

A new hiking trail is being proposed near Skull Rock at Joshua Tree National Park/Kurt Repanshek A new hiking trail is being proposed near Skull Rock at Joshua Tree National Park/Kurt Repanshek

A new trail is being proposed at Joshua Tree National Park in California, one that would be less than a mile while providing additional educational and interpretive opportunities.

The hiking trail as envisioned would consist of a loop trail beginning and terminating at the Skull Rock parking area. The project will include the extension of an existing trail beginning at the Skull Rock parking area. The seven-tenths-of-a-mile would pick up at the end of the existing trail and loop back to the parking area while traversing over several new scenic vantage points. The trail was designed by a summer class of Morongo Basin GATE, (Gifted and Talented Education) students several years ago. '

An environmental assessment examining the project can be found here.

Hard copies are available for review at the San Bernardino Libraries in the Morongo Basin, the Twentynine Palms Branch, the Joshua Tree Branch, and the Yucca Valley Branch, and at Park Headquarters, at the address shown below.

The environmental assessment evaluates three alternatives: 1) a No-Action alternative, 2) an Action alternative with trail development and 3) an Action alternative that includes trail development and installation of a viewing telescope and educational exhibits to enhance the experience.

'If you wish to comment on this environmental assessment, you may mail comments to the name and address below. This environmental assessment will be on public review for 30 days. Please note that the names and addresses who comment will be a part of the public records. If you wish us to withhold your name and/or address, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comment.

For questions and additional information about the Environmental Assessment, contact Luke Sabala, Physical Scientist at 760-367-5563.

Comments can be mailed to:

Superintendent, Joshua Tree National Park

Attn: Skull Rock Interpretative Trail

74485 National Park Drive

Twentynine Palms, CA 92277

Or, emailed to the park at [email protected]