Oasis of Mara

went there at night on 4÷30÷15 looking for nymphs. no nymphs but a special place and plenty of water indeed. its a real fookin oasis in the desert and ya don’t see that every day for crissakes!

I think the Unilocalers who gave this trail such a low rating have really missed the point. It’s a very short, paved, handicapped accessible trail; not a hike, and not a substitute for actually entering the park. But it’s beautiful! We went very early on a January morning and saw quail and jack rabbits. The air was cool, the oasis was fragrant, and the views of town were enchanting. The interpretive signs were informative; one, marking the grave of a young girl, was very moving. Think of this as a way to stretch your legs, not prove your prowess, and you’ll find beauty.

Literally a patch of palms in the distance. Hasn’t had water since 1947 or something. It’s pointless to stop. Just keep going and go to Willy Boys restaurant for some good fun!

Skip the Oasis of Mara and simply go into the Joshua Tree National Park. The nature, views, and discoveries are much, much better in the park. The Oasis almost serves no purpose other than providing a short self-​guided walking tour of a few palm trees and desert plants. Why waste time on this when you can be inside seeing real nature. We ran into two other groups walking through the «Oasis» and everyone agreed: «Why are we here?»
The only minute of excitement was seeing a live snake slithering away under some brush. I’ll give the snake one star.
The Oasis of Mara was recommended at the Joshua Tree Visitor Center as a free short walking tour to see the landscape and possibly some desert animals. Based on the recommendation, we drove to Twentynine Palms Visitor Center specifically to see the «Oasis.» Don’t make the same mistake. If you aren’t going to the National Park then you might enjoy the walk on the paved sidewalk, however, it really isn’t anything special.
The Oasis of Mara may have been a cornerstone of the Joshua Tree National Park history because water was discovered there, but these days it really doesn’t live up to the beauty of the nearby park or historical relevance it might deserve.