Hiking the Arch Rock Nature Trail

Arch Rock Nature Trail is an easy .5 mile loop located in the White Tank Campground of Joshua Tree National Park. I thought it had some of the most unique rock formations in the park.

Turtle Rock on Arch Rock Nature Trail

This was one of my favorite formations. It looked like a two-headed turtle with a heart carved on its shell. I would have climbed up on its shell for a picture but this was hike 5 of 7 in 103 degrees and I was too hot to bother.

Arch Rock

It didn’t take us long to find Arch Rock.

Holding up Arch Rock

I couldn’t resist the temptation to climb up and do my impression of Atlas holding up the world.

Arch Rock Nature Trail

Next, we got lost. Well, not really lost, but we followed what looked to be the most obvious trail. Does that not look like a trail to you? We were admiring the formations and squeezing through very narrow sections of the ‘trail’ when it abruptly came to an end.

Dead End on Arch Rock Nature Trail

At this point we realized that we must not be on the actual trail so we retraced our steps. We were glad we took the ‘non-trail’ because we thought these formations were some of the coolest ones in the park. Once we got back to Arch Rock we couldn’t figure out where the loop was supposed to go from there so we just headed back the way we came in. The park’s website will warn you that in many areas it is very hard to distinguish the correct trail, especially in an area called Wonderland of Rocks. If in doubt, go back out the way you came in.

To explore this trail you will park in the campground. There are bathrooms, garbage and recycling here, but no drinkable water. After this hike, we hopped back in the car to drive to the Cholla Cactus Garden, which is in a different desert, although it is still in Joshua Tree National Park. The Mojave and Colorado Deserts lie side by side within the boundaries of the park. All of our previous hikes were in the Mojave Desert. Our remaining two hikes took us into the Colorado Desert. If you’d like to check out some other hikes located in Joshua Tree National Park click on the links below. As always, wishing you happy travels and fantastic adventures in this thing called life.

Mojave Desert Hikes

Hidden Valley Picnic Area Trail

Hiking Cap Rock Trail in Joshua Tree National Park

Viewing the San Andreas Fault

Hiking Skull Rock Nature Trail

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Hiking Arch Rock Nature Trail