Johnson Spring to Rattlesnake Canyon Loop in Joshua Tree National Park, CA

Hike Johnson Spring to Rattlesnake Canyon Loop Joshua Tree National Park, CA

Class 3 5.6 miles 1800 gain 5-7 hrs Loop Feb 28, 2017
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

About a year ago, I explored Rattlesnake Canyon and headed up to Willow Hole. It was a really nice route and I wanted to explore the Widlerness of Rocks more with Shawn to see if we could find anything new and exciting. Prompted by a featured listed on a map called "Johnson Spring", we set out to find a loop through this rugged section of JTree. This route ended up being a significant amount more work than we anticipated.

From the Rattlesnake Canyon Trailhead, we headed generally west. We did a mini warm-up by scrambling behind a bouldery hill, and then continued west until we located the canyon opening that would lead to Johnson Spring, what I'll refer to as Johnson Spring Canyon. Immediately, we were hit with a ton of boulder obstacles that would eventually becoem exhausting. We encountered lots of little talus caves within Johnson Spring Canyon, accidentally finding an old dam within one of them. Shortly after, we got to Johnson Spring, less exciting than we hoped it would be. We kept heading west, still enjoying the physicality of boulder-hopping.

An enticing side canyon took us south, some water and washes making the going a bit easier. We ended up in a wide bowl with piles of JTree granite boulders in every direction. This was the highlight of the hike, in my opinion, the farthest spot from the trailhead, naturally. We continued southeast out of the bowl into what appeared on terrain maps as a flatter section. It wasn't, and I'd say this spot was the most frustrating. Countless cacti made progress slower than it had been all day, but we were rewarded with a sweeping view of the Wonderland of Rocks to the south. We then found a side canyon leading back east, our hope that it would take us to the head of Rattlesnake Canyon. A ton of huge boulders later and we were within Rattlesnake Canyon, the going a bit easier now.

I remembered from last year along the route out of Rattlesnake Canyon, I encountered some really cool talus caves. We made a quick detour to revisit them on this trip, and this time the caves were full of waterfalls. Gorgeous. We continued out of Rattlesnake Canyon on the standard route, now seeing people, and back to the trailhead.

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We decided to go to the left of that bouldery hill in the middle.
We decided to go to the left of that bouldery hill in the middle.
Approaching the gully to the left of the big bouldery hill, just to make the trip harder than it had to be. :)
Approaching the gully to the left of the big bouldery hill, just to make the trip harder than it had to be. :)
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Shawn looking down into the wash leading to the true Johnson Spring Canyon.
Shawn looking down into the wash leading to the true Johnson Spring Canyon.
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From within the wash looking toward our canyon.
From within the wash looking toward our canyon.
Starting up into Johnson Spring Canyon.
Starting up into Johnson Spring Canyon.
Looking back into the wash.
Looking back into the wash.
Lots of fun talus caves along the way to explore.
Lots of fun talus caves along the way to explore.
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A really big hole just behind Shawn, the canyon continuing ahead of him. It goes without saying to avoid falling into the gaping holes.
A really big hole just behind Shawn, the canyon continuing ahead of him. It goes without saying to avoid falling into the gaping holes.
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The first opening in the canyon. Continue up the obvious one, heading southwest.
The first opening in the canyon. Continue up the obvious one, heading southwest.
A dam in a talus cave within the first opening, before continuing up to Johnson Spring.
A dam in a talus cave within the first opening, before continuing up to Johnson Spring.
Looking back the way we came.
Looking back the way we came.
Approaching Johnson Spring.
Approaching Johnson Spring.
Johnson Spring.
Johnson Spring.
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Continuing up the canyon for a bit longer.
Continuing up the canyon for a bit longer.
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Some water along the way closer to the top.
Some water along the way closer to the top.
Look like a long way to go? Yes. Yes it is. Boulders make moving very, very, very slow.
Look like a long way to go? Yes. Yes it is. Boulders make moving very, very, very slow.
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Finally, a short section of wash with no boulders.
Finally, a short section of wash with no boulders.
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Me looking back into a big bowl as we continued to ascend to the southeast.
Me looking back into a big bowl as we continued to ascend to the southeast.
Looking back into the bowl.
Looking back into the bowl.
A really frustrating section filled with cacti to avoid.
A really frustrating section filled with cacti to avoid.
A wide-open view of the Wonderland of Rocks in the distance.
A wide-open view of the Wonderland of Rocks in the distance.
Heading down a side canyon toward Rattlesnake Canyon.
Heading down a side canyon toward Rattlesnake Canyon.
Looking back up the way we came.
Looking back up the way we came.
Rattlesnake Canyon is just below.
Rattlesnake Canyon is just below.
Right after getting into Rattlesnake Canyon, we found lots more talus caves.
Right after getting into Rattlesnake Canyon, we found lots more talus caves.
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Continuing down Rattlesnake Canyon.
Continuing down Rattlesnake Canyon.
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We noticed lots of water coming from Rattlesnake Spring, so we went up to my favorite spot in Joshua Tree National Park (see my write-up for Rattlesnake Canyon to Willow Hole for more pictures).
We noticed lots of water coming from Rattlesnake Spring, so we went up to my favorite spot in Joshua Tree National Park (see my write-up for Rattlesnake Canyon to Willow Hole for more pictures).
Heading up the flooded side canyon.
Heading up the flooded side canyon.
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My favorite secret spot. :)
My favorite secret spot. :)
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Continuing to the end of Rattlesnake Canyon.
Continuing to the end of Rattlesnake Canyon.
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Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!