Hiking Barker Dam Loop

A short and well-trodden nature trail in the center of the park. An easy way to get a glimpse at one of the most accessible areas of the Wonderland of Rocks, as well as seeing evidence of Native American petroglyphs. There is also a small, man-made reservoir here that will provide the rare chance to see water in the desert.

The Basics:

- Distance: 1.8 miles
- Elevation Gain: About 70 feet.
- Time: Depending on how much time you spend taking in views and reading plaques, about 45 minutes.
- How to Get There: From inside Joshua Tree National Park, turn off Park Blvd. toward the Hidden Valley campground. Pass this campground and the road to Keys Ranch. There is a circular parking lot at the trailhead.
- Map It

The Notables:

- Water in the desert!
- Well-preserved homesteading history and slightly less well-preserved petroglyphs
- Interpretive plaques
- Easy and short trail, suitable for beginners or as a last-minute walk before the sun goes down

More Pictures:

- From several sets, tagged at Flickr. Be sure to poke around Flickr for better shots of the Reservoir. It’s probably got the highest concentration of photographers in the entire park.

Hiking Barker Dam at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail:Share GPS tracks

The Barker Dam loop is a small, short nature trail that winds through an impressive series of boulders at the southern end of the Wonderland of Rocks. This is a very popular area for both hikers, strollers, and rock climbers alike — and for good reason. The path is easy, the elevation gain is negligible, and the scenery is outstanding. This was the last trail I did on the way out of Joshua Tree — and getting there as the sun sets adds an extra highlight to the layers of giant boulders along the way.

There are two approaches from the large parking area — be sure you’re heading slightly toward the west as you approach. There is also a side trail that winds through some boulders to the northeast. While this will give you a little chance to explore the surrounding environment, and perhaps continue northeast to the Wall Street Mill.

If you stick to the west entrance, soon you’ll find yourself walking down a narrow canyon, closed in by high boulder walls on all sides. The effect is striking, but not at all claustrophobic. These aren’t slot canyons, by any means. But if you look up on either side, you may find some of the more adventurous hikers trying their hand at scrambling up the monzonite.

The trail continues on for a short distance, making a few small climbs, then finally reaches the Main Attraction — Barker Reservoir. Built upon a natural water tank, the original Barker Dam was built higher by the Keys family while homesteading, and now whenever it rains, a picturesque lake forms in the middle of these desert rocks. The original settlers used it for irrigation and cattle. Now, it makes for some great Kodak moments.

The first time I was here, in 2005, the area was in the middle of a very wet season, and the lake was almost full. This time, the water was so low that I could walk out almost into the middle of the lake … but it was still a beautiful area. You can see the high-water marks on the rocks in this photo:

Nearby, you can spot the dam itself — topped with a handwritten inscription by the Keys clan, and a still-standing cattle trough at the base of the dam.

From here, the nature trail opens up into a wide, flat valley, surrounded by the trademark rock formations of Joshua Tree on all sides. The trail makes a wide circle through the valley, passing several interpretive plaques along the way. There are also some well-marked petroglyphs which, unfortunately, were painted over to make them more visible.

If you’re doing this trail on your way out of the park, like I did, enjoy the solitude you’ve probably got in this central valley. It’s a great place to watch the first stars start to appear during sunset.

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Tagged as: Barker Dam, Barker Reservoir, Hiking, Joshua Tree National Park, trails