Hiked Barker Dam Trail in January 2026 and it ended up being one of my favorite spots in Joshua Tree National Park. The dam was filled with water (which apparently isn't always the case), and I had most of the trail completely to myself. Peaceful, scenic, and classic Joshua Tree views the entire way. Easy hike, big payoff, and felt like discovering a hidden gem. Loved it. read more

See all

Fun hike in Joshua Tree, the payoff is water in a desert. The dam was first built as a water reservoir in 1900 and still works. When we went the lake toward the center of the hike was much more impressive than the dam itself. Along the path there are little signs that explain some of the sights you see on the way. It's an easy 1.1 mile hike out and back and you see many highlights of the Mojave desert including plant life, boulders, and lush greenery and birds near the water. It starts off flat but soon you'll be climbing through rocks and curving through exciting changes in the landscape. Some unique stops along the way are: -the lake/oasis, beautiful reflections in the water if you come at the right time. -theres a stone spiral at the dam that's not explained on the sign, if anyone knows what it is let me know, you can scramble to the left of the mountain here and make your way all the way to the spiral. -there is ancient cave art and petroglyphs that are much easier to see than some others ive been to, unfortunately someone in the past tried to make them easier to see by tracing paint on some of them. read more

See all

I am a novice hiker. Meaning I like easy hikes and ones that are not strenuous on my heart. So this is the one for me. It also had a bit of everything the park had to offer along with notes along the way, to give a beautiful tour. Note: there are moments where you are scrambling up and down boulders so bring hiking shoes/ shoes with a good grip) I feel like all the other yelp reviews provide a good explanation on the hike so to add to all the 5 star reviews. My advice: - bring hand sanitizer - the bathrooms did not come with a wash station - pre-download a map of Joshua Tree national park on google maps. There is no reception, and even this one guy went around asking for information regarding navigating the park because he was lost. We got lost finding the area and luckily the map saved me. - bring snacks and hydration - I brought a tote bag with protein bars, trail mix and gatorade. There were moments where I felt dehydrated. They helped - bring good shoes/hiking shoes - see above. - use the bathroom before you go. I would recommend this hike to anyone new visiting the park for the first time or to anyone who wants an easy hike. read more

Was a moderate hike. There was no water there at the dam! We visited on Weekend and wasn't that busy. Trail was equipped as all with restrooms. read more

See all

Being from the Midwest and living in a pretty flat area, I no longer trust anyone who proclaims a trail easy. Barker Dam Trail is a 1.25 mile loop with elevation of about 50 feet. The distance is not a problem but for me it's any time I have to scramble up boulders, take a large (for me) step onto uneven terrain, am expected to leap down like a goat, and follow not clearly marked trails that it becomes no longer an "easy" trail. Barker Dam Trail has views of rock formations, desert plants, including cacti. It's a wide and flat trail then you reach the rock outcroppings and then I called it. This is billed as a family friendly hike but I saw a few children crying so I wasn't the only baby here. I have been fairly active my adult life but I have an uneasy relationship with gravity so for me this was an enjoyable outing but I'll keep on level ground thank you. read more

See all

I absolutely love Joshua Tree National Park, on my last of my many visits (4/30/23), we hiked Barker Dam - very simple and quick (about a little over a mile) and did some scrambling until it is time to just sit back and relax to enjoy the beautiful sunset in this magnificent National Park. This trail is very doable especially to those who wanted to explore without being overwhelmed by the ginormous rocks to climb over, the steps to cross over the rocks are very well maintained and the views are nothing but spectacular. About half mile to the trail, you'll see an empty dam and a very interesting water trough, a quarter mile to the trails end, you'll find some interesting and beautiful Petroglyphs (and maybe some lizards) from times past, I am so glad these were preserved as it adds to the wonders and mystique of Joshua Tree. There are no bad views to enjoy the sunset in JT, if you get there at the right time of day depending on the season too - you'll have a front seat view of the most amazing sunset you'll ever see in your life, how it colors the desert, its vegetation and how the light prisms affect every boulder and rock, is an experience you won't forget for the rest of your life. Be responsible and help protect and preserve this beautiful National Park, take out what you bring in, yes even that piece of gum you have in your mouth right now, there is nothing more disgraceful than to see how we humans can be the boil that really ruins the beauty and gift of nature by leaving your trash behind - and to the vandals, not just the spray can morons, yes even if you who only use rocks to desecrate the boulders and rocks, etching your name for some selfish reason. Shame on you for ruining such a magnificent gift of nature not just for us at the present but also for future generations. read more

