Samuelson's Rocks JTNP

Samuelson's Rocks are near the mouth of Smith Water Canyon, and about one mile west of Quail Springs Road (the road entering the Park from the town of Joshua Tree). You can park at the Quail Springs Picnic Area, or a road turn-off a short ways back towards the Park entrance from the Picnic Area. Find your way inland {note: there is an old roadway, now blocked off, probably built by Samuelson, running perpendicular from the paved Park road, starting on the near side of the first large open area that you hit back-tracking towards the JT Park entrance} to a large wash that runs parallel to the road, and head to your right, at a slight downhill. Along the way to the rocks is the remains of a cabin, with the roof now laying directly on the foundation, and the shell of an old car.

By the wonders of Microsoft TeraServer, you can find a topo map including Samuelson's Rocks by clicking HERE. Notice that you can zoom in and out, and even switch to aerial photo views!

There are about nine carved boulders altogether scattered throughout this jumble of quartz monzonite.

One of the most fascinating stories told to me by a Park Ranger is their discovery one day (1990's) that someone had dragged the car from its original spot, and dug a square hole three feet or so deep. No clue as to what they were looking for or might have dug up!

For a write up on Samuelson by the Nationl Park Service, click here.