71 replies to this topic

[SteveH]

About the roads.....Anyone know what the road is like from Baker, CA. to Kelso, Ca. to Amboy, CA. to Twentynine Palms, CA.? That is the shortest route from Death Valley to Joshua Tree, but they are back country roads that Mapquest keeps routing me around. Guess my main concern is, are they paved?

[DirtDawg]

About the roads.....Anyone know what the road is like from Baker, CA. to Kelso, Ca. to Amboy, CA. to Twentynine Palms, CA.? That is the shortest route from Death Valley to Joshua Tree, but they are back country roads that Mapquest keeps routing me around. Guess my main concern is, are they paved?

I've been on that old section of Route 66 and along Amboy Road several times, usually on moto rides but not with TV and trailer in tow. Even so, its all 2-lane pavement with some history thrown in too. I'll attend Joshua and Quartzsite too and maybe DV for a few days before if no conflicts before departure. BTW, Garmin Mapquest routes from DV to Joshua Tree NP via Amboy like Mapquest.

[ArizonaEileen]

Steve --

I had those same concerns about those roads when I was proposing the caravan from Death Valley to Joshua Tree, so I Google Street Viewed them. As Jeff said, they're two lane but appear to be in decent shape. I would just make sure that my gas tank was filled along the way. Services appear to be far and few between. Alternately, you can always exit Death Valley from the west side and head south. It will add about another hour to your trip, but appears to offer more in terms of scenery and places to stop. I know there will be another couple taking that southern route from DV to JT.

Here's what I came up with:

WESTERN ROUTE
Furnace Creek CA to Olancha CA
1 hour 54 minutes 101 miles

Olancha CA to Victorville CA
2 hours 9 minutes 136 miles
Hwy 190 W to Hwy 395 S

Victorville CA to Joshua Tree CA
1 hour 25 minutes 72 miles
Hwy 18 E to 247 E to 62 E

5 HOURS 28 MINUTES ~ 309 miles

SOUTHERN ROUTE
Furnace Creek CA to Baker CA
2 hours 5 minutes 114 miles
Hwy 127 S to Kelbaker Rd S

Baker CA to Kelso CA
1 hour 2 minutes 34 miles
Kelbaker Rd S

Kelso CA to Amboy CA
51 minutes 39.7 miles
Kelbaker Rd S to Nat'l Trails Hwy/Route 66 W

Amboy CA to Joshua Tree CA
1 hour 23 minutes 64.5 miles
Nat'l Trails Hwy/Route 66 S to Hwy 62 W

4 HOURS 22 MINUTES ~ 253 miles

Eileen

[SteveH]

Thanks Jeff, and Eilene. That's what I wanted to know, and I think I'll take that Southern route. Years ago we drove thru Death Valley from the East to the West, so I want to see stuff that I've not seen. I'm not worried about my truck, but don't want to do any damage to the Casita, so as long as the roads are paved, it should be OK.

[NomadWoman]

If you take the route that goes through Kelso, hopefully you can stop and see the Kelso Depot, which is now the Mojave National Preserve's Visitor Center. Lots of interesting info about the area. So add that to your time and hopefully the VC is open.
Emily

[SteveH]

Thanks Emily,

I'll be sure and check that out.

[DonColorado]

About the roads.....Anyone know what the road is like from Baker, CA. to Kelso, Ca. to Amboy, CA. to Twentynine Palms, CA.? That is the shortest route from Death Valley to Joshua Tree, but they are back country roads that Mapquest keeps routing me around. Guess my main concern is, are they paved?
[/quote]

On December 22nd, I pulled Hotel Casita III off of I40 west at Exit 115, following old Route 66 to Amboy, then south to 29 Palms............other than some very large pools of water from the recent flood, the roads were excellent..........wonderful solitude away from the I40 zoo!

Just put 2840 R/T miles on Hotel Casita III LA from my northern Colorado home to go see my cute little Grand "kiddo's" for Christmas.


DonColorado
Old US 66 en route to Amboy........ Joshua Tree NP...........Road Kill Cafe on Route 66, Seligman, AZ


[attachment=18639:D30_1209 - Version 2.jpg]

Attached Thumbnails

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[DirtDawg]

Old US 66 en route to Amboy........ Joshua Tree NP...........Road Kill Cafe on Route 66, Seligman, AZ

Nice pictures! So Don, what was the "roadkill special of the day" and did you have some???