See all

Left LA around 4am to get to Joshua Tree early enough to not MELT! although we explored a little, this was the only Trail we did. it was short, absolutely gorgeous, and the first half was in the shade. very cool to learn about the history of the area! the indigenous petroglyphs were a must-see (yelp verbiage)!!! definitely recommend. "a stroll through history" - my dad read more

See all

Very very cute trail! My friends and I came at the wrong time (around 11:30am) and it was super hot. There's 2 restrooms at the trailhead in the parking lot. Tons of parking spaces (and it's free too)! It costs $ to get into the park, unless you have a national park pass. There was almost little to no incline, cute little info cards along the trail, and lots of beautiful sights of rocks, joshua trees, little animals, and the dam. I would be down to come back again - but probably during cooler hours. read more

Barker dam is a short and easy 1.1 mile hike at Joshua Tree and may be one of my favorites! The views here are beautiful throughout and I loved seeing all the giant rocks and Joshua trees. When I got to the dam, there wasn't any water, however, the view up here is unreal and you can see pretty far off into the distance. On the walk back and a little off trail, there are boulders with petroglyphs on them which was super cool to see and is definitely worth the stop in my opinion. There is ample parking at the trail head and a restroom. We did see some people when we were on the hike, but I wouldn't say that it's super crowded and you definitely have space to walk and enjoy the nature without being disturbed by others. read more

Barker Dam Trail - Hiking Near Me - Joshua Tree, California

See all

High-speed Trail Short 1.1-mile loop trail that leads visitors to a dam, petroglyphs, and some amazing desert plants, rocks and trees. Our only complaint about this trail is it's lack of clearly marked signage. If you're not playing attention, you'll end up starting over like we did, and that can be a bit frustrating. To be fair, the sun wasn't out, and I'm completely lost with the sun--and my shadow--to guide me. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ As with all things here at Joshua Tree, there's always a bit of a schlep involved to get to each thing. To get to Barker Dam Trail, it's a 1hr drive from Cottonwood Visitor Center; 25min from the Joshua Tree Visitor Center; and 30min from the Oasis Visitor Center. Also, please note that there is a restroom in the parking lot, so make full use of it. Tldr: Easy, short Trail, that's great for anyone and everyone. Happy hikes! :) read more

See all

Never knew what I was missing out here in Joshua Tree began searching for new and remote places to hike had very little knowledge of Joshua Tree. Durning the pandemic (coronavirus) I researched besides that I'm a huge history buff that's were most of my hikes lead me too History, Views, Peacefulness. So off the bat we paid $80.00 for the year pass than pay $30.00 each visit. $80.00 pass gives you access to all National Parks so great for travelers. Also the Adventure pass is included !!! Deal The Barker Dam Loop trail is 1.5 miles round trip and has little elevation gain. It goes from the parking lot at Barker Dam, past the dam and several good boulder climbing areas and a wall of petroglyphs. The trail offers good birding near the lake and at several spots along the trail that are surrounded by brush. The dam was constructed by early cattlemen, including C. O. Barker, in 1900. In which I had no clue leamed that. It was raised in 1949 by rancher William F. Keys. It is situated between Queen Valley and the Wonderland of Rocks near the Wall Street Mill. Native American petroglyphs a short distance to the west. There is also good bouldering on side trails near the dam. The park offers a Barker Dam Nature Hike led by a ranger. It is a popular trail and is crowded midday, honestly seems like it's always busy lately, however the Ranger we randomly ran into was so awesome. He educated us throughout half way giving tips, information, history, we seen road runners running too fast to snap a shot. Best times to visit March to May and October to Nov ember. Parking lot does get crowed I believe there is another parking available for extra parking. Hike is not difficult, stay hydrated, eat always. My 74 year young mother in law did this hike with me. read more

See all

This is a really touristy place...probably because it is short and flat. Really the dam aint much to see....what is cool is the Native Petroglyphs off the trail. Parking is a hassle but you can park aways and walk. read more

See all

It is very hard to decide, but Barker Dam Trail might be my favorite one in the whole Joshua Tree Park! It's easy to find if you follow the map you get at the Visitor Center and the signs through the park. As far as hiking it? It's easy, a walk in the park, very pleasant to do and enjoy the sights. Anyone should be able to do it even if you're not used to hiking! It wasn't crowded when I went, some people around, nothing crazy! It was very peaceful and serene! Having the body of water around made it special, picturesque, a beautiful landscape that you get to see too much. Or at all in the desert! It's that unique. It was peaceful, quiet, in a nice, meditative away. I could stay there forever! If you visit the park, make sure you don't miss Barker Dam! Just writing about it makes me wanna go back and spend some time there again. Take those view in, enjoy the peace, the beautiful rocks, the blue body of water! read more

