Joshua Tree and its surrounding communities are located in the High Desert of California. The area is not only home to the vast and beautiful Joshua Tree National Park (JTNP), it also has wonders to share like the Noah Purifoy Art Museum of Assemblage Art.
One of Purifoy's first assemblage pieces was constructed out of the charred debris from the 1965 Watt's riot. From 1989 until his death in 2004, Purifoy filled 10 acres of his high desert studio and environment exhibiting sculptures and art installations that took life from the concerns of his life. He pushed himself to create this outdoor museum that continues to attract visitors to this day.
The Noah Purifoy Foundation, established in 1999, is an all volunteer non-profit foundation with a mission to preserve and maintain the site Purifoy developed in #JoshuaTree. The museum is open to the public every day of the year from sun up until sundown, is free of charge, and donations are accepted. It is a great outdoor museum to visit with interesting art set against the vast backdrop of the beautiful desert. Note: Well-behaved dogs are welcome to visit as long as they are leashed, monitored, and picked up after.
Crowds or not, Keys View is a popular location to view a magical desert sunset. However, with the parking lot full and even more people headed up the mountain, we made the decision to head back down into the valley to chase down that golden glow. The orange, red, and yellow hues showered over the white tank granite boulders silhouetting the whimsical Joshua trees with its own magic. "Today was a good day!"
Following lunch, we entered JTNP from the West Entrance to explore areas of the park that we had not yet discovered. This included a short hike to see a very different "arch rock". We are not sure what the exact name is, so we decided to dub it as Peanut Arch. The rock formations at JTNP are truly a playground to explore. Just be mindful of your footwear, we highly recommend a good pair of hiking boots and be sure to take your time as you climb/scramble over the rocks.
Since we couldn't find parking to explore the elusive Hall of Horrors, we decided to drive up to enjoy the popular destination of Keys View. This destination, popular with tourists, provides panoramic views of the Coachella Valley. On a clear day you can see for miles and miles. It is no surprise why visitors return time-and-time again to this amazing place. Since we arrived several hours before sunset, it was wonderful taking in the expansive views in silence, up until the flock of sunset watchers started to arrive.
Crowds or not, #KeysView is a popular location to view a magical desert sunset and we highly recommend experiencing it. However, with the parking lot full and even more people headed up the mountain, we made the decision to head back down into the valley to chase down that golden glow. The orange, red, and yellow hues showered over the white tank granite boulders silhouetting the whimsical Joshua trees with its own magic. "Today was a good day!"
With the fall temperatures, now is a great time to plan a visit to the desert. There really is some kind of desert magic, wonder, and a magnetic pull that draws visitors to Joshua Tree. If you haven't had the opportunity to explore this oasis, put it on your adventure list and experience the wonder for yourself.
This is original content from NewsBreak’s Creator Program. Join today to publish and share your own content.
Comments / 9