Pine City Trail - 3.9 Miles Round-Trip

Pine City is located in a maze of rugged and heavily vegetated canyons in the northeast corner of Queen Valley. This area is named for its high concentration of pinyon pine, sheltered and funneled water by surrounding canyons and rock formations.

Trail Map | Photo Gallery

Because Desert Bighorn Sheep are drawn to Pine City's potholes, lush vegetation and cooler temperatures, it's been designated a Day Use Area. While the short trip to Pine City Overlook is quite easy, exploring the boulder-riddled labyrinth is considerably more difficult.

Fit hikers can drop into these canyons for a closer look, and the ambitious may continue northeast through the mountains via Pine City Canyon to connect with Park Boulevard near the North Entrance Station:

The Pine City Trail heads north and level across Queen Valley, formed by differing rates of erosion between the surrounding mountains and underlying rock.

Negro Hill (4,875') stands prominently over the Pine City Trailhead area, while Queen Mountain (5,687') and its east ridge frame the northern horizon. Joshua Trees dot the great expanse, but grow poorly in the far east end of their range.

The trail moves quickly across the valley to a brief wash merge (1.25 miles : 4,538'), beyond which the landscape intensifies with large rock gardens and interesting arrangements of trees, cacti and shrubs (1.45 miles : 4,538'). This is generally considered the south edge of Pine City, and the Day Use Area demarcation.

The trail continues northeast to Pine City Overlook and an end of maintained trails sign (1.95 miles : 4,578'). Social trails emanate down into canyons and along high ridgelines, the latter providing commanding views across Queen Valley and of the pine-filled complex below. Steep pitches, large boulders, and tangled vegetation complicate the scramble, but patient hikers should have little trouble exploring the canyons of Pine City.

Desert Bighorn Sheep

Desert Bighorn Sheep range throughout the desert mountains of eastern California, Nevada, northwestern Arizona, and southern Utah. Their total population is estimated at 13,000, a mere 250-300 of which live in Joshua Tree National Park.

Desert Bighorn take to steep, rocky terrain for predator evasion, bedding, and lambing, but will venture into open low areas to feed. Green grasses are preferred, but when scarce (as is often the case in Joshua Tree), they'll consume a variety of other plants, including cacti.

Joshua Tree's Bighorn Sheep generally belong to one of three geographically disparate herds. 120 animals, the largest herd, roam the Eagle Mountains in the southeast corner of the Park.

The second largest herd counts about 100 animals in the Little San Bernardino Mountains to the far west. The smallest herd, about 30 animals, is seen mainly in the Wonderland of Rocks, Queen Mountain, and Pine City vicinity.