California Road Trip Part II: Joshua Tree and 29 Palms

June 27, 2024

In the spring of 2023 I travelled to California and had a great time exploring the high desert area near the town of Joshua Tree.

This post is a continuation of my California Road Trip Part I.

If you haven't yet seen that first post, please click here before reading onwards.

Unless indicated otherwise, all images were taken with my Nikon Z6 II

Drifting Sand

Kodak Tri-X 400

- Joshua Tree

Before visiting Joshua Tree National Park, I first explored the town itself.

Joshua Tree is fairly built up now, with quite a few large chain stores and restaurants.

Of course I was mainly attracted to the more unusual places...

Alex's Barber

Ilford SFX 200

Zippy Tax Service

Kodak Tri-X 400

The True Vine Fellowship Ministries

Kodak Tri-X 400

While in the area to take photos* for the cover of their Joshua Tree album, Irish rock band U2 stayed in the Harmony Hotel.

As a big fan of the band, I had to pay the hotel a quick visit.

*Dutch photographer Anton Corbijn created the images of U2 for The Joshua Tree. (I'm also a big fan of his work!)

Photo of U2 (by Anton Corbijn) on the wall inside the Harmony Hotel.

(The above photo made with my iPhone 15 Pro)

Essential selfie in front of the Harmony Hotel sign (iPhone 15 Pro).

- Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park is truly something to see.

There is so much biodiversity to discover in this region.

Thankfully the National Park Service website is full of helpful information!

Multi-image panorama of one area of the park.

We arrived a little before sunset, which brought long shadows, golden hues and made bold silhouettes out of the trees.

Ilford SFX 200

Here is a short video of driving through the park

This link on the NPS website provides some useful information about Joshua Trees.

Joshua Tree National Park is well worth a visit. If you can make the trip, I highly recommend it!

- 29 Palms

29 Palms is another fascinating community, found just east of Joshua Tree.

It has its own quirky style...

A playful installation by Hooked Hands (on Instagram, ironically) as seen in 29 Palms.

iPhone 15 Pro

29 Palms has a number of unique stores that offer locally curated and produced goods - the kind of stores I am always drawn to when visiting a new place.

One collection such stores is found at a spot known as Corner 62.

Resting my feet at Corner 62. Mural by CJ Troxell.

iPhone 15 Pro panoramic photo

The shop I enjoyed visiting most at Corner 62 was The Desert General.

It was a pleasure to talk with Patrick, one of the co-owners. He and his wife moved to 29 Palms from France to start this lovely eclectic shop that offers a wide range of art, books, and locally made goods.

A view through the alley next to Desert General.

Ilford SFX 200

Desert General has some lovely vintage black and white photography on display and for sale. One was this image below...

iPhone 15 Pro

The stunning photo in the above frame (try to ignore the reflection in the glass) is by Patricia de Gorostarzu, a French photographer I had never heard of before. I really love this composition. (That's actor Steve McQueen on the billboard in the lower right of the image.)

Next to the above frame was this small book by the same photographer, featuring beautiful black and white images of New York.

iPhone 15 Pro

I loved chatting with Patrick, exploring The Desert General, and encountering such wonderul art as that of Patricia de Gorostarzu.

By the way, if you like reading, The Desert General is one of the sponsors/organizers of the 29 Palms Book Festival, happening November 8-9, 2024. The lineup of authors is growing. I'd love to return and attend!

Before leaving I stopped for some gorgeous sunset views...

Fencing indicating the boundary of the National Park.