Cholla Cactus Garden Trail

4.1 ( 7 )

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Trail

0.2 mile 0.4 kilometer loop
Singletrack
Easy

Elevation

Ascent: 12' 4 m
Descent: -14' -4 m
High: 2,197' 670 m
Low: 2,185' 666 m

Grade

Avg Grade: 2% (1°)
Max Grade: 4% (2°)

Dogs

No Dogs

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Trail shared by Megan W

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Unknown See History

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“This completely level loop visits a wonderfully dense concentration of cholla cactus.”

— Megan W

Features Wildflowers

Family Friendly Kids will love meandering through the whimsical-looking cholla along this classic trail.

Description

From the Pinto Basin Road, stop at the well marked parking area for the Cholla Cactus Garden. The very short path is a dirt loop with zero elevation gain. It winds delightfully through a forest of cholla cactus. One species of this cactus looks exceptionally fuzzy and, for this reason, it is commonly known as "teddy bear cholla".

Obviously, you should not touch the cactus - it damages the plant and will leave you with hooked spines embedded in your flesh and clothing. Otherwise, enjoy this profusion of stubby, cute desert life!

Flora & Fauna

Cholla cactus!

Contacts

Land Manager: NPS - Joshua Tree National Park

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Check-Ins

May 25, 2019

Madeleine Grace

Apr 16, 2019

Milly S

Yeah it was .2 miles not 2. But still cool! 2mi — 0h 15m

Mar 18, 2019

David Kohl

Mar 14, 2019

9h 00m

Feb 1, 2019

Dec 29, 2018

Aga Szyman

Dec 25, 2018

0.2mi

Sep 8, 2018

Sep 2, 2018

Erin Hart

Jul 22, 2018

S M

Jun 18, 2018

Jun 17, 2018

May 25, 2018

Beautiful. Worth the drive down to it. 0.1mi

May 4, 2018

Brooke Campbell

Jan 13, 2018

Done as part of stop at JOTR during California swing with Jiaxin December 2017-January 2018

Jan 12, 2018

Did with Jiaxin as part of tour of California, Dec 2017-Jan 2018.

Sep 8, 2017

May 29, 2017

Apr 29, 2017

Apr 22, 2017

Apr 13, 2017

Jeff Boyle

Took a quick walk through the garden while the boys napped in the car. Fun how the cacti propagate through mini tumble-sprouts!

Feb 19, 2017

Mai Tran

Jun 28, 2016

Jun 2, 2005

Trail Ratings

4.1 from 7 votes

#7

in Joshua Tree National Park

#6337

Overall

4.1 from 7 votes

5 Star		57%
4 Star		14%
3 Star		14%
2 Star		14%
1 Star		0%

Rankings

#7

in Joshua Tree National Park

#661

#6,337

10 Views Last Month

347 Since Apr 23, 2015

Easy

Easy

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Photos

Droves of cholla are highlighted by the setting sun at Cholla Cactus Garden. Photo credit: NPS/Brad Sutton.

Droves of cholla are highlighted by the setting…

Some beautiful Cholla Cactus.

Some beautiful Cholla Cactus.

A sea of cholla cacti

A sea of cholla cacti

Cholla Cactus Garden Trail in Joshua Tree National Park

Cholla Cactus Garden Trail in Joshua Tree Natio…

Keep away from jumping chollas!

Keep away from jumping chollas!

Cholla Cholla!

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