If simply camping or driving through the amazing Joshua Tree National Park isn’t energetic enough for you, then a hike might be in order. One of the best and most rewarding hikes in the park is the trail up Ryan Mountain. It’s a moderately difficult hike as it is all uphill from the beginning to the end with almost no flat areas to ease your legs, but once you make it to the top, the incredible view is worth it.

Ryan Mountain is named for one of the early ranchers and mining operators in the park back in the day and is known for being the second highest peak in the park. You may also see many varieties of cacti, Joshua Trees (of course) and lizards.

On the day we went, we audaciously decided to start our hike in the mid-afternoon sun at the end of a warm summer. It is recommended that you take ample water for your hike and we drank our way through 2 litres easily. The desert conditions means there is little shade relief on your ascent so plan wisely. That means don’t forget the sunscreen!

At the beginning of the hike, there is a small rock formation that is interesting to look at, but don’t get stuck there for too long as the hike has a lot more to go. The path is well kept for the most part but there is a mild amount of scrambling over uneven rocks and very steep stairs carved out of rock. As you go higher, more and more interesting rock formations reveal themselves to you and the view over the park becomes even more spectacular.

To the north-west, enjoy the vista of The Wonderland of Rocks, and further south-west, the Little San Bernadino Mountains. The best view however, is at the peak of the mountain, once you have reached the sign and mound of rocks marking completion of the 5,457 foot summit. If you hike in the afternoon like we did, you may catch the sun setting over the Little San Bernadino Mountains, which makes for some breathtaking views and hues.

We spent far too long taking photos as the sun retreated below the horizon so our descent was mostly in the dark by the light of our headlamps. Luckily for us there were no missteps or falls but the sounds of the nocturnal desert fauna kept us hurrying on the way down.

By Eu-Jinn Teh
2015
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