Coyote Wash to Squaw Tank — Joshua Tree Desert Backcountry Jeep Trail via Pinto Basin
Desert crawl to a Cahuilla waterhole.
Squaw Tank has been watering travelers since the Cahuilla used it as a seasonal camp, and this route through Joshua Tree’s Pinto Basin gives you a real sense of why. You drop into loose sand washes east of the main park road, threading between boulder piles and creosote flats toward the chiseled granite of the Pinto Mountains. The Squaw Tank itself — a natural pothole enlarged by the US Army in the early 1900s — sits in a shady alcove with bedrock mortars from the Cahuilla still visible nearby. From there, the trail climbs briefly onto a rocky bench with views across the entire Pinto Basin, one of the flattest, most exposed desert floors in Southern California.
This is genuine desert backcountry — no services, no cell coverage, and daytime temps can top 110°F in summer. High-clearance 4WD is mandatory; aired-down tires (18–20 psi) handle the wash sand far better than street pressure. Carry a minimum of two gallons of water per person per day. Best window is October through April. No permit required for day use, but backcountry camping requires a free permit self-issued at any backcountry board. Fuel in Twentynine Palms before entering. The payoff is genuine solitude inside one of the most visited national parks in the country.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Mixed, Rock, Sand |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 14 mi / 22.5 km |
| Duration | 1 day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 3100 ft |
| Best season | October-April |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Twentynine Palms, CA |
| Land manager | National Park Service — Joshua Tree National Park |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | NPS Backcountry Info |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Jeep Wrangler or 4Runner handle this trail without a lift?
Yes — stock high-clearance 4WD rigs handle this trail fine. The mix of soft sand and rocky sections doesn't demand a lift, but airing down to 20-25 PSI is non-negotiable for the sand stretches in Pinto Basin. Low-clearance crossovers and 2WD vehicles don't belong here.
Is this trail accessible in summer?
Technically open, but summer temps in Pinto Basin regularly crack 110°F — people have died out here underestimating the heat. Stick to October through April; the sweet spot is November through March for manageable temps and stable conditions.
Do you need a permit to run this trail inside Joshua Tree National Park?
You need a valid Joshua Tree National Park entry pass ($35 per vehicle, good for 7 days). There's no separate backcountry vehicle permit, but if you're camping overnight you must register at a backcountry board before heading in — it's free and required by NPS regulations.
What's the hardest section and what does it actually demand from the driver?
The rockier ledges and embedded boulders approaching the Squaw Tank area are the technical crux — nothing extreme, but they require deliberate line choice and steady throttle control. Ground clearance matters more than horsepower here; a moment of careless speed on loose rock is how you crack a diff cover.
Is there any water available on trail, and how far is the nearest gas from the trailhead?
Squaw Tank is a historic Cahuilla rock cistern — don't count on it for potable water; treat anything you collect or pack in all you need. Twentynine Palms is the closest fuel stop, roughly 20-25 miles from the Pinto Basin area, so top off before you drop into the park.
Trail track
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