Mastodon Peak Trail Guide: Gold Mines, Palm Oases & Summit Views
Most visitors to Joshua Tree never make it to the Cottonwood area. They come in through the west entrance, hike a few trails in the Mojave Desert section, and leave — missing an entirely different side of the park. Mastodon Peak is in the Colorado Desert, the lower, hotter, more rugged southern half of Joshua Tree, and it's one of the best hikes in the park. In under 3 miles you get a walk through a California fan palm oasis, a rocky scramble to a summit with views all the way to the Salton Sea, and a detour through the ruins of a gold mine that operated until 1971. It's the most varied short hike in the park — and almost no one does it.
Mastodon Peak Trail Guide
A loop through fan palm oases, an abandoned gold mine, and a rocky summit with views all the way to the Salton Sea.
Most visitors to Joshua Tree never make it to the Cottonwood area. They come in through the west entrance, hike a few trails in the Mojave Desert section, and leave — missing an entirely different side of the park. Mastodon Peak is in the Colorado Desert, the lower, hotter, more rugged southern half of Joshua Tree, and it's one of the best hikes in that part of the park.
In under 3 miles you get everything: a walk past California fan palm trees growing around a desert spring, a rocky scramble to a summit with views stretching to the Salton Sea, and a detour through the ruins of an abandoned 1930s gold mine on the way back. It's the most varied short hike in the park.
The terrain is gentler than Ryan Mountain — this one works for kids and families — but it shouldn't be underestimated in summer. The Cottonwood area is lower and hotter than the rest of the park, and the trail offers almost no shade. Start early and bring plenty of water.
Good to know: This is a loop trail, not an out-and-back. The easiest way to run it is counter-clockwise — take the Lost Palms Oasis Trail south from Cottonwood Spring, then turn left at the Mastodon Peak junction. The summit scramble is short (about 0.1 mi) and optional.
The Loop, Section by Section
Cottonwood Spring Trailhead → Spring Oasis (0–0.2 mi)
The trail starts at the Cottonwood Spring parking area and almost immediately passes the spring oasis itself. California fan palms cluster here — one of only a handful of spots in the entire park where you'll find them. They grow wherever there's a permanent water source, which makes them a reliable indicator of the underground spring. Take a moment here before continuing south.
Sandy Desert Flats (0.2–0.9 mi)
The trail heads south into classic Colorado Desert terrain — sandy, open, and fully exposed. You're in cholla and ocotillo country now, very different from the boulder fields of the park's northern half. The walking is easy but the sun is direct. Stay on the trail and keep distance from the cholla cactus — it latches onto clothing and skin with minimal contact.
Summit Scramble — Mastodon Peak (0.9–1.1 mi)
Turn left at the signed junction for Mastodon Peak. The trail climbs quickly on the rocky eastern slope with some natural stone steps built into the route. The final push to the 3,400-foot summit is a short scramble — nothing technical, but you'll use your hands in a few spots. The summit delivers a 360° panorama including the Salton Sea to the south, Eagle Mountain to the east, and the Cottonwood Mountains to the west.
Mastodon Mine (1.1–1.7 mi)
Descend from the summit and continue on the loop toward the Mastodon Mine ruins. The Hulsey family operated this gold mine from 1934 to 1971 — longer than most desert mines. You'll see the remaining structures, equipment remnants, and tunnels. Stay outside the mine openings (they're unstable and home to bats and wildlife).
Return to Trailhead (1.7–2.6 mi)
The loop continues north, skirting the edge of the wash, and eventually returns to the Cottonwood Spring trailhead. The terrain flattens out and the walking is easy on the back half of the loop. You'll pass through the Cottonwood wash — sandy and wide — before arriving back at the parking lot.
Three Things You Won't Find Anywhere Else in the Park
Mastodon Peak packs more variety into 2.6 miles than almost any other trail in Joshua Tree. Here's what makes it stand out.
🌴 Cottonwood Spring Oasis
California fan palms are rare in Joshua Tree — they only grow where there's a permanent underground water source. Cottonwood Spring is one of the few reliable spots in the park to see them, and they've been drawing wildlife and travelers here for centuries.
