This blog will detail 1,000 video hikes in Southern California. By Southern California, I am drawing a line from San Luis Obispo to the Nevada Border. Anything south of that line will be declared "Southern California". In a way, it is a personal challenge to do so many hikes. Mainly, however, it is my way of showcasing how many hiking opportunities there really are right in our own geographic back yard. As a blog, it serves as a companion piece to my Youtube channel "1,000 Hikes in So Cal". It is also a work in progress, as I don't actually have 1,000 edited videos completed. This will take effort for quite some time before it is declared done. Even then, there will still be more out there. Here's to hiking and all the positive effects it has had on my life...and possibly yours!
I had alreadycompleted Strawberry Peak at a previous time, which is the neighboring peak to Lawlor. The hike starts at the same trailhead, which is the Strawberry Peak Trail at Red Box Junction. Therefore the hike is the same for both outings up until Strawberry - Lawlor Saddle, but this time, I took a right and headed up the slope toward Mt Lawlor. The climb from the slope is more or less a Class 2 climb, where there are many boulders to climb over and around. The high point of the hike gets reached on the summit of Mt Lawlor.
Looking across the ridge toward Barley Flats.
From the summit, a steep use trail descends the slope back down to the Strawberry Peak Trail, however, I continued forward on the ridge, hoping to extend the hike to Barley Flats. At the time, I was not sure if a trail actually connected both summits, so it became a bit of a real time adventure. Some parts of the ridge were overgrown, but for the most part, a firebreak gave me an access route most of the way. Eventually, the ridge dropped to a dirt road which led me the rest of the way toward Barley Flats. I left the road to reach the summit, which has a water tank on it. To make it official, I took the attached staircase to reach the top.
The water tank on Barley Flats.
After then completing a double summit hike, the next task was to find a different way back to the trailhead. I had researched another route that goes parallel to the ridge, as well as parallel to Angeles Crest Highway. I took the dirt road south of Barley Flats until it turned into a single track and began the parallel route.
Heading up the steps.
Despite some overgrowth, I pressed on. The trail seems to get little use, but it was still visible all the way back down to the Strawberry Peak Trail. Once back on it, I gave a sigh of relief for being able to complete the task without having to retrace my steps back up the ridge. From there, I returned to Red Box to close out the experience.
The Boy Scout trail goes from Indian Cove to Park Road inside of Joshua Tree National Park. Therefore, there is more than one way to get to Keys Peak. I do prefer the route from Indian Cove, though.
The canyon walls begin closing in.
Not only is it fee free from that starting point, but the hike is more memorable. From Indian Cove, the trail slides into a wash, passes along some tight canyon walls, then elevates to the Joshua Tree Plateau. After that, there is still a peak to climb.
Leaving the trail toward Keys Peak.
Since there are no signs pointing out Keys Peak, I referred to hiking apps on my phone to assure me that the giant rockpile I was looking at was actually the one considered to be Keys Peak.
On the summit.
As the trail began passing the peak on the west side, I left the trail and walked over to its base. From there, I carefully worked my way up and through the boulders toward the summit. At the top, I found a summit register, which certainly alleviated whatever doubts I had regarding whether or not I was climbing the right peak.
Summit benchmark.
Great views appear in all directions overlooking the canyons I climbed, the other peaks to the east, and also the Joshua Tree Plateau. After a long pause at the summit to soak it all in, I carefully descended and returned back down the canyon. On the way back I passed Mount Mel. I considered adding it to the hike, but decided that I would come back sometime and give the Mount Mel hike its own day, while also exploring Indian Cove more closely.
This hike is one of the shorter ones, but worthy of its own write-up. Much like the Warren Peak hike, this one starts at Black Rock Campground, although at a different trailhead. The trailhead sits at the end of South Park Road, in a relatively small parking area.
Approaching the summit.
A single loop hike can be formed to summit both South Park Peak and the overlook known as High View. I completed this one as an add-on hike to the area after completing the Warren Peak - Panorama Loop hike. It was too convenient to ignore, especially when I had quite a bit more to give in my energy tank.
On the summit of South Park Peak.
I started the hike going north in a counterclockwise direction to reach South Park Peak. The early steps after leaving the parking lot was the only point where there was a steep section (only a few steps), the rest of the way was easy going. It wraps around the east slope of South Park Peak for some good views over the town of Yucca Valley. On the summit sits a bench and a summit register.
A Joshua tree archway.
I looped down the west slope back to the parking area, where I continued on the Hi-View Nature Trail toward High View to form a second loop. This too is a short and easy climb to a nice overlook of the area. I again continued down the opposite slope, then eventually back to the parking area, which was visible the whole time. Short and sweet, yet still there are a few other hikes in the area that can also be added on for the day.
The hike begins at Black Rock Campground, which has no fee for day-hikers to visit. Warren Peak is a hike that I had completed several times from this starting point.
Warren Peak.
However, including Panorama Peak to the hike makes this a much better experience. So instead of just going out an back to Warren Peak, the Panorama Peak Loop is quickly accessible along the way.
On the summit of Warren Peak.
Warren Peak has great views over the northwest part of the park to the south, as well as the town of Yucca Valley to the north. I pondered for a bit on the conical summit before returning the wash, where the Panorama Peak junction is accessed.
Heading up the Panorama Loop.
The hike gradually climbs up a ridge to its high point at Panorama Peak. As the name suggests, the views are good up there.
Summit view toward Yucca Valley.
After the high point, the trail loops back down to the wash, where it then becomes a sandy descent back to the parking area and campground. This may be the best hike in the Black Rock area, although there are certainly more to choose from. I took the time to give nearly each its own day.
