Waking up early on Monday, we headed back into Joshua Tree National Park. We decided to head towards the northwestern section of the wilderness passing by Jumbo Rocks before heading down the Geology Tour Road, an 18 mile off-road trek into the back country of Joshua Tree. At the last minute we extended the tour cutting down Berdoo Canyon Road which led us through washes and over rocks until we hit the southern edge of the park. After being jostled for over two hours we made it back to more civilized roads and headed towards Keys View followed by Barker Dam. Once we reached the vicinity of the dam we hiked finding an old cattle watering hole, made when the dam was built circa 1900. Along the trail we checked out petroglyph drawings as well as looked for desert mice and rattlesnakes but finding only Joshua trees and Mojave yucca plants. Leaving the park we decided to forgo the major highway and opted to follow historic Route 66 catching it in Amboy. In order to reach the route we had pass through a good portion of the Mojave Desert. Once in Amboy we followed 66 almost all of the way to Needles finding shells of shops and towns along the way. We have stopped in Kingman, Arizona and will pick up Route 66 again tomorrow making our way towards the Grand Canyon.
Sun gleams off of a Joshua tree inside Joshua Tree National Park on Monday, February 27, 2012.
Mojave yucca plants and a Joshua tree dot the landscape close to the north entrance station of Joshua Tree National Park on Monday, February 27, 2012.
A cholla cactus sits in front of a Joshua tree at Joshua Tree National Park on Monday, February 27, 2012.
Mojave yucca plants dot the landscape across Joshua Tree National Park on Sunday, February 26, 2012.
A Joshua tree is dwarfed by the Jumbo Rocks section of Joshua Tree National Park on Monday, February 27, 2012.
Joshua trees dot the landscape around the Jumbo Rocks section of Joshua Tree National Park on Monday, February 27, 2012.
One of the Jumbo Rocks inside Joshua Tree National Park on Monday, February 27, 2012.
The Jumbo Rocks section of Joshua Tree National Park on Monday, February 27, 2012.
The Jumbo Rocks section of Joshua Tree National Park on Monday, February 27, 2012.
Skull Rock is one of the Jumbo Rock features in Joshua Tree National Park in California.
The Jumbo Rocks section of Joshua Tree National Park on Monday, February 27, 2012.
The Jumbo Rocks section of Joshua Tree National Park on Monday, February 27, 2012.
A shrub finds root on one of the Jumbo Rocks in Joshua Tree National Park on Monday, February 27, 2012.
Two rusted tubs mark an old mining section of Joshua Tree National Park on Monday, February 27, 2012.
The Berdoo Canyon Road cuts through Joshua Tree National Park on Monday, February 27, 2012.
A Joshua tree casts a shadow along Berdoo Canyon Road in Joshua Tree National park on Monday, February 27, 2012.
The Berdoo Canyon Road cuts through Joshua Tree National Park on Monday, February 27, 2012.
Berdoo Canyon Road leads through Joshua Tree National Park on Monday, February 27, 2012.
A view of Berdoo Canyon Road in Joshua Tree National Park from one of the surrounding ridges on Monday, February 27, 2012.
A Mojave yucca plant grows on the ridgeline overlooking Berdoo Canyon Road in Joshua Tree National Park on Monday, February 27, 2012.
Dried flowers on one of the ridges overlooking Berdoo Canyon Road in Joshua Tree National Park on Monday, February 27, 2012.
Richard Phillips takes photos along the Geology Tour Road inside Joshua Tree National Park on Monday, February 27, 2012.
Sun shines through boulders along the Geology Tour Road inside Joshua Tree National Park on Monday, February 27, 2012.
Sun shines through boulders along the Geology Tour Road inside Joshua Tree National Park on Monday, February 27, 2012.
Mojave yucca plants and a Joshua tree dot the landscape close to the north entrance station of Joshua Tree National Park on Monday, February 27, 2012.
The Geology Tour Road cuts through Joshua Tree National Park on Monday, February 27, 2012.
Mojave yucca plants dot the landscape close to the north entrance station of Joshua Tree National Park on Monday, February 27, 2012.
An animal track lays in the sand in Joshua Tree National Park on Monday, February 27, 2012.
A prickly pear cactus grows along the trail to Barker Dam in Joshua Tree National Park on Monday, February 27, 2012.
A prickly pear cactus grows along the trail to Barker Dam in Joshua Tree National Park on Monday, February 27, 2012.
Water collects by Barker Dam in Joshua Tree National Park on Monday, February 27, 2012.
Barker Dam creates a watering hole for local animals in Joshua Tree National Park.
Barker Dam creates a watering hole for local animals in Joshua Tree National Park.
Rock formations surround Barker Dam in Joshua Tree National Park on Monday, February 27, 2012.
A Joshua tree bends upside down as it grows in Joshua Tree National Park on Monday, February 27, 2012.
Sun shines through highlighting petroglyphs on a rock in Joshua Tree National Park on Monday, February 27, 2012.
A view of the Mojave Desert on the way to Amboy, California on Monday, February 27, 2012.
A sign for Route 66 stands outside of Amboy, California on Monday, February 27, 2012.
Amboy, California lies along Route 66 on Monday, February 27, 2012.
Roy's Motel and Cafe sits along Route 66 in Amboy, California on Monday, February 27, 2012.
The sun starts to set along Route 66 in California on Monday, February 27, 2012.
The sun starts to set along Route 66 in California on Monday, February 27, 2012.
Route 66 outside of Essex, California on Monday, February 27, 2012.
An old service station, now covered in graffiti, sits along Route 66 in California on Monday, February 27, 2012.
An old service station, now covered in graffiti, sits along Route 66 in California on Monday, February 27, 2012.
An old service station, now covered in graffiti, sits along Route 66 in California on Monday, February 27, 2012.
The sun sets along Route 66 across southern California on Monday, February 27, 2012.
The sun sets across southern California on Monday, February 27, 2012.
A dirt road follows train tracks along Route 66 in southern California on Monday, February 27, 2012.
Locomotives travel along the tracks next to Route 66 in southern California on Monday, February 27, 2012.