🏔️ Summit Views to the Salton Sea
From the peak, you can see the Salton Sea glinting to the south — a view you can't get from anywhere in the northern half of the park. On the clearest days the panorama stretches from the Pinto Mountains to the Cottonwood Range.
⛏️ Mastodon Gold Mine
The Hulsey family worked this mine from 1934 to 1971 — long after the California gold rush era. The remaining structures, rusted equipment, and tunnels are in surprisingly good condition and give you a tangible sense of desert survival and stubbornness.
🌵 Colorado Desert Ecosystem
This is the lower, hotter half of Joshua Tree — the Colorado Desert, not the Mojave. Ocotillo, cholla, creosote, and ironwood replace Joshua trees. The landscape feels completely different from the boulder-and-juniper terrain of the park's northern section.
Best Time to Hike Mastodon Peak
Fall & Winter — Oct through Feb
The Cottonwood area is lower elevation than the rest of the park, which means it stays warmer in winter but also cools down beautifully in fall. October through February is ideal — comfortable hiking temps, excellent light, and very few people.
Spring — March & April
Strong wildflower season in the Cottonwood area when winter rainfall was good. Ocotillo blooms orange-red in March and April. Daytime temps are perfect. The spring wildflower display here is genuinely spectacular in good years.
May — Warming Fast
May starts comfortable but heats up quickly by mid-month. If you're going in May, start no later than 7 AM. By late May, midday temperatures at Cottonwood regularly hit 95–100°F. Bring extra water.
Summer — June through September
The Cottonwood area is the hottest part of Joshua Tree — regularly exceeding 110°F in summer. Strictly sunrise-only if you must go. This is not a recommendation; it's a warning. Most years, just come back in the fall.
Tips for Mastodon Peak
Run it counter-clockwise
Go south on the Lost Palms Oasis Trail first, turn left at the Mastodon junction, do the summit, pass the mine, and loop back. Counter-clockwise gives you the best progression — oasis first, summit in the middle, mine on the way out.
This area runs hotter than the rest of the park
The Cottonwood area sits at lower elevation than Hidden Valley or Skull Rock. Check the Cottonwood temperature specifically before you go — it regularly runs 10–15°F hotter than the park's west entrance. Plan accordingly.
Bring more water than you think
Despite being a shorter hike than Ryan Mountain, this trail has less shade and higher baseline temperatures. Two liters minimum per person regardless of season. In spring and fall, 2.5 liters is safer.
Don't skip the mine
A lot of hikers summit the peak and turn around. Keep going — the mine ruins are worth the extra 0.6 miles and add the best story to the day. Stay outside the actual mine entrances (unstable structure, wildlife inside).
Watch the cholla
The Colorado Desert section of the park is cholla country. These cactus segments detach and attach with almost no contact. Stay on the trail and give the cholla clusters extra clearance — removing embedded spines is painful and slow.
Getting There
📍 Trailhead
Cottonwood Spring parking area — accessed via the south entrance of Joshua Tree National Park off Interstate 10, about 25 miles east of Indio at the Cottonwood Springs exit.
🚗 Parking & Facilities
Dedicated parking lot at Cottonwood Spring with restrooms. The Cottonwood Visitor Center is nearby with rangers, water, and exhibits. Arrive early on weekends — the lot fills by 9 AM during spring.
📏 From the West Entrance
Cottonwood is about 30 miles from the west entrance (Joshua Tree Village) via Park Boulevard — roughly 45 minutes of driving through the park. Worth it, but plan your day around it.
🎟️ Entry Fee
Joshua Tree National Park entrance fee applies. The America the Beautiful pass ($80) covers all national parks — a good investment if you visit national parks more than twice a year. Current fees →
NPS photos are public domain. Credits: NPS/Robb Hannawacker (Cottonwood Spring), NPS/Emily Hassell (Mastodon Mine).
Explore the Rest of Joshua Tree
Mastodon Peak is the south end of the park. Summit Climbing Guides operates throughout the park year-round — rock climbing, rappelling, cave adventures, and guided scrambles in the boulder maze.
