Fortynine Palms Oasis
Tucked into the hills north of Twentynine Palms, this desert oasis rewards the effort it takes to reach it with a striking cluster of California fan palms nestled in a rocky canyon, a rare splash of green and life against the rust-colored volcanic rock. The roughly three-mile round-trip hike gives you shifting perspectives along the way, with ridgeline views of the surrounding Mojave Desert before the oasis reveals itself below. Once there, shoot from the rocky slopes above to compress the palms against the stone, or get low near the natural spring pool for reflections when water levels are high. Early morning light rakes across the canyon walls and brings out warm reds and oranges in the basalt. A wide-angle lens works well to capture the full scale of the canyon, while a short telephoto lets you isolate palm clusters against the textured rock face. Wear sturdy footwear and bring water, as the trail has significant elevation change. (Joshua Tree National Park, California, United States)
