RT Barker Dam Trail

Dam with water-storage reservoir constructed by early cattlemen in 1900, is a gathering place for desert wildlife, including many species of birds and desert bighorn sheep, and can be reached via a short loop trail.

General Information

Length:

1.3 mi roundtrip

Elevation Gain:

65 ft

Difficulty

Easy

Pet Policy:

Pets NOT allowed on trails

Seasons:

All year, but very hot in summer

Trailhead:

Jumbo Rocks Campground

Trailhead:

Barker Dam Parking Lot

Website:

nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/barker-dam-trail.htm

How to Get There

From Joshua Tree Visitor Center (15 mi): Head east on CA-62, turn right onto Park Blvd, enter through the West Entrance, continue about 11.6 miles to the Intersection Rock area, turn left at the sign for Hidden Valley Campground, Key's Ranch, and Barker Dam, then follow the road 1.5 miles to the Barker Dam parking lot.

Overview

Barker Dam Trail is an easy 1.5-mile loop in Joshua Tree National Park past a 1900 cattlemen’s dam that holds a small lake, a haven for birds and bighorn sheep, with petroglyphs, boulders and views of Queen Valley. It starts from a parking lot off Barker Dam Road and is one of the park’s best short hikes.

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Barker Dam (California)", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0