Pine City Blooms

Hiking to Pine City in Joshua Tree National Park

Where do you find the most condensed and diverse display of wildflowers of any hike in Joshua Tree National Park? Plus pine trees and a powerful sense of solitude? Why, in Pine City—which isn't a city at all. It's a 4-mile out-and-back trek.

From the trailhead, you'll immediately notice the prominent peak of Queen Mountain (second highest in the park at 5,687 feet) to the northwest. Something is different here: a relative absence of Joshua trees. It could be a factor of elevation, as this trail starts just below 4,500 feet and stays that high or a bit higher all the way. There’s no shortage of flora, though—a multitude of teddy bear cholla, creosote, and juniper early on.

Then wildflowers become more apparent, including the hot pink blooms of beavertail and claret-cup cacti, purple Mojave asters, and red desert Indian paintbrush, to name just a few! And what about the pines? Well, at 1.3 miles, you’ll reach the monzonite boulder wall that signifies the border of Pine City. Hop off the trail here and explore the natural rock labyrinth, home to the plethora of piñon pines that give the “city” its name. Scramble on the rocks and wander the granite maze. Back on the main trail, continue 0.7 mile, where a sign indicates the end of the maintained trail.

Here you're surrounded by commanding canyon views and a dramatic vista of the town of Twentynine Palms in the distance. You’ll also enjoy some more blooms—strange pink panamint live-forevers and dainty yellow blossoms among the sharp spines of barrel cacti—before you about-face back to the trailhead.

BONUS: Steps away from the Pine City trailhead is the 1-mile out-and-back walk to an overlook of the remnants of Desert Queen Mine, source of ore processed at Wall Street Mill. Ambitious hikers can venture down into the canyon to get a closer look at the facilities that were once operated by that sage of the desert, Bill Keys.

STAY: Ryan Campground, with 31 sites, is a first-come, first-served campground that is convenient to all of the hikes in the heart of the park. It’s got an amazing view of Lost Horse Valley area at sunset, easy access to the ruins of nearby Ryan Ranch, and is much quieter than Hidden Valley or Jumbo Rock. For more information visit the park's camping information page.

From the West Entrance to Joshua Tree National Park, follow Park Blvd. 16 miles and turn left on Desert Queen Mine Rd. (a smooth dirt road). Continue 1.3 miles to the Pine City trailhead. No dogs on trails in the national park. Entrance fee is $25 per vehicle for 7 days—but free this weekend, April 22–23, 2017.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Serene Las Gallinas

    A serene stroll alongside marshland, passing ponds and grasses frilled in seasonal wildflowers, with Mount Tam a beacon in the background … how nice. As part of the esteemed Bay Trail, San Rafael’s Las Gallinas Valley Birding Loop and Wildlife Ponds comprises about 3.5 miles of wide-open trail.

    View
  2. Paint Brushy

    This time of year you’ll have good reason to head for the hills—the electric-green rolling hills of Brushy Peak Regional Preserve in Livermore. This 4.5-mile loop hike is like stepping into a plein air painting.

    View
  3. Sponsored

    2025 POST Wildflower Walks

    Get flower empowered! POST’s complimentary 2025 Wildflower Walks guide blooms with the best places to see a variety of florals across the Peninsula and South Bay this spring.

    View
  4. All right, Almaden!

    Take a trip through time on this 5-mile loop in Almaden Quicksilver County Park. Explore the ruins of an old cinnabar mine and enjoy the first hints of wildflower season.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Weekend in Reno Tahoe

    Weekend plans? Reno Tahoe! Just a few hours by car or a short flight away, Reno Tahoe springs to the moment with great ways to combine adventure and relaxation in its beautiful mountains-meets-desert setting.

    View
  2. Hiker walking along the North Bluff Trail on Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands National Park

    Purely Wild

    Channel Islands National Park lives up to its nickname as “North America’s Galapagos.” This less-traveled national park is an undeveloped and isolated series of five dramatic and distinct islands reached by boat. Hike the largest of the islands, Santa Cruz.

    View
  3. Woman hiking the South Kaibab Trail in the Grand Canyon

    Truly Grand Day Hike

    One of the best spring day hikes in the Grand Canyon? See layer upon layer of the park’s grandeur—including the river—on this 3-mile (one-way) journey to Skeleton Point via the South Kaibab Trail.

    View
  4. A woman stands amid an array of yellow and purple flowers at Descanso Gardens in Los Angeles

    Petal Paradise

    Tulips, lilacs, and daffodils—flower power is in full bloom at Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge. Sprawling across 150 acres surrounded by mountains, the gardens are putting on their best show right now.

    View