Pine City, Pine Spring, Eagle Cliff, Desert Queen

Joshua Tree National Park, CA Joshua Tree Area

Trip stats

Distance
6.1 mi
Net Gain
1,500 ft
Time
4-6 hrs
YDS Rating
Class 3
Route
Loop

Ratings out of 10

Effort
4.2/10
Personality
7/10
Beauty
6/10
Solitude
6/10
What do these mean? →

Route map + Trailhead

Trailhead Coordinates

34.023537, -116.077701

The directions link below drops a pin on the trailhead coordinates and lets Google Maps pick the route. If the drive has rough roads or access issues that GPS nav might get wrong, I cover that in my trip report.

Get directions (opens Google Maps in a new tab)

Trip report

Feb 24, 2017 — This is definitely a pretty contrived route to try to hit a few of the points of interest in this area of Joshua Tree National Park. We took the flat and fairly boring hike through open desert on the old mining road to Pine City. After a short visit, we decided to take a random backcountry canyon route back. Our second stop was Pine Canyon Spring, where a spicket was collecting water. We continued north through some boulder-filled canyons and got to a large open bowl, where we ascended to get a nice view down the canyon and into Desert Queen Wash. The wash leads back to the car, but we had more abandonded desert things to see. The route got a bit wonky at this point, where we boulder-hopped for a while in attempt to get to Eagle Cliff Cabin. I couldn't tell you our exact route, but that's definitely the most fun part about this section. After eventually finding the cabin, we followed the established trail to the Desert Queen Mine, and then back to the trailhead just as the sun set.

For better photos of the Eagle Cliff Cabin, check out my other hike write-up for Eagle Cliff Cabin from Split Rock.

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Photos

41 photos

  1. The start of the Pine City Trail.
  3. Looking back into flatness.
  5. Two-ish miles later, Pine City.
  7. The random canyon we decided to descend to get to Pine Spring.
  8. Pine Spring just ahead.
  9. Shawn in the middle of the photo, looking at Pine Spring. We took the obvious canyon just ahead in the photo to continue our route.
  10. Pine Spring.
  11. Boulders in our choice of canyon.
  12. Looking back toward Pine Spring, and the canyon we had descended.
  15. The Bowl. Hard to tell from this photo, but we are surrounded on all sides by gorgeous bouldery cliffs. We headed southwest (right-ish in this photo) to get to the ridge.
  16. Shawn coming up the Bowl.
  17. From the top of the Bowl, looking down the canyon toward Desert Queen Wash (at the base of the mountain in the distance).
  19. Desert Queen Wash below.
  20. A short time spent in Desert Queen Wash before heading south to start the ascent to Eagle Cliff Cabin.
  21. The canyon we chose to get up to Eagle Cliff Cabin.
  22. Obscure bouldery route.
  23. Looking back toward the route we came (the shadowy area in the center in the distance).
  25. Approaching the top.
  26. Eagle Cliff Cabin is on the right, near that pine tree.
  27. Entrance to Eagle Cliff Cabin.
  28. Inside Eagle Cliff Cabin. For better photos, check out my other write-up for Eagle Cliff Cabin from Split Rock.
  29. A fireplace.
  30. Along the Eagle Cliff Cabin Trail.
  32. Looking down toward the Eagle Cliff Cabin Trail.
  35. Approaching Desert Queen Mine.
  38. Some old mining equipment.
  39. The trail leads through the mines.
  40. Looking back toward the Desert Queen Mine.
  41. The last bit of trail before getting to the car.

Photo 1 of 1

Hire me or show some love!

Hire or refer me as a web developer, or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I'm not sponsored, so it's funded by yours truly. It also takes a ton of work to edit photos and write these reports. I really appreciate it!

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