Joshua Tree National Park
Covering an area of over 800,000 acres the Joshua Tree National Park is truly immense and contains a stunning variety of different landscapes within the one park. Many people believe the park to be a harsh environment, they assume the brutal summer heat and desert environment means the area is tough and unbreakable. This couldn't be further from the truth. In fact the eco-system is extremely delicate and fragile. RV rentals are an ideal way to visit this region and will provide you with an unforgettable experience.
This unique landscape was formed by the elements, sudden torrents of rain, howling winds, and other extreme climate conditions. Rainfall in the area is unpredictable. River and stream beds are mostly dry and there are very few waterholes. As a result the region does not support much human habitation. Although campgrounds are available supplies must be bought from one of the surrounding towns. This makes RV rentals the wisest choice when visiting this park.
When viewed in summer the landscape can look dead and defeated. But this appearance is deceiving. Beneath the appearance of parched earth lies an intricate ecosystem waiting for the right moment to spring into action. Any living thing that calls this place home has developed a dependency on the ecosystem as a whole in order to survive. In this way, all of the plants and animals within the park are sensitive to change. This is why campers, campervans, motorhomes and RV rental vehicles are restricted to established roads and campgrounds only.
The park itself brings together two larger ecosystems. There are few places on earth which so dramatically demonstrate the difference between high and low elevation. The Colorado Desert, on the park's eastern side, sits below 3,000 feet (910m) and is dominated by creosote bush and a few varieties of cactus. The Mojave Desert, on the higher, cooler and wetter western side of the park is home to the Joshua tree.
Visitors to the park will also find an interesting third ecosystem on display. Five fan palm trees can be found throughout the park in isolated pockets which indicate the areas where ground water is available near the earth's surface.
The park is home to a wide range of interesting geologic displays. Some people suggest these are the most interesting such displays in the whole of California. Rugged mountains of twisted rock and giant exposed granite structures are evidence of the powerful forces that shaped and formed this landscape. A wide variety of rock types come together in the one place to form a giant mosaic of stunning beauty and complexity. Driving through the area in a motorhome rental is the best way to view this rugged landscape from the climate controlled comfort of your vehicle.
Early inhabitants of the region survived by hunting and gathering alongside the river that once ran through the Pinto Basin. Later the local inhabitants would move through the area in time with the harvest of their various fruits and nuts. They left behind rock paintings and pottery as reminders of their existence. By the 1800s explorers, cattlemen and miners came and built dams and dug for gold. While all of these early attempts at habitation have long since passed visitors still come to the park seeking blue skies, fresh air and the peace and tranquility that only deserts like this can offer. A visit to Joshua Tree National Park will be a feast for your senses, make sure you drive slow in your RV rental and take in all that the area has to offer.
To the untrained eye the desert looks as if it has lost the battle for survival. The amazing thing about this area is that life finds a way. Vegetation will endure the heat and lack of rain through specially adapted mechanisms, then, when the perfect combination of water and temperature is reached the desert will spring to life with an explosion of color. Desert wildlife too has specially adapted its life cycle to deal with these conditions. Waiting for the day time heat to subside, desert creatures less suited to the harsh day time conditions will often emerge at night.
Much of the desert is restricted to day use only. This means that from dusk until dawn visitors are not allowed outside of the designated campgrounds unless a permit has been obtained. This should not pose a problem for most visitors as the campgrounds are plentiful and campervan rental vehicles are welcome all year round.
Although the desert looks like it could take a beating and still survive, the opposite is actually true. The desert is in fact a delicate and fragile ecosystem in which each living plant and creature relies on every other plant and creature for its survival. An upset to one tiny thread in this web could unravel the entire structure and cause serious and long lasting damage. So when you see a tiny single flower bud or see a lizard dash across the road, remember that this is part of the rich tapestry of the desert.