See all

Another quick loop trail in Joshua tree National park, Barker Dam trail is a little over a mile loop with some nice scenery. This is a pretty popular spot in the park so the parking lot does get full, but they do have a few overflow parking spots near by. We walked about .4 from the 2nd over flow parking area to the start of the trail, the trail area also has restrooms in the parking lot area. The loop is pretty easy to follow. Later in the afternoon you can get some nice views of the sun going down below the rock formations in the area which makes for some nice photographic shots. read more

See all

A must hike in the Joshua Tree national park. Family-friendly 1.2 mile loop that takes you through boulder canyons, a small lake, dam, petroglyphs, and many endless picture opportunities. Best of all it's pretty flat and well traveled. - It's crowded and parking can be limited. That being said, there are a lot of people going in and out of this trail so the wait isn't too long. - Yes, you can climb up to the petroglyphs. Be sure to exit through the cave hole in the back.. - Make sure that you hike the loop. When you get to the dam, just keep walking in a counterclockwise direction.. read more

See all

A beginner trail which was easy to find by following signs from the main entrance. The parking does get very busy but they do have overflow parking that you can utilize by turning left while coming up the road. There are bathrooms for your use as well. Lots of photo opportunities and beautiful scenery. You can explore a bit if you venture off the trail. read more

A lot of people comment on how this hike can be done in less than an hour. Sure, if bagging bragging rights is your thing rather than immersing yourself in the spectacular landscapes within this part of the Wonderland of Rocks, of course you can just just truck mindlessly on through. However, I have hiked this trail, including a couple of the spurs within it, three times over the years. I spend three plus hours within the area each time, taking photographs (the opportunities are endless), exploring the formations, sheltering in its many hidden shady nooks, writing in my journal, picnicking, watching the serious rock climbers who head into the canyons, marveling at the fact that people lived out here full time. And that dam is freaking amazing! Imagine hauling those rocks and mixing that mortar by hand. The floatation device created by Bill Keys to water his cattle as needed is sheer genius. The outhouses were very clean when I used them two days ago-and this was after the crowds from Veteran's Day had left the park. Thank you, Park Service personnel, for managing such a job. The hike in, which starts at the fork and veers to the right, takes you past impressive mono granite formations. Take the time to observe the shapes and faces of the desert etched in those rocks. Notice how tiny trees have found a way to penetrate the granite cracks and grow way up high. Step into a clearing or side canyon and marvel at the myriad forms of lichen and desert rust, thousands of years old in places, which exist. About 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile in you will start some simple boulder scrambling. If you have any mobility limitations, bring a walking stick. You will soon come to the dam. There is shade here, several hidden nooks and sleeping crevices, and all kinds of stuff to take in if you settle down on one of the rocks and let yourself. Clamber over the boulders and head down into the wash. Look at all of the plant life making it work there. Look high up to the right of that hill in front. See where that massive rectangular sheet tore away from the wall and slid down to crest a canopy roof over those trees? Heading back to the trail, stop to study that dam. It represents bloodshed and fighting and hard fucking work. Two different height levels exist. See where Bill Keys and his wife inscribed their initials after building the second one. Climb down and check out that trough and float device. As you come out of the rocky caverns, the trail opens up. It will be hot out here. Make sure to stop under the large Joshua Trees to take regular shade breaks and to check out the landscape. It changes with every stop. New features present themselves for those that look. Birds call, critters skitter; look for their trails in the sand. You will soon notice a side trail to your right. Totally worth the short trek to that spur. Just don't go too deep in there unless you have a compass and are experienced. People have died getting lost in the Wonderland side canyons. But the silence and peace you will experience sitting in a shade nook in there will be a lifetime memory. Sit. Be. Back on the main trail you will cross the playa-once cattle were rustled and fed in here. Not unlike Hidden Valley. Though Bill Keys, during his tenure, raised them the honest way. Stop often to take in the surrounding canyons. Explore the boulder piles. Take genuinely beautiful photographs. The petroglyphs are worth seeing but sad. If you look really hard you will discover the faded remnants of the real thing amidst the garishly colored reproductions. As you move back toward where you started, you will pass a spur trail to the left. That's where serious rock climbers may be found, deep inside that canyon scaling massive boulders and perfecting their skills. Head on back to the parking lot and be happy to be able to pee in that portaloo. Oh, PLEASE, wear a hat and take water with you! And wear decent walking shoes, boots preferably. I was stunned at how many naive tourists from all over the world were heading into the desert unprepared. Many with no hat, sometimes just one bottle of water for two or three people, too many women in skimpy tops, backless tops, fashion shoes. My friends, clothing will help manage your moisture loss and will prevent you from getting skin cancer. You are not pool side. This is a desert. Stay safe. Experience the desert, don't just zoom through it like a stimulus junkie. Be Here Now. read more

