Joshua Tree National Park: The Insider's Guide

From the same people who brought you the Joshua Tree Rock Climbing and Bouldering guides is this treasure map to Joshua Tree National Park. This diverse, sometimes stunning, sometimes subtle wilderness is a true wonder. Explore it with Robert Miramontes, local photographer, explorer, and rock climber with an intimate knowledge of the Park and a passion to share. From the twisted architecture of the Joshua trees themselves, to the rock labyrinths of Wonderland of Rocks, to the vast ocotillo-speckled Pinto Basin and other little-traveled corners of the Park, Robert is your guide. Discover hikes of all categories: from wheelchair-accessible nature trails to highly unofficial belly-crawls through granite corridors. Sweat your way up a desert summit with 100-mile views, make an airy scramble to the top of a rock dome, or trek up a canyon to a palm oasis. Did you know the Park has a rich mining history? Visit off-the-radar mine sites and quirky desert homesteads. Other features of the guide include photography tips, the skinny on the Park's 4WD roads, and lots of frontier lore. Helpful sidebars abound, including "If you only have a few hours," seeing the Park with kids, a hit list for the local art scene, and a primer on the Park's rock climbing. If you want to get away from the parking lots, whether for a full-day outing or a 30-minute scramble, this is your book. Sewn binding for abuse in your backpack, postcard photography for when you're back home, planning your next trip. Smyth Sewn binding for longevity and ease of use.