Joshua National Park
ARTICLE & PHOTOS BY LYNNE TUCKER
Cholla Cactus Garden is one of Joshua Tree National Park’s one-of-a-kind features. Located at the merger of the upper Mojave Desert and the lower Colorado Desert, this level quarter-mile loop provides access to an intense concentration of cholla cacti.
Perhaps the cutest cactus on the planet, the cholla has been nicknamed the teddy bear cactus, but this is one teddy bear you do not want to hug! The cactus is covered in spines that will latch in to your skin on the slightest touch. This defense mechanism is effective for desert survival but can create an unpleasant experience for those who don’t stick to the trail.
A pamphlet at the trailhead provides more information about this unique desert plant. The short easy hike through Cholla Cactus Garden is well worth the stop.
Joshua Tree National Park is open every day, year round. Oasis and Joshua Tree Visitor Centers are open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily. Cottonwood Visitor Center is open from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
Think DayTrip and Enjoy the Teddy Bears!
Lynne Tucker
A Passion 4 Photography
818.298.7007
Contributing Writer and Photographer for:
CV Weekly (Coachella Valley)
The Tolucan Times (San Fernando Valley)
Conservation Ambassador for The Living Desert
