Barker Dam Nature Trail
The Barker Dam loop winds through a series of boulders at the southern end of the Wonderland of Rocks.
Plan Around Barker Dam Nature Trail
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Barker Dam Nature Trail Details
The Barker Dam loop winds through a series of boulders at the southern end of the Wonderland of Rocks. The easy path attracts hikers and rock climbers, and highlights include the possibility of spotting bighorn sheep and a visit to a small, man-made reservoir. Because the water can all but disappear during the dry season, visit this trail in the winter and spring. The hike begins in a narrow canyon before reaching the Barker Reservoir, which becomes a picturesque lake whenever it rains. Turn left and follow the shoreline toward the dam itself, which was built in 1900 by ranchers. As the trail turns west, follow a marked turnoff to visit a rock covered in vivid petroglyphs, which were enhanced by a film crew working on an old Hollywood movie. The trailhead for this easy, 1.1-mile loop is in the Barker Dam parking area.
Difficulty
Low
Distance
1.1 miles
Estimated time
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Barker Dam Nature Trail
Compare nearby parks around Barker Dam Nature Trail when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Barker Dam Nature Trail
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Barker Dam Nature Trail while the map context is still fresh.
0.2 mi away
Barker Dam
Constructed by early cattlemen in 1900, Barker Dam was raised in 1949 by rancher William F. Keys.
0.2 mi away
Wonderland of Rocks
In the north-central area of the park is the famed Wonderland of Rocks, a 12-square-mile backcountry maze of monzogranite boulder piles.
0.3 mi away
Wall Street Mill Trail
During the first half of the 20th century, Joshua Tree was scattered with miners hunting for gold, and the ore from Desert Queen Mine and others ended up at Wall Street Mill.
0.8 mi away
Wall Street Mill
The Wall Street Mill was a gold-ore crushing mill.
1.3 mi away
Hidden Valley Campground
Hidden Valley Campground has 44 dirt-pad sites, able to accommodate tents and RVs.
