Rimrock Ranch: the Coolest Joshua Tree Dude Ranch Lodging
Joshua Tree National Park is a fantastic destination for hikers, campers and adventurers looking for an escape from city life or a day-trip from nearby Palm Springs. However, staying close to the Park is crucial to allow for an early start to the day. Doing so limits your time hiking in the hours of prime sun exposure. Instead of the typical bed and breakfast or low-budget motel, consider staying somewhere a little more rustic, a little less expensive, and a little more unique. All this while enjoying the panoramic views and stunning landscapes of the California high desert.
When it comes to choosing your Joshua Tree lodging, make your vacation even more unique by staying at an actual Dude Ranch. I stumbled upon Rimrock Ranch multiple times while browsing Pinterest for our California vacay. It's basically a "modern-day" Dude Ranch with all the amenities of a motel (including air conditioning and an outdoor pool) and the charm of the old-school cowboy lifestyle. Rimrock Ranch sits on a gorgeous property of sprawling desert, positioned literally in the middle of nowhere. If you yearn to get away from the craziness of life, Rimrock Ranch is the place for you.
Making the Trip to Rimrock Ranch
The most important thing is to make sure you have enough gas in your car for the drive to your Joshua Tree lodging. Before you make the trek, grab a hearty meal in Yucca Valley. Frontier Café on Twentynine Palms Highway is the perfect eatery to fill up with a delicious lunch for the day. The Cafe is the BEST breakfast option in the area as well; you can grab oatmeal, parfaits, and breakfast sandwiches. The classic egg sandwich is WONDERFUL and is the ideal fuel for a day of hiking. They also feature rotating specials every day and play with fun flavors like strawberries and mint.
Once you turn off Twentynine Palms Highway in Yucca Valley to head to Rimrock Ranch, you'll travel another 5 miles into the hills of the vast desert. Winding pavement will eventually turn into a dirt road, leading you to the Rimrock Ranch cabins. On the way, you'll pass by Pioneertown, CA, an Old West town that is currently having a major cultural renaissance. Initially built in 1946 like much of the area, Pioneertown, California, is a quaint but legitimate peek into the Old West way of life. From a saloon to a working post office, it's a super neat place to stop on your way to Rimrock. Learn more about Pioneertown HERE.
What Makes Rimrock Ranch So Special
Rimrock Ranch may be secluded, but the most beautiful desert wilderness surrounds it. Rock formations and Yucca trees similar to those you would find in Joshua Tree National Park are scattered around the property in every direction. The ranch itself sits on roughly 11 acres, making it a trendy destination for boho and Coachella-themed weddings. Google "Rimrock Ranch weddings" and you'll see the dreamy backdrop this area of California provides. Throughout the grounds are an eclectic mix of sculptures, woodworking pieces, and vintage odds and ends that blend perfectly with the landscape and desert sand.
Additional fun amenities include an above-ground pool perfect for a quick dip to cool off from the harsh desert temperatures. In the evening, as the sun goes down and the temperature starts to drop, enjoy the sunsets over the horizon on the wooden observation deck and warm up near the communal campfire pit.
Stay in a Cabin Filled with Dude Ranch Style
There are multiple lodging options within the Rimrock Ranch grounds, including original cabins dating back to the 1940s, a more extensive lodge for bigger groups of visitors, an architecturally stunning modern hatch house, and even an airstream camper. We chose one of the smaller cabins, which was equipped with a full bathroom, air conditioning (much needed for that late-July heat), and just enough of a Western theme to be fun but not kitschy. Although I've camped countless times in my life, Rimrock is probably the closest I've been to "glamping". You get all the amenities in a bare-bones environment.
Learn What These Joshua Tree Cabins Have to Offer at Night
The evening we arrived, we were the only ones staying at Rimrock Ranch. The quiet was unlike anything I've ever experienced. We sat on the observation deck as the sun went down and were given the most stunning light show from the cloudless sky and the tremendous number of stars that appeared as the darkness of the desert closed in. You may be in the middle of nowhere, but to be so far from light pollution is a treat that a city girl like me doesn't always get to witness. You definitely can't get that in Chicago! It was even my first time seeing the Milky Way! With owls hooting nearby and a beer in your hand, it's a great way to relax and prepare for a day of hiking ahead.
Overall our trip to Rimrock Ranch was spectacular and unforgettable. From the immense amount of the cosmos we could see outside of our cabins at night, to the opportunity to become immersed in the California desert and Dude Ranch way of life, we loved it all. Consider passing on the many motels that are super close to the Joshua Tree entrance. Instead, consider Rimrock Ranch, Joshua Tree lodging that may be further away, but has a lot more to offer.