[CalCop]

I'm looking forward to meeting tons of new people there at Jumbo Rocks. I'd like to get some idea of where most people intend to set up. Maybe some idea of the groups of sites there at the campground. Can anyone help?

[ArizonaEileen]

I'm looking forward to meeting tons of new people there at Jumbo Rocks. I'd like to get some idea of where most people intend to set up. Maybe some idea of the groups of sites there at the campground. Can anyone help?

Since it's a no reservation campground, we'll have to take whatever we can get. And everyone seems to be planning to arrive at different times. What day will you be getting there?

I'm thinking I'll show up on Sunday morning.

The worst that can happen is that you take a spin around the campground until you find one of us and then try to locate a campsite in the vicinity.

Not certain how their payment system works. Anyone know?

You might get assigned at the Ranger Station, but they'll usually let you drive around before you commit to a certain spot. They'll let you find a spot then come back to pay. Or it just might be that you find a spot and pay at the kiosk.

Eileen

[CalCop]

I'm looking forward to meeting tons of new people there at Jumbo Rocks. I'd like to get some idea of where most people intend to set up. Maybe some idea of the groups of sites there at the campground. Can anyone help?

Since it's a no reservation campground, we'll have to take whatever we can get. And everyone seems to be planning to arrive at different times. What day will you be getting there?

I'm thinking I'll show up on Sunday morning.

The worst that can happen is that you take a spin around the campground until you find one of us and then try to locate a campsite in the vicinity.

Not certain how their payment system works. Anyone know?

You might get assigned at the Ranger Station, but they'll usually let you drive around before you commit to a certain spot. They'll let you find a spot then come back to pay. Or it just might be that you find a spot and pay at the kiosk.

Eileen

Hi Eileen,
I plan on arriving on the 5th and have searched out the sites. Thinking the 86 area would be the best. I found the payment system is by kiosk at $10 a night for us yougins. Looking forward to my first rally!
Bruce

[SteveH]

Only about three weeks now!

[ArizonaEileen]

Attached is a map of the Joshua Tree campground furnished to me by CalCop (Bruce). I have added two red squares to the PDF to indicate the area of campsites where you're most like to find us.

In an email to me, here is some helpful information that he put together:

>> "I thought the sites between 42-64 and 82-89 would be the best in the area. It offers centralized bathrooms and trash. The campsites in the 80's group are like curbside parking. Almost like a pull through spot.

>> I had no cell service much of anywhere in the park. I stayed 3 nights at Cottonwood and had to drive to the south entrance to get reception.

>> At the entrance to the campgrounds is a kiosk that collects the nightly fee of $10.
>> There's an park entrance fee of $15 regardless if you stay the night. This fee would be in addition to any campsite fee. However if you enter the park from the south entrance you maybe able to avoid that fee since there's no control gate manned by a ranger. If you leave the park by any other exit, i.e. the east and west exits/entrances, they will collect that entry fee."

If you have the National Parks Senior pass, I believe you can enter the park for free, and campsite rates are $5 per night.

Thanks, too, to CaGal for reminding me about Google Earth. Here's a screenshot of the campsites we're talking about:


GPS: 33°59'28.84"N, 116° 3'36.55"W

Eileen

PS: The campsites he refers to as 'curbside parking' I refer to as 'pull-overs.' We encountered the same type of spots at Escalante Nat'l Mon and Grand Canyon North Rim last year.

Attached Files

•  Jumbo Rocks campground.pdf   374.43KB   469 downloads

[ArizonaEileen]

CHILI LUNCH

For those of you who are planning to be at Joshua Tree on Sunday, Feb 6th, you're invited to come by my trailer at 1 pm for homemade chili (made with ground turkey — some of it with beans and some without). BTW, it will NOT be hot. I don't like to be in pain when I eat.

Bring the beverage of your choice and a chair. If you have a side dish or chips, etc. you'd like to contribute, bring it along too.

Figured this would be a good time for all of us to introduce (or in some cases, re-introduce) ourselves to one another since most of us will be together for the next week.

If you haven't already responded in this thread (so I know how many to plan for), you can either post here or PM me. By my count, we're going to have at least a dozen Casitas there.

Eileen

[Mark Watson]

I would have loved to been out there with yall. But couldn't make it due to weather situations in Texas.
Please post some pics in the general forum and hope yall had a nice time.

Edited by Mark Watson, 15 February 2011 - 01:08 AM.