The Coxcomb Mountains are among the most remote, rugged, and lightly traveled places in Joshua Tree National Park. This jagged and inhospitable range rises sharply from the Pinto Basin floor in the northeast corner of the Park. While no maintained trails lead into the Coxcomb, there are several established routes that follow washes and canyons into its heart.

A rare and federally protected Desert Tortoise walks across a wash heading into the Coxcomb Range.

From Highway 62, access to the Inner Pass of the Coxcomb Range is dictated by a wide wash.

The Coxcomb Mountain Range is located in the remote eastern section of Joshua Tree National Park.

This area of Joshua Tree is particularly colorful due to its great biodiversity.

A Desert Horned Lizard catches morning sun in the Coxcomb area.

A Jackrabbit seeks shelter in the scrub brush - they can run an astonishing 35 mph.

The Coxcomb Range rests east of the transition zone between the Mojave and Colorado Deserts. This makes for interesting landscapes illustrating distinct elements of each desert.

The Desert Tortoise spends 95 percent of its time underground making sightings extremely rare.

Seemingly desolate, the desert floor is busy with a variety of reptiles, mammals and birds

The wash begins to creep up into the Coxcomb Mountains providing access to Inner Basin Pass.

Watch your hands - a Chuckwalla peeks its head out from a small crack in the Coxcomb area.

Spiny backed lizards are effectively camouflaged in the bajada

Heading straight into the Coxcombs via the main wash.

Views south from the high pass over the Coxcomb inner basin

The wash disappears and the trail narrows into the Coxcomb Mountains on its way to Inner Basin Pass

A Desert Tortoise navigates its way through the wide washes of the Coxcomb area.