Pinto Basin Road Reopened

Joshua Tree National Park reopened Pinto Basin Road for visitor use on Tuesday, November 1. Cottonwood Visitor Center is once again open to welcome visitors. Cottonwood Campground and Cottonwood Spring Oasis will remain closed as repairs to the campground and area trails have not yet been completed. 

Pinto Basin Road has been closed since September 13 due to flash flood damage caused by approximately three inches of rain that fell in the area during a torrential rainstorm. The road is open for two-lane travel along its entire length, however, there remain several short unpaved sections where travelers should reduce speeds and exercise caution.

Other visitor facilities that reopened today include three four-wheel-drive roads that intersect Pinto Basin Road:

    Old Dale Road (north to the park boundary)
    Black Eagle Mine Road (east to the park boundary)
    Pinkham/Thermal Canyon Roads (southwest to the park boundary).

Cottonwood Visitor Center is open daily from 8 am to 4 pm. Two self-guided trails, the Botanical Nature Trail located adjacent to the visitor center and the Bajada Nature Trail near the park's south boundary just north of Interstate 10, have also reopened for public use.

For information about Joshua Tree National Park facilities and services, the public can call 760-367-5500.