Hike Quail Springs Trail to The Pump House (Howard's Well), Joshua Tree National Park

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The Quail Springs Trail starts at the Quail Springs Picnic Area in Joshua Tree National Park. It's a great spot to stage a hike out into the desert. Out in the middle of the desert is the Pump House. The pump still works, bringing up cool, clear water which is then piped to a small water trough in front of the structure. The Quail Springs pumphouse is in a bit of disrepair, but as of November 2010, water can still be pumped (probably best not to test this for yourself and leave the pumping of water to park officials) for local wildlife. The structure has a concrete slab, a wooden frame, and tin sidings. A nearby troth (shown in another photo) provides water for Joshua Tree wildlife. You may not expect to see honeybees in the wintertime, however, I witnessed a dozen or so making use of the water during midday (almost half the water was frozen as a slab of ice). Bees are abundant in Joshua Tree National Park, something to be aware of if you are at all allergic to bee stings. The remains of a similar structure can be found in the nearby wash, which is also used as a trail towards Johnny Lang Canyon. In the wash, you may see the broken up concrete slabs, old iron pipes, black tubular piping, and various other pieces of iron and metal. Remember, when inside Joshua Tree National Park, historical trash is best left where found.

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