Joshua Tree’s Ryan Mountain offers a perfect off-season hike
Joshua Tree is a park divided. On a day when there are fierce storms in the eastern portion, the west side may be completely dry.
Not all of Southern California is sunny and 70, especially in March. When we arrived at Joshua Tree National Park to hike a trail we had our eye on, rain was coming down hard and fast. The Unshakable Husband and I had to shift gears.
A ranger told us the dueling weather within Joshua Tree is not unusual. She added there were several hikes we could do on the other side of the park without fear of lightning or sideways rain.
So we headed west and found Ryan Mountain. It was as dry as, well, a desert.
Parkinson’s hiking tip
Joshua Tree is great for a visit any time of year, but I recommend not going June through August. Even early in the day, the desert heat can be dangerous. Dysregulation of temperature is a lesser-known symptom of Parkinson’s disease that can lead to too little or too much sweating and other problems.
Ryan Mountain reaches to 5,457 feet elevation, and the trail to the top has about 1,000 feet of gain, making the three-mile trek pretty steep.
There were a few other people on the trail, and we decided to give it a try. Almost immediately after leaving the trailhead, we saw steps, lots of them. The stairs were fashioned using flat rocks and were actually a big help for the first 25 minutes. But they were steep and uneven, and we took them slow.
Parkinson’s hiking tip
How would it be if trail steps came with railings? Alas, they rarely do, so bringing along two hiking poles will help you keep your balance.
About halfway to the top, we made a sharp turn to the left where the stairs ended and the trail became dirt.
That’s when the wind hit. It must have been 30 mph in gusts! I was glad for my outer shell layer to keep me warm.
The trail was easy to follow, and soon we were getting enough elevation to catch some nice views of Joshua Tree. But only when the clouds broke.
The fierce wind continued as we approached the top, 50 minutes after starting. On the peak, there were no distant views to reward our effort.
Oh well, it was nice to have made it to the top anyway!
Going down took great care, as there was a little bit of exposure on some turns.
No doubt the views would have been sweeter on cloudless day. On the other hand, a sunny day would mean more heat. Clouds can be your friend when hiking in a desert landscape.
Hike info
PD difficulty level (see chart): Moderate
Distance: 3 miles out and back
Elevation gain: 1,050 feet
Trailhead location: at parking area along Park Boulevard, west of Sheep Pass Group Campground
Cell phone service: no
Bathrooms: at parking area
Emergency medical support: Bush Naval Hospital is outside of park boundary in Twentynine Palms, California
Costs: National Parks pass or $30/vehicle
Pets: Not allowed on trail
Insider tip: If Ryan Mountain looks daunting, there’s a fun, easy trail not far away. It’s called Arch Rock Trail, and besides the arch it has surprise bonus rock.
