Willow Hole via Boy Scout Trailhead South

Joshua Tree National Park at long last! I have been looking forward to this trip since the government shutdown forced us to cancel our first trip. We arrived at the park around 10:00 AM Saturday morning, planning to car camp and do a few 7-9 mile hikes but every campground was already full. Lesson learned: call ahead next time, and plan to camp on the trail. Due to an unfortunate series of events, we didn't have our tent and sleeping bags on us and we had planned to sleep in a campsite in the back of the truck. So, long story short, we called an audible and turned an overnight trip into a longer, one day trip. Looking for campsites had already killed over an hour, and noon was approaching so we needed to get on a trail. We settled on Willow Hole via the Boy Scout Trailhead South. Given the amount of time we had, and the fact that we would be driving home that night, a 7 mile hike was just what we were looking for.

Boy Scout Trailhead South

View Northeast From BST

The fastest way to access the Boy Scout Trail is through the West Entrance in Joshua Tree (the city). Head south on Park Boulevard and you will eventually see the trail markers on your left. There was plenty of parking, even though we arrived at noon and the park was packed. There is a back country registration board at this trail head, in case you plan on spending the night. Just be sure to camp on the West side of the trail, the East side is Day Use Only area.

Willow Hole Junction

Travel about 1.25 miles north on the Boy Scout trail and you will come to the Willow Hole junction. The first 1.25 miles is mostly flat and takes you through a forest of incredible Joshua Trees. It's very well marked and both trails are well-traveled. Bear right to head into the Wonderland of Rocks and on to Willow Hole!

I'll put a short disclaimer here: while the trail is very well marked, it's crucial to pay attention to your surroundings. The Wonderland of Rocks is a famously disorienting and confusing place. Having a reliable compass and an accurate topo trail map is an absolute MUST for heading off this way. We also brought our Garmin Oregon 450t with pre-programmed waypoints. Pay attention to trail markers and don't wander too far off the trail without confidence that you can navigate back with your map and compass - visual landmarks are not reliable for navigation here.

The Wonderland of Rocks

Willow Hole is about 2.5 miles from the junction. The terrain stays much the same for the first mile, but then begins to change as you head deeper into the Wonderland of Rocks. You will pass by a small trail marker pointing north to Outer Mongolia, and might be lucky enough to see some rock climbers scaling it's face. Keep heading northeast into the Wonderland, and you will start to encounter some new scenery and terrain. The rock formations start towering above you and the plant life starts to change slightly. While the beginning portion of the trail offers no shade at all, there are plenty of large rock formations and bushes right next to the trail that provide some shade and resting points if necessary.

The Wash

The last portion of the trail follows a large wash, so expect your progress to be slowed. Be careful to follow the posted signs and other not-so-natural looking trail markers to stay on the trail. Occasionally it leaves and re-joins the wash, which could be confusing and disorienting for someone not paying close attention to the trail. Take note of the small flowers and other plants that would not survive outside of the cooler wash area. We also heard a lot more birds singing on this part of the trail than at earlier points.

Willow Hole

Keep traveling through the wash as it bends slightly south, and then back to the north. Enjoy the magnificence and beauty of this complicated environment. The boulders and rock formation tower above, providing shade and relief for some of the smallest flowers. Stop and enjoy a break and the abundant shade at Willow Hole before either heading back to the Boy Scout Trail.

This was a wonderful hike and a perfect representation of what Joshua Tree has to offer. In just 7 miles, you can experience the vast forests of Joshua Trees and the diversity of the Wonderland of Rocks. I highly recommend this trail for a half-day excursion in Joshua Tree.