CRHT: Black Rock Campground to Upper Covington Flat - 15.5 Miles Round-Trip

Joshua Tree National Park's California Riding and Hiking Trail (CRHT) stretches 37 miles from the Black Rock Campground in Yucca Valley to the Park's North Entrance Station in 29 Palms.

Trail Section Map | Full CRHT Map | Photo Gallery

The CRHT's westernmost section negotiates a maze of deep canyons and sandy washes that extend from Black Rock Campground to its highest point in Upper Covington Flat, where pinyon-juniper woodlands of the high Mojave meet the Park's oldest and densest Joshua Tree forests:

From the CRHT Backcountry Board, the trail quickly merges with a wash (.1 mile) and rises to a large sign on the left for the CRHT (.18 miles). Exit the wash and turn left on the CRHT to begin a steady climb through the foothills.

The trail crests (.85 miles : 4,185') and undulates down across a bajada to another wash and the Short Loop Trail junction (1.65 miles : 4,105'). The CRHT continues straight beneath fire-scarred hills to the east, merging with and becoming a wide wash just shy of the first Cliff Trail connection (1.8 miles : 4,115').

Travel now slows on steeper grades and deep sand up a tapering canyon. Note the prevalence of pinyon, oak and nolina - benchmarks of this special ecotone - as you gain elevation. Pinyon-juniper woodlands once covered much of the Park, but warm and dry climates since the last ice age have relegated them to higher, isolated pockets.

The brushy canyon variously widens and narrows between the second Cliff Trail connection (2.1 miles : 4,190) and a major, sparingly marked fork (3.45 miles : 4,508'). Bear left and resume a steady march that gradually moderates beneath receding canyon walls past the Eureka Peak Trail junction (5.3 miles : 5,040') to Upper Covington Flat Road (5.45 miles : 5,077').

Here the landscape opens considerably with the option of walking the road to complete this segment of the CRHT. Only if time is an issue should you do so, as conditions are appreciably better than preceding miles and the experience more authentic by trail.

The trail closely follows the road past the Deer Horn Trail junction (5.5 miles : 5,095') to the Eureka Peak Road - Upper Covington Flat Road split (5.7 miles : 5,155') - the California Riding and Hiking Trail's highest point.

Follow signs across and begin a shifting, downhill course away from the road through a vast expanse thinned by fire. Remain vigilant, as the trail is easily absorbed by miles of open space. Views of Mt San Jacinto (10,834') emerge as you move from the fire-touched area into a thick Joshua Tree forest (6.85 miles) for which these flats are known.

The trail drops into a twisting wash that rejoins the road at the Upper Covington Flat Backcountry Board to complete this segment of the CRHT (7.75 miles : 4,815'). Use the backcountry board and road - visible before entering the wash - for guidance on this final approach.

Overnighters may consider side trips on the newly opened Crest Trail (5.8 miles roundtrip), or up to Eureka Peak (2.6 miles roundtrip from the CRHT - Eureka Peak Trail junction) on the return.