Joshua Tree National Park hiking guide
Barker Dam Trail
A 1.9-mile loop with 300 ft of climbing in Hidden Valley, rated easy.
Key facts
- Length
- 1.9 mi (3.0 km)
- Elevation gain
- 300 ft (93 m)
- Route type
- Loop
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Area
- Hidden Valley
About Barker Dam Trail
Granite boulders shape this loop, some with steps and some without, plus a tight squeeze past the dam viewpoint. The basin holds water only after rain, so the dam can be full or bone dry. Joshua trees, desert shrubs and interpretive signs on early ranching line the way, and a rock art panel sits on one boulder, so admire it from a distance and keep hands off.
