Pinto Basin, Keys Ranch, and More

I was up very early this morning to claim my spot in line at the Oasis Visitor Center to secure much coveted tickets for the Keys Ranch Tour.  For all the time I've spent in this park over the past three years, I still haven't been to see this remarkable, preserved site.  

Once I had tickets in hand, I drove my parents, who are here for a couple days' visit, into the park and south through the Pinto Basin.  We stopped for a walk through the Cholla Cactus Garden and another at the Bajada Nature Trail at the southern end of the park.  We headed north again, a little early to ensure sufficient time to arrive for the ranch tour.  There was time to take the scenic route on the dirt road through Queen Valley.

 The Keys Ranch site is closed to the public except for the tours, which currently run once a day, Thursday through Sunday, October through May.  It is terribly important that all visitors respect this policy in order to preserve the ranch in the state of arrested decay.  Sadly for us all, too many break the rules and leave a negative impact on the site, disturbing artifacts, even stealing them, ruining the chance for the rest of us to enjoy the complete picture that an intact historical site can offer.  Please, if you wish to visit, do so responsibly and wait in line for tickets.

That said, it is a fascinating place to visit.  The ranger leading our tour was well educated and did a great job sharing the stories of this ranch and the people who lived here.  It helps that one of the Keys' children frequently came on the tour before he passed away, and shared numerous stories that help the park provide information to visitors.

After the ranch tour, I drove us down to Keys View, a sweeping overlook into the Coachella Valley.  Next was a stop to take the trail at Cap Rock, and then I drove us back into Twentynine Palms for dinner at the 29 Palms Inn.  Their food never disappoints.  A late night grocery run and the drive back home to Black Rock ended the day.

Since we were already next to the Oasis of Mara, we walked out to visit the famed palms, victims of a very recent act of arson.  The fire destroyed habitat for birds and other animals, and it will take time to see how well the palms recover.

A fearless cottontail next to the trail, munching on palm fronds.

Creosote in bloom.

Cholla Cactus Garden

Closeup of a cholla in bloom.

Blooming Ocotillo, but no leaves.

Closeup of Ocotillo bloom.

Palo Verde

Blooms on the Palo Verde

Looking across the Bajada towards Mt. San Jacinto.

Pencil cholla.

Spotted a lizard.

Skeletal remains.

Looking up the wash towards Keys Ranch.

The wash provides a seasonal pool here, where a bedrock mortar offers evidence of human use from long ago.

Overview approaching Keys Ranch.

The ranch house.

Examples of mining equipment.

Arrastra, for breaking apart larger rocks in the mining process.

Mailbox.

Bill's hoard of spare parts, necessary when on your own in the desert.

Bill's Mack truck.

The chicken coop.

Looking out the gate, fence made of Joshua trees and metal from old bed springs.

Frances' shop, where she sold homemade goods and extra canned food grown in their garden.

Closeup on the house.

Cattle pen.

Wells, old and new.

Inside Bill's machine shop.

Ahh, Keys View.