Maze North View Loop

West Hills View

Maze North View Loop
Joshua Tree National Park, California
February 7, 2025
Distance: 12.2 km (7.6 mi)
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 236 m (774 ft)

Strong winds had us cancel our climb up Quail Mountain, the highest peak in Joshua Tree National Park. So Dinah and I turned to Maze Loop. We wouldn't reach a summit, which is just as well given the high winds, but adding North View Trail to Maze Loop offered two worthwhile viewpoints.

We found the last spot in the seven-car parking lot, although later, cars parked on the roadside. From the trailhead, the first junction begins almost immediately. We turned right and started along the south trail. We hiked 2.5 km of flat desert before reaching the next junction. Keeping on Maze Loop, we turned left and followed a sandy wash. The desert scenery, among the most beautiful we've seen in the park, kept us engaged. We also spied several birds including a woodpecker.

At the next junction, still keeping on the Loop, we turned left. The trail, now going north, narrowed as it twisted through a fascinating boulder landscape. After easing out of the boulder section, the trail covers an open stretch before reaching North View Trail. The trail soon began climbing.

The trail led to a slope where we found the short side trail to the first viewpoint, West Hills View. We soon reached a saddle on the ridge. For a better vantage point, I climbed a nearby boulder pile while Dinah remained on the saddle. The wind hadn’t been an issue until we started climbing, and on the exposed boulders, I was buffeted by gales that threw me off balance. I didn't attempt to stand on the highest boulder, but the second-highest boulder had a broad, flat top. I planted my feet apart and steadied myself to take a panorama. I lost my balance several times but grabbed the higher boulder to brace myself. Afterwards, I climbed down and joined Dinah. We returned to North View Trail.

The second viewpoint, Copper Mountain View, was a short distance away. A trail leads to it, but not before dropping into a wash and climbing a ridge. Views on Copper Mountain View differed from West Hills View, and although lower, it was still extremely windy. I climbed a boulder pile to take a panorama. I couldn't safely stand on the top boulder because of the wind, so I sat down and spun around on my butt.

Afterward, we returned to North View Trail and followed it back to the parking lot. The last section was notable for its ups and downs but offered the same beautiful desert scenery we enjoyed throughout the trip. Two days later, on a calmer day, we returned to Joshua Tree National Park and climbed Quail Mountain.

KML and GPX Tracks

From the trailhead, we turned right