Cottonwood Campground, and Pinkham Canyon Road.

Only recently reopened after being damaged by a storm on August 25, 2013, Pinto Basin Road is once again closed from Ocotillo Patch to I10. Cottonwood Campground and the visitor center are also closed, as are the unpaved roads in the area. It is anticipated that it will take about a week for park road crews to make the necessary repairs.

Road and campground closures triggered by the heavy rains and flooding that occurred on Saturday afternoon, September 7, 2013, include Park Boulevard from North Entrance to Pinto Basin Road, Jumbo Rocks Campground, Geology Tour Road, and the unpaved roads in Queen Valley.

Visitors can still drive through a portion of the park by entering through the West Entrance in Joshua Tree Village. Travel on Park Boulevard is unrestricted from West Entrance to Pinto Basin Road and south on Pinto Basin Road to Cholla Cactus Garden. Keys View Road is also open.

Belle and Whitetank campgrounds, normally closed over the summer, have been reopened to accommodate campers.

While this series of summer storms continues, visitors are asked to use extreme caution when driving or hiking in the park. Do not enter washes with running water and be observant of possible flash flooding.

Further updates will be issued as conditions change.