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Contact: Jennie Kish Albrinck, 760-367-5520 Contact: Lorna Shuman, 760-367-5521
JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK, Twentynine Palms, California – Joshua Tree National Park announces ranger programs for the remainder of the summer and invites the public to attend. "There is something for everyone," states Interim Superintendent Todd Suess. "We are offering evening campfire programs, hikes, talks on the patios, and a desert story time for children." Join rangers to learn more about Joshua Tree National Park. Evening campfire programs are held at Jumbo Rocks Amphitheater in Jumbo Rocks Campground Friday and Saturday nights at 8:30. On Thursdays at 9 a.m., join a ranger for a 90 minute hike on the Barker Dam Trail. On Saturdays at 9 a.m., join a ranger for a 60 minute hike on the Skull Rock Trail. Both hikes leave from the parking areas for the respective trails. On Saturdays at 2 p.m., meet at the Joshua Tree Visitor Center for 30 minutes for Story Time with a Ranger. A ranger will read a desert children's book and have desert items to share. On Sundays at 10 a.m. join a ranger for a talk on the back patio at the Oasis of Mara Visitor Center about various topics related to the park. All programs are open to the public and free of charge. There is an entrance fee to the park which is $15 for a 7-day pass. Other passes are also available. Visitors are reminded to carry water and food when visiting the park as there are no amenities inside the park. Be sure to plan your trip and be safe. Let someone know when you are leaving, where you are going, and when you are expected to return. Also, as a reminder, hunting is not allowed in the park. Campgrounds are generally not full this time of year, but are expected to be fuller during the Perseid Meteor Showers which peak August 9-13. Visitors are welcome to view the showers at various places in the park. Remember camping must be in a campground or in the backcountry by permit. A reminder that Ryan, White Tank and Belle Campgrounds are closed, as are the eastern half Black Rock, Loop B of Cottonwood and the eastern half of Indian Cove. Hidden Valley and Jumbo Rocks are open. Campfires are only allowed in designated campsites provided with fire rings and you should never leave a fire unattended. No other fires are permitted in the park. Road construction is currently underway on the Pinto Basin Road. During the weekdays, travel through the construction zone is by pilot car only. There may be as much as a 30 minute delay. The road construction area is currently dirt and opened during the weekend. In addition to the above campground closures, the closure for the Cottonwood Springs Oasis and trail areas will be continued until further notice. This closure is necessary to allow for remediation of the damage and safety hazards in the area from the September 2013 floods. - NPS - For more information see www.nps.gov/jotr, or follow us on Twitter @JoshuaTreeNP, and on Facebook at Joshua Tree NP About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 401 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov. |
Last updated: January 31, 2017