Southern California High Desert: Field Trip from Palm Springs to the Mojave Desert
Less than 60 minutes north of Palm Springs, you can be in Southern California’s High Desert in the Mojave Desert. The landscape and scenery are beautiful and while one would expect it to be a desolate area, there’s a fantastic French-influenced restaurant called La Copine and a 19th century town used as the set for old westerns aptly named Pioneertown. Add in a side quest to Joshua Tree and you have the makings of fantastic (if not a little long) day trip from Palm Springs, California.
Pipes Canyon Road in the Mojave Desert
Route:
—From Palm Springs, take 29 Palms / Highway 62 toward Yucca Valley
—Take Pioneertown Road north toward Pioneertown and check it out (it’s high desert so bring a jacket and wear comfortable shoes)
—Take Pipes Canyon Road east to 247 (Old Woman Springs Road)
—Take Old Woman Springs Road north to La Copine (if you have time, venture beyond the restaurant for some more amazing scenery)
—After lunch at La Copine, take 247 south to 62 east toward Twenty Nine Palms and follow the signs to Joshua Tree
—To return to Palm Springs, I think you have to take 62 west all the way back
Pioneertown
There are a few shops to explore as you wander around Pioneertown. It’s high desert so be warned that the weather is going to be different from Palm Springs and the surrounding areas. Bring a jacket and wear comfortable shoes
La Copine in Flamingo Heights, California
Be sure to make reservations for La Copine and if you are going to include Joshua Tree in your day trip, request a time on the earlier side. They only take reservation requests by text.
Mojave Desert
Check out our latest video on the SoCal High Desert for more on this fascinating and beautiful area in Southern California near Palm Springs.
Graffiti rocks
Do you have other suggestions for this area for us to explore next time and/or include in this blog post for others to enjoy and explore? If so, please send us an email at zekeandterri@gmail.com. We’d love to hear from you.