Joshua Tree National Park's California Riding and Hiking Trail (CRHT) stretches 37 miles from the Black Rock Campground in Yucca Valley to the Park's North Entrance Station in 29 Palms, California. The easternmost section of this versatile and varied trail glides gently down a vast bajada in the low Mojave desert region. True desert lovers will enjoy its boundless open space, light crowds and subtle but complex ecological variations.

The Joshua Tree - 'Yucca brevifolia' - is now considered a member of the Agave family and until recently was known as a member of the Lily family

Granite rock formations are over 80 million years old

Spring rains brings new undergrowth to the desert floor

Massive granite rock formations fall prey to consistent erosion

Violet-hued cactus growing just off trail

There are 18 species of lizards in Joshua Tree

Mojave Yucca in the foreground with expansive views off the CRHT

Coyote Melons offer precious moisture to coyotes and javelina

Mojave yucca and colorful ground rocks make this stretch of the CRHT quite enjoyable

Cactus provide food for animals like javelina whose jaws have adapted to eat the cactus whole - spines and all

Cactus pores open only at night, preventing transpirational cooling - thus they use internal mechanisms to adapt to daytime heat

Dark basalt formations with dots of red cactus just off trail

This stretch of the California Riding and Hiking Trail treks over vast expanses of the Mojave desert

The CRHT showcases the biological diversity of the Mojave desert