SoCal: Joshua Tree National Park Trail Help

[jdotlim]

Hello,

I recently picked up a 2007 4Runner, Sports Edition. I've never been to Joshua Tree and want to take a day trip out there to see the back country. Most of the trails here keeps saying 4WD. I just want to take it easy and enjoy the scenery, no rock climbing or anything. Which trails listed on their website have any of you guys done on 2WD, or would think 2WD would be okay? I'm thinking Pinkham Canyon would be okay, thoughts? Thanks.

Backcountry Roads - Joshua Tree National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

 

[s20004runner]

Hello,

I recently picked up a 2007 4Runner, Sports Edition. I've never been to Joshua Tree and want to take a day trip out there to see the back country. Most of the trails here keeps saying 4WD. I just want to take it easy and enjoy the scenery, no rock climbing or anything. Which trails listed on their website have any of you guys done on 2WD, or would think 2WD would be okay? I'm thinking Pinkham Canyon would be okay, thoughts? Thanks.

Backcountry Roads - Joshua Tree National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

Joshua Tree is very easy. You probably only need high clearance. If it's first time, try to go w/ another truck.

 

[jdotlim]

Joshua Tree is very easy. You probably only need high clearance. If it's first time, try to go w/ another truck.

yeah, i wish i had friends with trucks. i came from the tuner world, and none of them have trucks haha

 

[s20004runner]

yeah, i wish i had friends with trucks. i came from the tuner world, and none of them have trucks haha

yea same here. I only got into this 4x4, expedition, offroad thing about 2yrs ago and I love it.

let us know when you are going, folks here may join you.

 

[jdotlim]

yea same here. I only got into this 4x4, expedition, offroad thing about 2yrs ago and I love it.

let us know when you are going, folks here may join you.

sweet, thanks. i will probably post it on here. when i decide.

 

[v_man]

If your coming from the 10 , I'd take Berdoo canyon north into the park , then connect to Geology tour road once inside the park. Both trails are very easy , actually those trails are some of the first I did when I got a 4x4...

 

[JB.]

Hello,

I recently picked up a 2007 4Runner, Sports Edition. I've never been to Joshua Tree and want to take a day trip out there to see the back country. Most of the trails here keeps saying 4WD. I just want to take it easy and enjoy the scenery, no rock climbing or anything. Which trails listed on their website have any of you guys done on 2WD, or would think 2WD would be okay? I'm thinking Pinkham Canyon would be okay, thoughts? Thanks.

Backcountry Roads - Joshua Tree National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

Just there last week.

From your description, Pinkham is a perfect fit, although I took the Thermal Canyon fork near the end and can't vouch for the last part of the trail. No reason to believe it offers any difficulty, though.

Avoid trying to enter the park via dirt from the 29 Palms side. Berdoo Canyon has a few spots you probably wouldn't want to deal with.

 

[v_man]

Berdoo Canyon has a few spots you probably wouldn't want to deal with.

Are u talking about the shooting area outside the park ? cuz it really doesn't get any easier than Berdoo, Subi's do it . Plus it's a free way to get into the park ...

 

[jdotlim]

Just there last week.

From your description, Pinkham is a perfect fit, although I took the Thermal Canyon fork near the end and can't vouch for the last part of the trail. No reason to believe it offers any difficulty, though.

Avoid trying to enter the park via dirt from the 29 Palms side. Berdoo Canyon has a few spots you probably wouldn't want to deal with.

i think i will pinkham give it a try. on a dry day with no mud, i think i can make it through dirt and some sand. my t4r is lifted with good tires. thanks for your input guys.

 

[s20004runner]

i don't mean to scare you, but i had to share this cause i thought it was funny.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13t4hk_7lhk

i saw a pic of your truck somewhere and you will be fine. Since you are lifted you will more flex but if you understand how differentials work, this video is kinda funny.

The expression of his girl at the end of the video is priceless.

 

[s20004runner]

i think i will pinkham give it a try. on a dry day with no mud, i think i can make it through dirt and some sand. my t4r is lifted with good tires. thanks for your input guys.

if you go berdoo starting from geology tour, that will be fun too because it's all downhill, so you can make it w/ 2wd.

 

[catherinehaataja13]

Need so off roading buddies

I'm up in Joshua tree this weekend. Possibly looking for someone to go or with tomorrow (Sunday) I don't know anybody so hopefully can meet people here!

 

[JB.]

cuz it really doesn't get any easier than Berdoo,

What doesn't get any easier? Did you read the OP's post?

The Massey SoCA book lists Berdoo as a 4 rated trail (10 scale, book never goes higher than 7). I'd say that's fair. Probably on the mild side of 4 but I'd say 4 is a closer description than 3. Is it gnarly? No. But there are tons of 1s, 2s, and 3s, in the book that are easier. Pinkham Canyon being one of them.

