hidden valley

This hike has some wonderful rock formations and views literally around the valley. The valley was hidden until a way was blasted through years ago. Although it is a relatively easy hike, there are some parts that could be challenging if you have difficulty with something other than a flat path. There are some step like areas and a bit windy pathways. Look for some great rocks that are easy to scramble up for photo ops and views. Remember you sunscreen, water and hat even though it is a short hike, it can get quite hot. Also, this trail can get pretty busy with groups and families. We also saw a rock climbing class happening as well as a climber triumphantly get to the top of a large rock formation. The place is well worth a stop and walk.

Good little hike and very neat area. Kids will love it...the urge to climb! It was an easy trail but....there are 2 parts that were abit difficult to navigate for 1 of us who has abit of a bunged up knee....so if you walk with some minor difficulty or use a cane, just know you'll need to watch it a little bit.

The trail is rather easy by my standards, basically a walk around a valley that is hidden. The reason it is hidden that the pathway into the valley was blasted out of the rock. The pathway into the valley goes up some stairs(rocks laid out as stairs) then into a valley that has a loop you can walk around. The "stairs" can get sand on them and this creates a grip issue, and a person can slip. Once in the valley you find a wide variety of rock structures and lots of different plant specimens. Will definitely be back!!

We had not done any research before traveling to the park. The staff at the Oasis visitors' center were able to assess our group and make recommendations. While most were able bodied, a couple of folks could not do this trail.You start by walking up a small number of "stairs" rather than a path. That was difficult for accessibility so two of our group turned back. Those of us who continued were not disappointed. What a magnificent display of nature. The rock formations were very impressive. It was easy to get "lost" in the crevices between the rocks or to play (like the many groups of school children were) climbing on the rocks and sliding down.The color of the sky was so blue. The whole place looked like a postcard. There were lots of photo opportunities. If you have come from Palm Springs, you start to appreciate the difference between the high desert and the low desert.At times it is easy to "lose" the trail. People seemed to be walking all over the place and not following any sort of loop. Our group managed to find their way out!

Joshua Tree has been on my list of places to see since I was a child. Hard to explain, but my husband was just as eager after watching the educational video in the Oasis Visitors Center on Park Avenue in Joshua Tree. Easy hiking or rock climbing, you can make it as simple as you want.Hidden Valley was a special treat in Joshua Tree with its beautiful trails, picturesque views and tranquil hiking in this area off-season. At the beginning of February, the temperatures were in the 70s with clear sunny skies. I was camera ready for this experience of a lifetime. We're already making plans for our next visit. Highly recommended!

A short drive away from Palm Springs and well worth it. My wife and I drove through the park hitting as many of the stops and view points as we could. The boulders and geological features are ones you wouldn't think you would see if you judge the area by the Coachella Valley. Many areas to see that don't entail a lot of hiking or walking at all if you don't want to.The was one the of the highlights of our trip.

This was a short loop that was well interpreted. The park was pretty crowded but it is in California after allSort of amazing how the area got so much drier in only about 30 years towards the early part of the last century. We really know so little about our climate and change caused by whateverThe park is a great place and this a great little hike

It's a beautiful valley with an easy hike and so perfect for young kids. Kids can either walk or climb rocks. There are few great spots for serious rock climbers.

i had not planned on this Stop but it turned out to be a great short trail. The variety of vegetation was excellent.

Actually "Hidden Valley Campground" is a misnomer as the main attraction is the "Hidden Valley Loop" hiking trail (easy, less than an hour loop trail).We've come back time and again to this wonderful place. It is without a doubt the nicest trail in all of Joshua Tree NP.Don't forget your camera and water.

This is a great trail where you can let your imagination go to wild thinking about what Indians, Cowboys, and Cattle Rustlers once roamed here. The rock formations are awesome along with the flora and fauna that surround them. Climbers of all ages can have fun exploring the rocks from small children to expert rock climbers. We took some beautiful photos. It was a perfect day with clear skies and temperatures in the low to mid 80s.

Very easy hike with lots of rock formations to view. Not good for wheelchairs. We went off season which made it nice as we did not have to share the area with many others making photography easy! Many short hikes to be found for those with children or distance limitations!

We stopped at Hidden Valley to look at the monoliths but it was very congested with traffic and people. It was hard to even take a photo that didn't have vehicles or hikers in it. We preferred Cap Rock because the trail there was wheelchair accessible. We didn't try the nature trail at Hidden Valley because we didn't see it, so can't comment on that.

Hidden Valley occurs in two halves, one located to the east side of the road and the other to the west side. The valley itself, which takes the form of a roughly circular area of desert that is encircled by a stone mountain, is what is found to the west side of the main road. WEST HALF. The west half of Hidden Valley contains the greatest number of visitors, and has the largest parking lot, in the entire National Park. Along the northern edge of the parking lot, one can find several colorful cactus flowers. These are in bloom in April of each year. Please see my photo of the CACTUS FLOWER. This area has some of the best monoliths in Joshua Tree National Park. Both monoliths are located outside of the "valley" and these can be found by walking in a clockwise direction, starting from the parking lot. Please see my photo of MONOLITH WITH YUCCA. On the outside circumference of the circular stone mountain, as well as inside the encircled area, one can find yucca. A narrow path leads to the inside of the circular stone mountain and, once inside, the visitor can see a stone formation that I call, MAN IN THE CLIFF. Please see my photograph. The MAN IN THE CLIFF is about 15 feet tall. Once you have walked the short trail to enter the circular area, you need to look to the east (to your right), and you will see the MAN IN THE CLIFF. Once you are inside the circular area, it is impossible to get lost. There is a nature trail, with signs indicating various plants. The entire nature trail can be walked in about 30 minutes. My photo of DOLL WITH YUCCA includes a beautiful dried yucca and, beyond that, a view of the steep cliffs that encircle the valley and prevent visitors from getting lost.EAST HALF. The east half of Hidden Valley is populated by dozens of climbers. Casual visitors will find much to admire in the dare-devil skills of the climbers, who scale sheer cliffs that appear to be at least 100 feet tall. The east half also has a campground, for those interested in, for example, viewing the Milky Way. Once situated in the parking lot in the east half, if you walk for a minute or so in the eastern direction, you can spot a stone formation that I call, TURTLE MAN. TURTLE MAN has an eye that is a hole going through the cliff. TURTLE MAN's eye is blue in color, though the exact color depends on the color of the sky. Please see my photograph of TURTLE MAN. LIST OF ATTACHED PHOTOS, ALL FROM HIDDEN VALLEY: (1) Cliff Man; (2) Turtle Man; (3) Monolith with Yucca; (4) Doll with Yucca; (5) Cactus flower. The comments that accompany each photo disclose the location of the image, that is, whether it is at the east half or west half of Hidden Valley, and whether it is on the inside or outside of the circular stone mountain.

Beautiful box canyon, easy hike, lots of interesting rock formations and vegetation. Markers along the way explain a lot about all aspects of the hike. A must see if you visit the park. The only drawback is that the trail is not well marked, but don't worry. It's a canyon, so its pretty hard to get lost.