California Riding and Hiking Trail

California Riding and Hiking Trail is a 36.6-mile, one-way traverse from Black Rock Canyon to the North Entrance. The National Park Service allows two to three days for the full route; this is a real backcountry trip, not a long day hike. Choose it if the journey across the park sounds better than a single summit or waterfall. You move through valleys of Joshua trees, towering boulder piles, open desert and remote country, with spring wildflowers in season.

Starting at Black Rock and walking to the North Entrance is the easier direction: most of the climbing comes early, then the route generally trends lower. The first stretch to Upper Covington Flats is about 8.5 miles with roughly 1,180 feet of gain. Farther east it passes Juniper Flats, crosses Geology Tour Road and Twin Tanks, then finishes at the North Entrance. Trail signs and mile markers cover much of the route, but they are not continuous; keep an offline map and pay attention at backcountry crossings. The nearby Quail Mountain summit path is a suggested route, not part of the marked CRHT.

There is no natural water along the route. Carry what you need for each leg or arrange water caches at the designated backcountry boards; caching is optional, so plan as if a cache will not be available. The park recommends at least a gallon per person per day, with more in hot or strenuous conditions. Overnight hikers need a backcountry permit and must camp in an authorized zone or a designated campground. Plan your overnight stops around permitted camping areas and water access, not simply around mileage. The park advises against this route in summer because heat and sun exposure make a long waterless crossing risky.

This is a point-to-point trail, so arrange a shuttle or pickup between Black Rock Canyon and the North Entrance. Start from the California Riding and Hiking Trailhead at Black Rock Canyon; overnight vehicles may be left only at designated backcountry trailheads or outside the park. The route reaches several road-access points, but they are not a substitute for a planned exit. Pets are not allowed on the CRHT. Cell service is very limited in the backcountry, so download maps and share your itinerary before you start.

The statewide Riding and Hiking Trail was first imagined in 1945 and remains incomplete. Joshua Tree's through-route preserves a long stretch of that idea: a route that lets you move across a landscape rather than just drive between viewpoints. It rewards people prepared to spend a few days on the trail, not anyone looking for a quick scenic walk.

The CRHT also has shorter day-hiking sections from several park access points, including Black Rock, Upper Covington Flats, Juniper Flats, Twin Tanks and the North Entrance. Pick a section with a clear turnaround or shuttle plan; those outings are separate from the full 36.6-mile traverse. If you're unsure about a multi-day desert trip, sampling one section gives you the landscape without committing to the entire crossing.