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OUTDOORBLUEPRINT

Hike West Side Loop Trail

Joshua Tree National Park

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Hike West Side Loop Trail pano

4.7 Mi

loop

2 - 3

Hours

980

Gain (ft)
3 Star Quality
Quality

Moderate

Difficulty

The West Side Loop Trail is a great moderate-length hike if you are staying in the Black Rock area. The eastern half of the trail takes you through a series of narrow washes and provides sweeping views of the San Bernadino and San Jacinto mountains to the southwest.

Hike West Side Loop Trail Map Hike West Side Loop Trail Elevation Profile
Marker Trailhead

Start in Black Rock Campground to the east of site #30, on the backside of the campground. The most interesting parts of this hike are found on the southeastern portion of the loop, so I recommend going clockwise to see them first. Follow the road south for 0.2 miles where the trail splits off to the right near a large water tank.

Marker A

Continue south for another 0.1 miles to a junction with Burnt Hill Trail.

Marker b

Take the right fork to stay on West Side Loop Trail for another 0.7 miles. Most of the elevation gain on this hike happens in the first 2 miles as the trail winds through the hills. Some wash crossing are not clearly signed, so look for rock markers to help stay on track.

Rock Route Markers

A line of rocks across a wash is a good indicator of where the trail goes

Marker C

At mile 1.0 the trail ends in a wash. Turn right to follow the canyon west as it continues to gain elevation. Stay right at a confluence, the wash will diminish and become a trail shortly thereafter.

Highlight #1

If you are visiting in the winter or spring, look for a shining snowcap on top of San Gorgonio Mountain. Sitting at 11,503 feet high, San Gorgonio is the tallest peak in southern California.

San Gorgonio Mountain in the distance

Snow capped San Gorgonio Mountain in the distance

Marker D

At 2.3 miles, the trail reenters a wash. Pass a confluence after another 0.3 miles, and continue north for another 0.4 miles.

Marker E

Look for a trail leaving the wash to the right at mile 3.0. If you reach a dirt road you’ve gone too far and need to backtrack. The trail quickly joins up with another route after leaving the wash. The second half of the loop opens up and follows an obvious trail which leads you back towards Black Rock Campground.

Wash Walking

Deep sand in the washes makes for slower then normal progress

Marker F

Hi View Nature Trail branches off to the south at mile 4.0 as you climb to the final pass. You can add the Hi-View Nature Trail to the tail end of this loop for an extra 1.3 mile jaunt.

    Directions

  • The trailhead for the West Side Loop Trail is located in the backside of Black Rock Campground near, site #30. To reach Black Rock Campground, turn off of Highway 62 in Yucca Valley on Sage Avenue. Immediately turn left onto Yucca Trail and continue for 1.9 miles. Turn right on Palomar Avenue and continue for 2 miles to the campground.
  • Driving Directions

    Permits & Fees

  • $25 : Joshua Tree Entrance Fee

    Season

  • October - May

What's Nearby?

Hi-View Nature Trail

Hi-View Nature Trail

Black Rock Campground

Black Rock Campground

Short Loop Trail

Short Loop Trail

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