Mastodon Peak
Mastodon Peak offers panoramic views of southeastern Joshua Tree National Park. The low summit is located in the Colorado Desert, so you will not see any Joshua trees around here. What you will see is some beautify desert that becomes populated with wildflowers come spring. Mastodon Peak can be reached via a 2.6-mile loop with 440 feet of elevation gain.
Click here to see more photos of the trail to Mastodon Peak
The easiest way to complete the loop trail is in a counter-clockwise direction. Start by taking the Lost Palms Oasis Trail from Cottonwood Spring and make a left at every junction you come to.
The trail to Mastodon Peak
Start the hike by descending into Victory Oasis. Pass through the spring fed palms and continue up the opposite bank toward Lost Palms Oasis (3.6 miles away). The hard-packed trail ascends gradually to the east past Yucca and Ocotillo. At the first junction, 0.7 miles from the trailhead, turn left following the sign toward Mastodon Peak.
A Desert Tortuous shares the trail
The trail gains 165 feet over the next quarter mile before coming to the base of Mastodon Peak. Break from the loop here and follow the use trail to the summit. The climb is just one tenth of a mile long, but the route is somewhat elusive to follow. A bit of light scrambling is required as the undeveloped trail wraps around the rocky east side of Mastodon to arrive at the 3,400-foot summit.
From here, the views are far and wide. That large blue body to the south is not a mirage. It’s the Salton Sea. To the east, the highest point in sight is Eagle Mountain at 5,350 feet.
A view of Eagle Mountain
Descend from the summit and continue along the loop trail, passing the remains of Mastodon Mine, which operated here until 1971. The trail descends west toward Cottonwood Spring, crossing and traveling down a series of desert washes. This section of the loop is easier to follow in this direction than in the reverse, and hiking down the loose sand is certainly better than the alternative.
Looking down on Mastodon Mine
The trail comes to a final junction a mile from the peak, near another set of ruins at the former site of Winona Mine. For those staying at Cottonwood Spring Campground, a 0.2-mile trail continues straight ahead to return you to your campsite. For everyone else, turn left to return to the trailhead. The 0.4-mile long sandy track curves to the left, running alongside the paved road before returning to the start.
To get to the trailhead: From the 10 freeway, take exit 168 and head north on Cottonwood Spring Road. After 7 miles, turn right before the at Cottonwood Spring Visitor Center and continue 1 mile to the trailhead at road’s end. From within the park, Take Park Blvd to the junction with Pinto Basin Road. Take Pinto Basin Road thirty miles to the Cottonwood Spring Visitor Center, turn east and continue 1 miles to roads end at the trailhead.
Use the map below to create your own directions:
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