Mt. San Jacinto Outdoor Recreation

August is a pretty bad time to be hiking in Joshua Tree, especially in the Cottonwood area, as it's in the lower and hotter part of the park. JTNP is a deceptively benign appearing park. It can kill, and does so regularly. It just doesn't look that dangerous.

Hiker dies in Joshua Tree National Park as heat wave bakes Southern California

This is very sad news, especially when it is so needless. By the time people get into trouble, they are too far out of it to know that they are in trouble. Then, it is too late. We have hiked the Lost Palms Oasis trail. It's a great hike in cool weather.