This is one of my favorite trails because it seems like a short/steep and compact training trail for steep incline and decline trail running. Most folks probably take this trail to hike through to the Oasis…hang out in the shade of the palm trees and try to see some water and possibly Big Horn Sheep. I take this trail for its steep incline and decline switchbacks….knowing I’ll probably try to do two or three “laps” of the trail, depending on how much the heat comes up during my runs.
49 Palms Canyon Trail is a 1.5 mile trail each way (three miles roundtrip) up portions of the 49 Palms Canyon ending at the 49 Palms Oasis. The trail and oasis are in Joshua Tree National Park in the high desert to the north of Palm Springs, in Southern California, USA. This trail isn’t in the main touristic area of the park, so you have to navigate to it off the main highway (SR-62) and then follow a narrow road up to the visitor parking lot. There are rest rooms in the parking lot but no other services. The trail is as rugged as it gets- steep, technical with little to no shade and no water at all. Even down at the Oasis, you will have a hard time getting to any water. Once you leave the parking lot, there are no rest rooms along the trail or at the Oasis.
As a trail run, this is one of my favorite short trails….cause it’s short and steep. This means in just a mile and a half I get to go up very steep technical vertical ascent and then steep mini-switchback downhill….and turn around to do it all over again. Three miles and I get to do both steep uphill and downhill with technical skills thrown in. This is a hard, hot training trail but provides ample rewards. One of the benefits is the short nature of the trail, I can leave what I need in the car as a mini-aid station. Love it.
I love to trail run even through I’m soooo slow. I’m ok with that, as long as I’m out there doing something….off the couch! Hope you feel that way too-
BTW, I just did this trail and found a huge rattlesnake under a rock on a very steep ascent/decent. He was poised to strike at me but I jumped back rather quickly and screamed loudly. Eventually he crawled back under his rock. So….stay frosty when running out in the desert-
This trail has little shade and NO water. Please carry water and turn around if you need to. Once you go down the very steep hill at about (1) mile into the hike….you need to get back up that hill to get back to the parking lot. Had to do this public service announcement, I used to be on Search and Rescue.
Here’s some of my other writing about races and trails:
Contact Mine Trail- Trail Running In JTNP
Black Canyon Ultramarathon Race Review by LF2TS
Calico Trail Runs (Race) Review
The High Desert & Joshua Tree National Park- Not Perfect Trail Running
5 Reasons You Probably Should Not Start Trail Running
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