I passed a 4wd Jeep SUV coming down Berdoo (south) who had turned around and tried to warn me against continuing. I'm sure you know the kind of thing I'm talking about. But that's what it can look like to the inexperienced. And he had 4wd.

 

[s20004runner]

What doesn't get any easier? Did you read the OP's post?

The Massey SoCA book lists Berdoo as a 4 rated trail (10 scale, book never goes higher than 7). I'd say that's fair. Probably on the mild side of 4 but I'd say 4 is a closer description than 3. Is it gnarly? No. But there are tons of 1s, 2s, and 3s, in the book that are easier. Pinkham Canyon being one of them.

I passed a 4wd Jeep SUV coming down Berdoo (south) who had turned around and tried to warn me against continuing. I'm sure you know the kind of thing I'm talking about. But that's what it can look like to the inexperienced. And he had 4wd.

So did you listen to the Jeep or finish? Hope you didn't listen to the jeep, cause he/she sounds like a total noob.

I am not doubting you, but I was there last year and it was my first time wheeling and even I thought it was easy (especially going south from geology tour, leaving joshua tree). (in a scale 1-10, 2).

Maybe the rain washed out the roads this year. I remember only two spots where I had to get out of the car to take a look, but drivers stacked enough rocks, so I had no problems.

If going north (entering the joshua tree), I'd agree w/ you that it may look more challenging, but I would still think it's easy. (in a scale 1-10, 2.5).

I wouldn't recommending going north on Berdoo w/ 2wd by yourself, but I would try going south (leaving Joshua) w/ 2wd.

 

[JB.]

So did you listen to the Jeep or finish?

lol, no, I went through into the park.

I'm so used to exaggerated on-trail warnings, they go in one ear and out the other.

 

[Oneluv13T4R]

I'm up in Joshua tree this weekend. Possibly looking for someone to go or with tomorrow (Sunday) I don't know anybody so hopefully can meet people here!

If I would have seen this post yesterday I would have met up with you and wheeled around JT no problem since its my backyard at the base of the hill down about 15 mins from Berdoo Canyon trail head. Hopefully you made it out there today and had a good time.
And for all the other post about Berdoo Canyon just for the record it's a perfect trail for any beginner to get their feet wet even 2wd lifted rigs and if you can't handle that trail 4wd or 2wd then you have know business getting into off roading outside of fire roads, period.

 

[Oneluv13T4R]

Hello,

I recently picked up a 2007 4Runner, Sports Edition. I've never been to Joshua Tree and want to take a day trip out there to see the back country. Most of the trails here keeps saying 4WD. I just want to take it easy and enjoy the scenery, no rock climbing or anything. Which trails listed on their website have any of you guys done on 2WD, or would think 2WD would be okay? I'm thinking Pinkham Canyon would be okay, thoughts? Thanks.

Backcountry Roads - Joshua Tree National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

Whenever you decide you wanna roll out to JT area or Meccatopia area or Idylwild area hit me up and I will go wheel around with you anytime if wanna do scenic trails, intermediate, whatever it don't matter.

 

[jdotlim]

Whenever you decide you wanna roll out to JT area or Meccatopia area or Idylwild area hit me up and I will go wheel around with you anytime if wanna do scenic trails, intermediate, whatever it don't matter.

gonna be busy the next few weeks, but i will take that offer. i will let you know a week or so in advanced when i decide to go. thanks!

 

[JB.]

And for all the other post about Berdoo Canyon just for the record it's a perfect trail for any beginner to get their feet wet even 2wd lifted rigs and if you can't handle that trail 4wd or 2wd then you have know business getting into off roading outside of fire roads, period.

Lost my head and went by what was written.

I just want to take it easy and enjoy the scenery

 

[Oneluv13T4R]

Lost my head and went by what was written.

And I forgot to mention that Berdoo Canyon Rd. For the last couple years now is actually thee designated Off Road for Joshua Tree Tours Trail. There is a company in Palm Springs that take people on a off road adventure sight seeing tour using a couple jeeps and a couple original hummer's that run three times a day and they got the signed approval to use Berdoo Rd. They start in Palm Springs then down Dillion Rd to Berdoo Rd up to Joshua Tree using geology tour Rd then shoot back down thermal canyon to Dillion Rd to Palm Springs.
And those guys hammer it pretty good too one of my buddies is one of the drivers and he has a good o'l time with the tourist ..haha.
Point is this tells you right there what it's like Scenic and it covers a lil of everything sand sections, path options , rock garden sections, constant slight climb and the whole time the views are killer and both sides of the trail have killer canyon walls.

Berdoo Rd use to be the entrance into Joshua tree until the entire Rd was washed away which created the wide canyon it is today and you can still see slabs and sections of the old Rd throughout the trail going up.