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Photo: LCGS Russ, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Built in the early 1900s to hold water for cattle and mining use, today the area is a rain-fed reservoir attracting local wildlife. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Barker Dam, also known as Big Horn Dam, is a dam with water-storage reservoir located in Joshua Tree National Park in California. The dam was constructed by early cattlemen, including C. O. Barker, in 1900. It was raised in 1949 by rancher William F. Keys. It is situated between Queen Valley and the Wonderland of Rocks near the Wall Street Mill. It is a gathering place for desert wildlife, including many species of birds and desert bighorn sheep. Visitors can reach the dam via a short loop trail from a nearby parking lot off Barker Dam Road, and can see Native American petroglyphs a short distance to the west. There is also good bouldering on side trails near the dam. The park offers a Barker Dam Nature Hike led by a ranger.
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Explore cultural history of early cattle ranchers and the water tank they built; watch for bighorn sheep. (AllTrails map).
Short hike to a rock-enclosed valley rumored to have been used by cattle rustlers. (AllTrails map).
In the north of the park, a short trail leads through boulders to an old cattle rustler's hideout.
Excellent views of Lost Horse, Queen, and Pleasant Valleys with a summit elevation of 5,461 feet (1,664 m). Strenuous. The trail is well-maintained and features stone steps for most of the way. (AllTrails map)
Boy Scout Trailhead
A scenic trail through the edge of the Wonderland of Rocks. (AllTrails map).