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OUTDOORBLUEPRINT

Hike Lucky Boy Vista Trail

Joshua Tree National Park

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Hike Lucky Boy Vista Trail pano

3.4 Mi

Lollipop

2 - 2.5

Hours

340

Gain (ft)
3 Star Quality
Quality

Moderate

Difficulty

The Pine City area offers a plethora of unique but short hiking opportunities. Lucky Boy Vista explores a broad wash, a mine, and a viewpoint between the Split Rock Trail and Desert Queen Trail. This hike is a great way to experience an overlooked viewpoint with almost guaranteed solitude.

There are a number of ways to reach Lucky Boy Vista including a very easy 2.5 mile out-and-back hike from a signed trailhead 0.5 miles up the road towards Park Boulevard. However, I always find loop hikes more enjoyable, so this route description forms a nice lollipop loop while still being a relatively easy hike. But the out-and-back is always another option if you want to see the vista with minimal expended effort.

Hike Lucky Boy Vista Trail Map Hike Lucky Boy Vista Trail Elevation Profile
Marker TH

Begin at the Pine City trailhead. Look for a signed trailhead in a large wash on the southern edge of the parking lot. Head south through the wash as it winds and descends through beautiful granite boulders.

Large wash on the way to Lucky Boy Vista

Wash walking takes a lot of extra energy

Marker A

The wash briefly tightens up at mile 0.4 to pass through a shallow canyon. Tall pinyon pines and junipers flourish here due to the abundance of seasonal water.

Narrow and shallow canyon

The canyon briefly tightening up

Juniper thick with berries

A juniper tree heavy with spring berries

Marker B

At mile 1.0, you’ll reach a large confluence. Stay right to continue towards Lucky Boy Vista. The left branch crosses a man-made dam before quickly reaching Desert Queen Mine.

Marker C

Leave the wash after another 0.2 miles and begin a steep ascent as the trail climbs almost 100 feet over the next 0.2 miles.

Marker D

Look for a signed junction at mile 1.6 which marks the spur trail out to Lucky Boy Vista. At this point, you’ll be following an old road bed which was used to access Elton Mine. Look for tailing from the mine as you approach the viewpoint.

Junction with road bed

Signed junction with the easier approach to Lucky Boy Vista

Highlight #1

Very little is left of the Elton Mine. Four mine shafts are poorly fenced and filled in with residual tailings. This is another example of a mining operation of which very little is known. We know the claim was originally filed on July 7th, 1922, and that only one shipment of low grade ore was ever shipped, which would not have been enough to recover operational costs.

Elton Mine tailings and cage

Give mine entrances like this a wide berth

Marker E

The final approach to Lucky Boy Vista is a splendid affair. The flat plateau suddenly drops out, revealing incredible views towards Split Rock, Skull Rock, and Jumbo Rocks. Look for a glimmer of car windshields to the SSE and you’ll see a perfect view of the Skull Rock formation.

Head back to the loop junction and continue past it on the old road bed to begin the loop hike back to the trailhead. Continue for 1.0 miles, dropping in elevation just before reaching a wash with a signed arrow.

Joshua Tree casting shadows

A beautiful joshua tree casting shadows on the old road bed

Marker F

Disregard the arrow and exit the trail into the wash to head north. Don’t worry if you miss this spot -- instead of looping back through the wash, you’ll quickly reach the road which you can take back to the trailhead.

Marker G

Rejoin the main wash at mile 2.8. Turn left to follow the broad wash back to the trailhead.

    Directions

  • The trailhead is located at the Pine City Backcountry Board parking area, at the terminus of Desert Queen Mine Road and Queen Valley Road. Look for a dirt road heading north from the signed intersection with Park Boulevard and Geology Tour Road, 1.3 miles west of Jumbo Rocks Campground and 2.5 miles east of Sheep Pass Campground.
  • Driving Directions

    Permits & Fees

  • $25 : Joshua Tree Entrance Fee

    Season

  • September - May

What's Nearby?

Split Rock Trail

Split Rock Trail

Desert Queen Mine Trail

Desert Queen Mine Trail

Pine City Trail

Pine City Trail

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