Cow Camp
Cattle rustlers used Cow Camp as a hiding place in the 1880s.
Plan Around Cow Camp
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Cow Camp Details
Cattle grazed throughout what is now Joshua Tree National Park from the 1870s until 1945. And with the cattle ranchers came cattle rustlers, who used the park's labyrinth of washes and canyons to hide their ill-gotten herds. First established by the McHaney Gang in the late 1880s, Cow Camp was one of those locations, and was used until the 1890s. It became a line camp, used to house men for short periods of time while they tended the cattle, after that. A stone chimney, two small dams, watering troughs, and a well are still on the site. Cow Camp and Cow Camp Dam are located east of the unpaved portion of Keys Ranch Road, and is accessible by an informal trail.
Difficulty
Low
Distance
N/A
Estimated time
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Region
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Nearby Parks Around Cow Camp
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Nearby Points of Interest Around Cow Camp
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0.6 mi away
Keys Desert Queen Ranch
The home base for William F. Keys and his family, the Keys Desert Queen Ranch is today listed as a National Historic Register Site.
1.1 mi away
Willow Hole Trail
The Willow Hole Trail leads hikers into the Wonderland of Rocks, a labyrinth of washes and monzogranite rock formations.
1.2 mi away
Lost Horse Area
There are multiple climbing spots in the Lost Horse area of Joshua Tree National Park.
1.3 mi away
Barker Dam
Constructed by early cattlemen in 1900, Barker Dam was raised in 1949 by rancher William F. Keys.
1.4 mi away
Hidden Valley Campground
Hidden Valley Campground has 44 dirt-pad sites, able to accommodate tents and RVs.
