Discover Yucca Valley and the Morongo Basin
Yucca Valley and the Morongo Basin have a magical quality that draws visitors from all over the world. Just check out the guestbook in the California Welcome Center or the Chamber office to see where our visitors are from.
We have created some sample day trips for you to take so you can enjoy the many historical and special places there are to see. Most of these trips begin at the California Welcome Center – Yucca Valley. To get there take Interstate 10 east towards Palm Springs. Go to State Highway 62. (62 starts at Interstate 10) Go 21.5 miles on SR62 and you will arrive at the California Welcome Center on the right.
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California Welcome Center
Directions
The California Welcome Center is located at 56711 Twentynine Palms Hwy in Yucca Valley, in-between cross streets Palm (to the West) and Sage (to the East). The telephone number is (760) 365-5464.
Description
The California Welcome Center in Yucca Valley offers information and resources for the California Desert Visitor. From Idyllwild to Joshua Tree, Palm Springs to Big Bear, our Center will show you where to eat, where to stay, and where to play while you're in town.
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California Welcome Center to Hi-Desert Nature Museum
Directions
Leaving the California Welcome Center, turn right on SR 62, (Twentynine Palms Hwy.) Make a left on Dumosa and turn in the second drive way on the left. Now you are at the amazingly informational Hi-Desert Nature Museum, where you can learn all about the desert critters and ancestors of the Morongo Basin. (760) 369-7212
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Hi-Desert Nature Museum
Description
The Hi-Desert Nature Museum is a family-oriented facility with collections and exhibits related to the desert’s unique natural and historical elements. The museum features educational opportunities for visitors of all ages, including natural history dioramas displaying wildlife in the desert, an interactive “Kids Korner” with plenty of hands-on activities, a mini-zoo with live desert creatures, a gem and mineral collection, a Native American artifacts exhibit and a fossil collection. Six rotating exhibits related to the local natural and historical theme are scheduled each year.
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California Welcome Center to Black Rock Canyon Camp Ground
Directions
When leaving the California Welcome Center turn right on SR 62 (Twentynine Palms Hwy) go .7 miles down the road and you will come to Joshua Lane, turn right. Follow Joshua Lane up 5 miles; make a right on San Marino. San Marino takes you straight to Black Rock Camp Ground Ranger Station where you can check in to spend the night camping under the desert skies, enjoying a night of camp fires, s’mores and star gazing. To make reservations call 1-877-444-6777.
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| Black Rock Canyon Camp Ground
Description
This quiet, family campground is a good introduction for first-time campers. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire ring with rest rooms and water nearby. If you forget to bring your firewood, shopping facilities are only five miles away in the town of Yucca Valley. Campsites vary in size and can accommodate both tents and RVs. A day-use picnic area and a dump station are also available. For horse owners, a separate area is provided for camping or for staging a ride.
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California Welcome Center to Warrens Well
Directions
When leaving the California Welcome Center turn right back on to SR 62 (Twentynine Palms Hwy).7 miles down SR 62 you will come to SR 247 (Old Woman Springs Road) turn left and follow it up 5 tenths of a mile then turn right on Crestview, Crestview dead ends at Warrens Well. You can’t miss it.
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Warrens Well
Description
In 1881, Chuck Warren decided to settle here after herding cattle from Arizona through the Morongo Basin. He and his two sons dug the first well in Yucca Valley, building a windmill to pump the water and a reservoir of rock and cement. They added a bunkhouse, barn and corral, which became the first settlement established in Yucca Valley. To visit this historic landmark, go east on Crestview Dr. off of SR247 until the road dead ends. |
California Welcome Center to Earthworks
Directions
Next on your journey check out the breathtaking sculpture, by the World renowned Australian sculpturist, Andrew Rogers. He recently unveiled his first work in North America, the "Rhythms of Life", earthworks. It can be seen near the intersection of Old Woman Springs Road (SR247) and Aberdeen just five miles north of Yucca Valley. To get from the California Welcome Center to Earthworks turn right out of the California Welcome Centers Drive way onto SR 62 (Twentynine Palms Hwy) go down .7 miles then make a left at SR 247. Follow it up 5 miles until you come to Aberdeen. Turn right on Aberdeen and immediately find a spot to turn around and park. Then look west towards the hills to see Earthworks. |
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Earthworks
Description
Large earthworks sculpture on one of the many hillsides in Yucca Valley. This fabulous design is made of large white rocks placed on the side of a hill to form a very large picture. |
California Welcome Center to Desert Christ Park
Directions
From the California Welcome Center to Desert Christ Park make a left onto S R 62 (Twentynine Palms Hwy) headed west. Go to Mohawk Trail and make a right. Follow Mohawk Trail to Sunnyslope, and make a right. Then turn left in to Desert Christ Park. |
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Desert Christ Park
Description
Dedicated to "Peace on Earth and the Brotherhood of Man," Desert Christ Park overlooks the high desert town of Yucca Valley in southern California. Here the visitor may find more than forty snow-white statues and images portraying scenes of Christ's life and teachings.
These remarkable works of steel-reinforced concrete were created by artist-sculptor Antone Martin a half-century ago as a world peace shrine. The park is a product of one man's devotion to his art and his God, and transcends denominational considerations. We welcome all to this park to remember the works of Antone Martin. |
California Welcome Center to Pioneertown
Directions
Come join the Pioneertown Posse on Saturdays and the Gunfighters for Hire on Sundays at 2:30 p.m. on Mane Street in Historic Pioneertown every weekend from April through October. There you can see a live performance of old west gun fights reenacted. Leaving the California Welcome Center make a left onto SR 62 (Twentynine Palms Hwy.) and follow it down to Pioneertown Road then make a right. Go up 4 miles until you see a little old west town on your right. Now you are there.
Be sure to stop for lunch or dinner at the historic Pappy and Harriet’s Restaurant
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Pioneertown
Description
Pioneertown was built in 1946 as a movie set for western movies, including the movies of Gene Autry, The Cisco Kid, with Duncan Renaldo, Annie Oakley with Gail Davis, Judge Roy Bean with Edgar Buchanan, Range Rider with Jock O. Mahoney, and Buffalo Bill Jr. with Dick Jones. The movie set was to provide a place for the actors to live, and have their homes used as part of a movie set. Some of the original investors in the town were Roy Rogers, who also built the Pioneer Bowl, Sons of the Pioneers, which the town was named after, Dick Curtis who was a professional villain in old movies, Bud Abbott, Russell Hayden, who played Lucky on the Hop along Cassidy series, Louella Parsons the Hollywood gossip columnist and Philip N. Krasne: The Man Who Saved Pioneertown. |
