Lucky Boy Loop Trail (Part 1)

 The Lucky Boy Trail in Joshua Tree National Park is not one of the more popular trails. Most people know it as the "Lucky Boy Vista Trail". You park in a very small (2 car) turnout, head east/SE on a well marked trail to a modest lookout, and hike back after enjoying the view. There's also signs of mining activity near the lookout, which is worth checking out. But not the most exciting trail in Joshua Tree. Hikespeak gives it only 2.5 stars. Much more interesting is something called the Lucky Boy Loop Trail, which splits off from the vista trail before reaching the lookout, and heads north.

After checking out rock formations and the general terrain on Google Earth, I created my own "path" and imported it into my Garmin. It followed the loop trail for about half the time. The rest was just exploring the surrounding area based on what I was seeing on GE. So lets get started and see what we can find!

On the map, you can see the parking area. From there, most people follow the trail E/SE to the binoculars (lookout), and then head back. My route was the aqua line. It included a detour north that connected to the trail leading to the Eagle Cliff Boulder House (more about this section of the hike later). I then doubled back and completed the loop. The red balloons are just waypoint markers to help me navigate. On my Garmin, they show up as notes... things like "stay left" or "leave wash here" or "explore rocks here". 

My first photo of the hike. It started out a little windy, with blue skies and a few clouds. Temps were comfortable (this hike was about a month ago, before the current hot weather). I was hoping for more clouds to add some sky drama, but you never know what you're going to get!

From a geology point of view, this was interesting! It appears to be a large rocky extrusion or dike. I'm used to seeing rocky dikes as a line in the monzogranite, but this is more like a sheet.

Mystery gate. There's no fence on either side of the gate, so even if the gate were closed, it wouldn't keep anyone out! To follow the trail, proceed straight ahead. It would be interesting to know the history of this area, and why this land was fenced off at one time.

By now, I've left the trail and I'm just following my Garmin. Things are getting interesting, and there are some very pretty rock formations!

Desert gold!! (or what others might call rusty junk). But what is it? The little handle coming off one side is interesting, but I have no clue what it might be. Can you guess?

This might help solve the mystery. Just steps away, I find a second one. The little handle is actually a twist key. Perhaps a can of spam? A sardine can? Whatever it was, the miner or miners that worked claims in the area must have loved it!

Not far away, I find more desert gold. Looks like an old square container. Interestingly, it's just outside what might be a shelter. Let's take a closer look.

Not much of a shelter, but it does provide a cool, shady spot to rest. Note the rusty can on the right. Someone, probably many years ago, spent some time here. 

As I'm tromping around, trying to follow the path I've laid out on my Garmin, I see what might be an opening in the rocks. This is up on a hillside and difficult to access, so I'm hoping for some shade for a quick rest and drink of water.

Wow, I'm shocked! This is a hugh shelter!! I can stand up in it, and although hard to explain, it has a lived in feel to it.

A little further into this "mystery shelter", there is a small "room" branching off. I'll call it the bedroom. What's remarkable is at the far end of this bedroom, someone has gone to great pains to pile up rocks, wood, and even pieces of sheet metal, to keep out the wind and rain. Amazing!

Looking back out of "mystery shelter" (the way I had just come in). You can see the remains of what looks like a fire ring on the ground on the right. Whether it's recent or primitive is hard to say.

Close up of fire ring (or what's left of it).

It turns out our Mystery Shelter even has a back entrance! It's obvious to me this shelter has been used by humans. Rocks have been cleared away, and other rocks are strategically placed (as if used for chairs or to set things on).

 

View from outside the "bedroom" opening that someone has closed up using a mix of materials. My best guess is that this spot was used by miners. There was a lot of mining activity in the area, and the pieces of sheet metal used to seal off the opening provides a strong clue. Whether Native Americans used it before the miners is anyone's guess!
 

As I depart Mystery Shelter to continue my hike, I look back one last time. It occurs to me that what I've been calling the back door might actually be the front door. I see faint trails leading to it, and the access is a little easier from this direction.

 

Smiley rock!

A sign of the times? Hard to say if the wind picked it up and blew it here, or if someone just dropped it or discarded it. I'm not following any trail, so very few people come this way. I CAREFULLY remove the mask from the prickly pear cactus. I'll throw it away when I get home.
 

I've now connected with the trail leading to the Eagle Cliff mining cabin. On Google Earth, this area looks suspiciously devoid of vegetation. I wonder if it might have been used as a road, or for some other purpose, many years ago. Rumor has it that there is an old blacksmith work area somewhere below the Eagle Cliff mine, so I wanted to check out this "road" and see where it leads. Perhaps to the blacksmith area? Turns out it leads to some beautiful views, but not much else. 

There's still a lot to see and share from this hike, but I need to stop here. Please join me for my next post because there are more interesting discoveries to be made.

 

Stay safe and stay healthy!!

Linking with Skywatch Friday.