Hike Mastodon Peak

You'll start from the Cottonwood Spring Oasis parking lot on the park's quieter southern end, where most of the Joshua Tree crowds never bother to venture. The trail shares its opening stretch with the Lost Palms Oasis route before splitting left onto the Mastodon Peak loop. The terrain is classic high desert — sandy and rocky underfoot, fully exposed, with ocotillo and cholla cactus lining the path. The elevation gain is gentle enough that you'll barely notice it until the final push, where an optional scramble up jagged granite boulders rewards you with panoramic views stretching south toward the Salton Sea and the Chocolate Mountains. You'll also pass the ruins of the old Mastodon Gold Mine, a relic from the 1930s that most hikers walk right past. This is the perfect trail for someone who wants a real desert summit experience without committing to an all-day sufferfest.