Temporary Closure of Cottonwood Visitor Center

Date: July 30, 2014
Contact: Jennie Kish Albrinck, 760-367-5520

JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK, Twentynine Palms, California — Cottonwood Visitor Center, located at the southern end of Joshua Tree National Park, will temporarily close August 4, 2014 through August 15, 2014 due to road construction in the area. The closure will be Monday through Friday. The visitor center will be open the weekend of August 9-10 with a planned permanent reopening August 16.

The eleven-mile section of the Pinto Basin Road that extends in front of the visitor center, and associated parking lot construction, would make it challenging for visitors to stop and access the facility. Travel through the area is by pilot car with delays up to 30 minutes. Park staff will be stationed on the southern end of the construction zone to assist visitors entering the park from Interstate 10.

Other park updates:

Seasonal campground availability:

Open Cottonwood, Loop A Hidden Valley Jumbo Rocks Black Rock (portions) Indian Cove (portions)

Closed Cottonwood, Loop B Ryan White Tank Belle

**Campfires are only allowed in designated campsites equipped with fire rings. No other fires are permitted in the park. Never leave a campfire unattended.

The closure for 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.

For questions concerning road construction, please contact Kirk Diamond at 760-367-5680.

- NPS -

For more information, see the park website at www.nps.gov/jotr.
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