California - Joshua Tree - Victory Palms

Hiking up Lost Palms Canyon from the south side.

This is the easy way to get to the Victory Palms, no boulder climbing involved.
And best of all this is one of the best canyons for wild flowers.

To get to the hike, drive to the Patton Museum and turn left around the Museum on a dirt road.
Follow this dirt road all the way, don't turn left or right.
At the crossing go straight ahead, until the road ends at a gate, signed Joshua Tree National Park.

Start hiking North, past the gate on the jeep trail.
The hiking is pleasantly easy, you should be able to find firm sand most of the way.

Expect lots of flowers when you are at the right time. (February / March 2011)
Keep left at the crossings and you should reach the Victory Palms.

At this point you can turn around or hike further.

Warning: Past the palms the hike is considerately more difficult and dangerous.
Truck like boulders block the way. Still not rock climbing but more difficult and dangerous.

Further means at least an extra 1 Hour an 30 minutes return.
And further means 3 boulder passages.
The first one is the meanest and starts right at the palms.
Keep in the wash, or at the lowest point, or in the sandy stretches. Try to follow the footsteps and look for markers.

Sometimes underneath the rocks is the easier route.

Never go too far up to the left or right, this may look easier, but it almost never is.

Take your time to find the right route, sometimes around the corner, sometimes on a bit of a detour.

We have done this route twice within a week, from both sides. The second time was a bit easier, once you know where to go and where not.



Hiking time: 3 Hour return. (Easy)
4 Hour, 35 Minutes all the way to the lost palms oasis and return. (More difficult)

Hiked: The end of March 2011.

A more difficult approach is from the North.