Woke at Jumbo Rocks campground, slept really well after our long drive yesterday. It was warmer and sunnier than expected and the campground setting was lovely with the sunlight playing on the desert and rocks. We had a relaxed start and took coffees up to a nice spot to enjoy the view before a hearty bacon roll for breakfast.
We hiked to the top of Ryan Mountain which at 5,457 ft offered panoramic views as far as the eye could see. Near the peak we took some photos in front of a 2 limbed Joshua Tree which made us look like we had prickly angel wings, might just be my favorite photos of the day, if not the trip.
The trail is only 3 miles round trip but 1,069ft up so it was a steady climb all the way – much easier on the way down. It wasn’t too crowded but definitely got busier by late morning, and the parking lot was almost full by the time we returned. Most people were considerate with mask wearing or stepping aside on the trail.
Next we headed to Ryan campground and set up our tent before continuing on to hike Lost Horse Mine trail. This relatively easy 4 mile hike took us through a desert landscape of Joshua Trees, Yucca and Cacti to the historic mill and mine which was one of the most prosperous gold and silver mines between 1894 – 1931. Some reviews of the hike say it can be monotonous but being new to desert hiking we didn’t find it boring and the well preserved mill and mine were fascinating to look around.
Half way to the mine we came to an area where there was a murder of crows making quite the racket. As we walked on through they took to the skies and circled overhead, it was quite the Alfred Hitchcock moment and I was honestly quite happy when they moved on.
Late afternoon we headed to Keys View and Inspiration Point. Keys View is a drive up viewpoint and it was pretty crowded. The view overlooking the Salton Sea, Coachella Valley and Palm Springs was vast but hazy. It’s better viewed in the morning when the sun is behind you and the smog not as thick, but we had been enjoying our breakfast in camp too much to get an early start today.
We left the crowds at the viewpoint and took a trail to the right, a steep uphill towards Inspiration Point. We walked for about 30 mins and had some great views out to Palm Springs but more impressively right across Joshua Tree National Park as the sun was starting to sink lower in the sky. We turned back before the peak, we were tired and starting to get stumbly and hungry and we’d seen the best of the view, we didn’t need to bag another peak today.
We stopped en route to camp to get some photos of Joshua trees in the late afternoon light. Not sure the pics can do them justice.
A cup of tea and a penguin biscuit once back at camp and we felt ready to settle in for a good dinner. Pork chops, couscous, mushrooms and spinach tonight. A real feast. We’re upping our game with our car camping cooking. Little did we know that a change in the weather would make this the last pleasant meal for a few nights.
By the time we’d had our hot chocolate the temperature plummeted and we were tired anyway from a long day of hiking so we were tucked up in bed by 9 pm.
