Skip to main content

Joshua Tree National Park: Cottonwood Campground Reopens, Wildflowers Bloom Early

Support Provided By
cottonwood-campground-joshua-tree

Watching the sunset at Cottonwood Campground | Photo: °Florian/Flickr/Creative Commons License

Cottonwood Campground in the low desert region of Joshua Tree National Park is once again open after a five-month closure. The popular camping area was badly hit by a monsoon-like thunderstorm in mid-September that buckled Pinto Basin Road and flooded campsites (see photos of the damage here).

Additionally, an interpretive trail from Cottonwood Campground to Cottonwood Spring Oasis has reopened. The only area that remains closed is a small portion of Cottonwood Canyon below the spring.

Despite the damage, all that water created some winter scenery. "One benefit from last fall's rain is the presence of early spring wildflowers in the southern part of Joshua Tree National Park," read a press release. "More than 60 species of desert wildflowers are blooming in the area," including a notable amount of - at least as of a February 6th bloom report - desert star vine, chuparosa, burroweed/white bursage, bladderpod and brittlebush.

For more on wildflowers in the desert, check out this story.

Say hello: "Like" SoCal Wanderer on Facebook and follow @SoCal_Wanderer on Twitter to talk about the latest in outdoors with other enthusiasts.

Support Provided By
Read More
In “Obet and Del’s: The Coffee Shop Changing the Game in Hollywood” host Rosey Alvero sits down to talk with coffee shop owner Heather Knox.

Sip, Snack and Stroll Your Way Through Thai Town and East Hollywood (But First, Coffee)

Explore Thai Town and East Hollywood with all of its delicious, boozy and vintage offerings. But before you start wandering, charge up with a coffee from Obet & Del's, a neighborhood coffee haven serving up café drinks inspired by Southeast Asian culture.
In "The Tree Yoga Cooperative: Find Wellness in South LA" host Rosey Alvero takes a yoga class.

Find Flow, Practice Mindfulness and Engage in Self-Care at These South L.A. Hidden Gems

The Tree Yoga Collective is providing a self-care resource to its South Los Angeles community with a focus on equitable access to mindfulness, meditation, and flow. Here are some other South L.A. hidden gems for fostering inner peace, too — including a healthy dose of nature, plant-based cuisine and caffeine.
In "Babes of Wellness: Working Out for Health and Community in Compton" host Rosey Alvero lifts weights in the gym's "Swole Babes" class.

Get 'Swole' at Babes of Wellness, Plus Other Ways to Nourish Your Mind and Body in Compton

SoCal Wanderer host Rosey Alvero takes you to Babes of Wellness, an inclusive gym for women in Compton — where you can discover other ways of finding strength and power by feeding your body and mind.