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 Reporter |
Summary: This is a wonderful walk. I would give it five stars if not for the constant flow of people. At times, there are so many people on this loop trail, you might feel as if you were at Magic Mountain. If you want to avoid the rush, try to go during the middle of the week, early in the morning, or early in the evening, but you may still find loud, obnoxious people who think they are in the supermarket. This is an interpretive trail that lets you know about the history, plant and animal life in Joshua Tree and around the dam. The artificial lake is beautiful, and you may want to spend time just gazing into its reflection. You travel through the wonderland of rocks, and can try your hand at boulder hopping if you wish. Do try to be careful of the plant life. Lots of people come here, it doesn't take much to destroy. The petroglyphs are neat, but a movie set decided they weren't bright enough and painted over them to make them crisper. Hooray for Hollywood! Trailhead: Take the 10 freeway to the 62 - head North, pass through Morongo Valley, Yucca Valley and the town of Joshua Tree. You will see signs that say Joshua Tree National Park. Turn right on Park Avenue, there is a sign and a stoplight. Follow the road for 6 miles to the entrance gate. Pay your entrance fee and continue, drive for about ten miles, until you see the sign for Barker Dam, turn left and follow this road to the parking lot. The trail begins through some wooden posts. Overuse and abuse has destroyed many of the plants in the area, please stay on the path. The loop is easy to follow, and has little to no elevation loss or gain. (Lat:34.03071 Lon:-116.14626) Trail Guides for Joshua Tree NP - Barker Dam Loop: California Hiking by Tom Sinestra and Ann Marie Brown (Avalon Travel) Day Hikers Guide to Southern California by John McKinney (Olympus Press) On Foot in Joshua Tree National Park by Patty A. Furbush (M.I. Adventure Publications) Best Seasons: Fall, Spring, Winter, User Groups: Hikers, Ranger Contact: Joshua Tree National Park (760) 367-5500 Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Allen Riedel, who has posted 123 other hikes on this site. To visit this reporters web site, click here. Trail Reviews Page 2 of 2 Submit your own review 
Reviewed by Zeeber on 11/30/2005 Nice easy hike and perfect for the whole family. Water level has dropped significantly, but still more compared to recent years. Wildlife is simply booming at this point. (Saw 32 quail at one point)Very informative signs posted throughout the hike and even some historic indian paintings towards the end. Makes for a great family outing.
Reviewed by Joan and Cliff on 2/15/2005 2/13/05--The lake is FULL of water--some locals said the highest in 30 years. The loop trail by the lake was covered over but you can skirt the water by crawling over some boulders and rejoin the trail. Spectacular formations but no sheep.
Reviewed by ASD on 2/8/2005 Stunning rock formations and the water is flowing. Should be an early bloom for the wildflowers this year. Start early to avoid the crowds! Come up and meet us there for our next hike on April 3rd. Click here for more details.
Reviewed by Joe on 12/31/2004 I was lucky enough to visit Joshua Tree Thanksgiving weekend 2004 right after a snow storm. I must say this hike was about as picture post card perfect as I have ever seen. I hiked early bofore the crowd and was treated to wildlife scurrying across virgin snow many times during the hike. The lake was frozen over and some snow melt areas were icy but I will never forget how pristine it was and how much I enjoyed hiking through freshly fallen snow. Pick your visit date right and you will not be disappointed.
Reviewed by KevinW on 5/21/2004 Great short hike that should not be missed when in Joshua Tree. This is a pretty easy hike and suitable for kids and older folks but still fun for everyone else too. Don't forget to check out the petroglyphs. You can hike here from Hidden Valley campground too.
Reviewed by Conrad on 4/3/2004 If you want to see the pond with water in it, now's the time to go. There's even a few wildflowers starting to bloom. You can't beat the rock outcroppings in Joshua Tree. Plus, there's even a few petroglyphs right off the trail!
Reviewed by james ramirez on 3/29/2004 The barker damn hike is a great historical hike with lots of spectacular rock formations and a stunning landscape. go at the right time of year and you get treated with the blooming of the wild desert flowers. Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site. Keys: California Hiking, California Trails, California Hikes, San Bernardino County Hiking, San Bernardino County Trails, San Bernardino County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||