State: California
Location: Joshua Tree National Park
Length, Round Trip: 7.5 miles
Trail Type: Out and Back
Minimum Elevation: 2949 feet
Maximum Elevation: 3200 feet
Elevation Change: 251 feet
Best Season: Spring, Fall, Winter
Difficulty: Moderate
Usage: Moderate
Winter in Lake Tahoe
Trail Information
The Lost Palms Oasis Trail begins at the Cottonwood Springs Oasis in the eastern portion of the park. The trail leads southeast approximately three miles and remains relatively flat. The maintained portion of the trail ends at Lost Palms Oasis. The site contains over 100 palm trees. The oasis, which isn’t visible until the final overlook, is in a steep-sided ravine and contains over 100 California fan palm trees, the largest grove in Joshua Tree National Park.
The first two and a half miles of the trail to the oasis overlook is moderately difficult. The rest of the trail to the oasis passes over rocky ridges and through narrow sandy washes, passing many cacti and large groups of the imposing monzonite boulders, although no Joshua trees as the elevation is too low. An unmaintained trail continues through the canyon past the oasis. To extend this route consider a side trip into Munsen Canyon.
Directions
From Oasis Visitor Center:
Follow Pinto Basin Road south 38 miles to Cottonwood Springs.