Barker Dam trail is also another popular 1 mile loop trail with scenic views the entire time. Massive rocks and cool shaped Joshua Trees. When I arrived, the Barker Dam was all dried up. Great short easy stroll around the loop! read more

Easy & flat 1 mile loop with a few stone steps to go up & down. Mostly exposed trail without any shade, but the path is wide enough. There is a bathroom & good amount of parking! I liked this hike, you get to see some nice rocks & lots of Joshua Trees. read more

Barker Dam Trail - Hiking Near Me - Joshua Tree, California

See all

This trail is great! We hiked it in the snow with a baby in tow. It's beautiful, I highly recommend thi trail for a family day hike. read more

See all

Very easy walk to the Dam. Joshua Tree National Park is beautiful and wanted to see Barker Dam in comparison to what it looked like over 2 years ago at my last visit and wow. What once was a muddy pond riddled with mosquitoes and bugs is now thriving after the recent rains. The birds are chirping and ducks are swimming. There is much to do here at Joshua Tree if you're a person who loves nature as much as I do, than put this on your list If you're coming through. It was worth a visit to come here after the recent rains and during spring. Layer up and be prepared to take in the beauty. read more

See all

Barker Dam was an amazing easy loop hike. Took about 30 minutes to complete the entire hike. There are lots of signs that direct you to the parking lot. Decent sized lot at the trail head. There are 2 different trails at this lot, make sure you go towards Barker. Lots of amazing mountain rock shots here. Not much shade. There are some sketchy rock steps and steep areas. The dam itself was dried off in the middle of summer. There are plenty of cool joshua tree shots. Be careful of the jumping cactus. The native art was awesome. You can climb up to get a better view of them. Make sure you follow the info plaques to make sure you are following the trail. Some points you could go the wrong way and get completely lost. 0 reception here! Overall it was easy hike to complete. read more

Nice view of mountains surrounding you, and the wild life, but you can NOT swim here at all!!@ there's about a 15 minute hike to the dam

This is a very easy trail, mostly flat, and the small inclines have a stair like feature. We went later in the day and the first half of the trail is heavily shaded due to the towering rocks on either side of you. I think the only time it would be all sunny is in the middle of the day when the sun is above you. We went thinking there might have been water, sadly there was not. Not sure if that was due to how little rain fall California has received this last year or if because it's a desert it just dried up. You could see water lines on the rocks though. Make sure to bring lots of water though, the desert is still hot even later in the day read more

Barker Dam Trail - Hiking Near Me - Joshua Tree, California

We went on a Saturday morning got in about 8:30am. Beautiful place. Barker Dam was a favorite. Will return for sure. read more

See all

Barker Dam Trail is one of the best areas of the beautiful Joshua National Park. There is parking nearby and the hike to the dam/lake is not far. The entire trail is about 1.3 miles, but you can climb if you want or continue to hike on trail. The trail is well marked with interesting notes on the area. The area itself is stunning. It has a dam/lake, built years ago for cattlemen to water their stock. There are animals to see that use the lake for their water and the area has beautiful petroglyphs as well. This area is also near Hidden Valley which is a must see while at Joshua Tree. You might see some sheep on the trail or near it. Leave them alone. They have been a tad unwell and do not welcome you trying to touch them. All of Joshua Tree is beautiful, but Barker Dam is especially inviting with its lake. All of Joshua Tree gets blazing hot during the summer. I suggest October through April, but if you can take the heat, it is less crowded. You won't see many people anytime during the year, unless you want to try your hand at free style climbing (careful--so careful) and then you might run into more people. The area is quiet and you can catch your breath there, escape any troubles, and just be. read more

Supposedly the most popular trail in the park, but it has little recognition here? Thorough and strategic planning brought me to JT mid September during an Art Expo which congested all open campgrounds and the private lot to this trail. Parking can accommodate about a hundred cars, but if you visit during peak season it might be difficult to find a spot immediately, especially during mid day. You can expect a restroom at almost every point of interest and this place is no exception to that rule. Unfortunately the doggos are not allowed. Dogs are not allowed on any trails in this park...boo! The 1.3 mile loop is mild. Despite this length, I did take the full hour as implied by the signage in the lot. Just like the old man that I passed by and questioned with my incredulous disbelief said, "There's much to see!" Believe me you will take about an hour... There's like 5-10 good spots for a perfect instagram photo and if you like reading about geology and nature you're in for a treat! I think I'm one of the lucky few to see this dam filled with water. On a clear sunny day this place sets a perfect scene. Cobalt blue skies, beige boulders, and lush green vegetation upon its own reflection in the lake brought to life a place that only Bob Ross could have dreamed up before. Passing the dam you'll find an old watering hole that can be accessed by possibly breaking a few rules and climbing down to. Towards the tail end of the trail and easily missed is a concave boulder featuring historical petrogylphs. I didn't read the sign to this one, but it's the only ancient drawings that is advertised by the park. If you hit up Joshua Tree you need to come here by default. There are sights you shouldn't waste the chance to see. read more

