Hidden Valley Nature Loop rings the inside of a natural corral made of towering rock walls and large boulders. Hidden Valley's natural encasement funnels and traps rain, creating a unique micro-habitat that brings together a wide range of plants and animals not typically found together in this section of the Park.

Monzogranite rock formed as magma cooled about 15 miles below the surface and solidified

High walls funnel moisture into the valley's interior, creating a micro-climate

Nolina and yucca fibers were woven into sandals, mats and baskets by the Cahuilla

The nutritional value of pinyon nuts is comparable to that of many commercial nuts

Hidden Valley's soil is comprised of weathered granite, whose texture and depth control absorbancy

Erosion has stripped away overlying Pinto gneiss layers, exposing monzogranite outcrops

Oak, Pinyon and Juniper thrive on the valley's edge, where rock, shade and water occur in ideal combination; Joshua Trees and smaller plants occupy the valley's center

Exposed monzogranite edges erode in a similar fashion to the melting of ice cubes

In 1936, Bill Keys blasted a notch through the walls of Hidden Valley to graze his cattle

Joshua Tree flats extend for miles beyond the corral of Hidden Valley