Cholla Cactus Garden Nature Trail
Despite its nickname as the "teddy bear" cactus, hikers had best beware of the cholla cactus, which has small, stick-tight needles that will go right through clothes.
Plan Around Cholla Cactus Garden Nature Trail
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Cholla Cactus Garden Nature Trail Details
Despite its nickname as the "teddy bear" cactus, hikers had best beware of the cholla cactus, which has small, stick-tight needles that will go right through clothes. The photogenic cacti occur in concentration on the Cholla Cactus Garden Nature Trail, which lies just south of the geographical demarcation between the Mojave Desert to the north and the Colorado Desert to the south. A trail pamphlet you can pick up at the start of your walk explains that the abundance of cacti in this location is due to a reliable water supply at key times of year. The trailhead for this .25-mile, easy loop trail is 20 miles north of the Cottonwood Visitor Center, on Pinto Basin Road and on the way to Cottonwood Springs.
Difficulty
Low
Distance
0.25 miles
Estimated time
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Cholla Cactus Garden Nature Trail
Compare nearby parks around Cholla Cactus Garden Nature Trail when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Cholla Cactus Garden Nature Trail
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Cholla Cactus Garden Nature Trail while the map context is still fresh.
0.0 mi away
Cholla Cactus Garden
The Cholla Cactus Garden exists in the unique ecosystem created by the merger of the upper Mojave Desert and the lower Colorado Desert.
1.9 mi away
Silver Bell Mine
About three-quarters of a mile south of Pinto Basin Road is the Silver Bell Mine, which operated between 1934 and 1962.
2.3 mi away
Wilson Canyon
Pinto Basin Road, one of the main access roads in Joshua Tree National Park, passes through Wilson Canyon.
2.3 mi away
Joshua Tree National Park
Low and high desert regions converge in this southern California park, named for the distinctive species of yucca trees that can grow up to 50 feet high here.
2.8 mi away
Ocotillo Patch
A 30-minute drive from Cottonwood Campground is the Ocotillo Patch, a roadside stand of cacti that put on a dramatic floral display after even a light rainstorm.