See all

This was my favorite hike in the park. It is very easy with some amazing sites. Some great views for some amazing photos. Glad we waited for a parking spot and made the time. Be sure to do this one. read more

PARK AT ECHO-T Parking Lot! My hubby and two littles (ages 4 and 7) really enjoyed this trail - once we found it... Let me explain. We followed the signs to the Barker Dam Trail and were led to a campground - however, once we parked in the main lot, the trail head was nowhere to be found. We looked and looked and never found it. So a one hour hike turned into a 3.5 hour hike which is really long with a cranky 4 year old. Once we found the actual trail by using our regular google maps app like a compass to pick it up, the hike was awesome and well worth it. Large beautiful boulders, petroglyphs, and large ponds viewable from above. Just make sure you park in the Echo-T parking lot, which we found on our long walk back to the campground we parked at. read more

Easy hike, I did it with a 20-pound baby strapped to me. Didn't see much wildlife on this one, and the dam itself was disappointing. The trail itself wasn't bad, but with limited time I probably would choose a different hike. read more

Such a great hike for March weather. A lot of people on a Monday afternoon and a small slithering friend joined the crowd. Trail can be a bit tricky if there's not a group to follow so make sure you know where you're going. Climbing the rocks at the end was a great! read more

Barker Dam Trail - Hiking Near Me - Joshua Tree, California

See all

I love this Trail. It's a wonderful and easy hike through all the beautiful scenery. Plenty of opportunities to take cool pictures. They have markers where certain points of interest are so you can read them and learn about the various wildlife and plants that are in the area. There were lots of friendly folks on the hike as well, who weren't afraid to say hello as you pass by. Make sure you wear lots of sunscreen and bring water. This hike is kid friendly. read more

Short hike in Joshua Tree that accessible to most people - it was rather sandy though like the rest of the park. There were lots of rocks to climb. The dam was filled when we went in November, but it wasn't very exciting. Go past and walk the loop and even go off to some other trails a bit. The view from elsewhere doesn't have water but was more fun. read more

Barker Dam Trail - Hiking Near Me - Joshua Tree, California

Barker Dam Distance: 1.3 miles Difficulty: Easy If you come to Barker Dam after the rains, you'll find a desert oasis. The still waters of the dam create an enchanting scene when they reflect the strange rocky outcrops in the midst of the dry Joshua Tree landscape. Even if the lake is dry, the rock formations are still spectacular, and you may even catch a glimpse of a bighorn sheep or two. read more

This hike is a very good hike to do with kids and a great way to see a lot of Joshua Tree terrain without killing yourself. There's a lot of parking at the trail head (hooray!) but get there early anyway because it does fill up. The trail is well-marked and relatively flat, with lots of really neat things to look at. First up were the petroglyphs, which were painted onto a rock wall by Native Americans. The sign says they were defaced by vandals, but an old-timer told us they were defaced by the Disney Company!! Next were some incredibly beautiful rock formations and boulders. My kids (9, 8, and 6) did a few scrambles, and I wasn't freaking out because the paths up and down were relatively safe. We made it to the dam, which was completely filled with water, thanks to the recent storms. We sat for a while at the top and sketched, which was really lovely. This hike was just about 1.3 miles and had no shade. It was fine in winter, but would probably be brutal in summer. Be warned and bring water. read more

I hiked this trail at the start of June. The water was pretty much dried up by then, so it wasn't that interesting. It was also confusing because I thought it was supposed to be a loop, but I was unable to find where the loop continued when I got to the actual dam, so I had to go back the way I came. The trail is pretty popular though, probably the most populated trail in Joshua Tree I hiked that day. read more

It was nice but if you live in the area, go to Big Bear instead. Tourists would enjoy it a lot better than locals.

Hiked in June with a 5, 4 and 1 year old. Was easy enough for them. No water in the dam but lots of foliage and rocks to look at. Petroglyphs near the end were cool for the kids to look at. read more