How to Hike to Red Dome in Whitewater Preserve
Lala and I hiked to Red Dome after spending a few weeks in the deserts of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. Let me tell you, we were SICK of the desert! Hiking to Red Dome in Whitewater Preserve was absolutely refreshing. It reminded us that the color green exists, water is life and crisp air brings joy.
Ok, maybe I’m being exaggerated… but Whitewater Preserve was an absolutely gorgeous surprise!
Here’s how to hike to Red Dome in Whitewater Preserve, one of many gorgeous sections of the Pacific Crest Trail!
What is Whitewater Preserve?
Whitewater Preserve is an oasis in the middle of giant mountains.
While it’s not actually an oasis, it sure looks like one! The Visitor Center and parking lot are beautiful, with some of the most crystalline pools of water I’ve ever seen. After spending one day in Joshua Tree and weeks in the desert, being in Whitewater Preserve just felt SO good.
The pools at the Whitewater Preserve parking lot are fed by the Whitewater River. The river flows through a bouldery valley, which we hiked through to the Red Dome.
But Whitewater Preserve has 4 other hikes in its 3,200 acres of conserved land. The hike to Red Dome just seemed like the easiest short hike in Whitewater Preserve – perfect if you’re passing through.
Free Camping Near Whitewater Preserve
Amazingly, Whitewater Preserve offers 3 nights of camping for free at the preserve. But you have to make a reservation for it, and it depends on availability.
We didn’t know that when we visited, so we slept near Joshua Tree the night before, and then towards the coast the next night.
There is SO much free car camping in the area, and that’s how Lala and I saved on accommodations as we traveled the US for 2 years!
If you’re planning any sort of trip in the Southwest, I actually made a free map with 70+ free car camping spots I found and vetted during my 2 years on the road. It’s my go-to resource whenever I’m planning where to sleep for the night.
👉 Grab the map for free below – I’ll email it to you right away!
Hiking to Red Dome in Whitewater Preserve
1. Trek to the Pacific Crest Trail
The hike to Red Dome in Whitewater Preserve begins opposite the crystal-clear pools. The entire hike is flat the whole way.
You’ll quickly arrive at a fork in the path with a sign. Here, turn left towards Red Dome, 2 miles away. The hike gets more fun as you get closer to the riverbed. The path is very clear, but there are some rocks to step on and over until you reach the river.
Well, it was more of a creek when I visited, and I’m not sure if the water ever gets higher.
We saw people turning back at the river because the path kind of ends there. There’s no stone path through the river right at the spot. But if you look up and down river, there are two places where you can easily cross the river without getting wet.
After that, the path becomes even more rocky. If you get a little lost, there’s no need to worry because there are huge piles of rock set up to show you the way. Then you’ll finally reach the Pacific Crest Trail.
Turn right to hike to Red Dome!
2. Find the Red Dome
From here, the Red Dome is 1.5 miles away.
The hike along the Pacific Crest Trail to Red Dome is the same the whole way. You have the riverbed with rocks of all sizes on your right. The terrain to your left is steep and mountainous. And the trail is easy to follow – you’re hiking on a dirt path surrounded by small trees and bushes.
And you’ll recognize the Red Dome when you see it.
It isn’t an impressive feature or anything, but a hill on your left that suddenly has red dirt. I even joked with Lala when we got to it, “Is THAT the Red Dome?” And, yes, it was. The Red Dome isn’t much to gaze at, but the view just past it is amazing.
3. Enjoy the View
The landscape opens up to an incredibly wide riverbed.
If you were to continue hiking (remember, you could get all the way to Canada on this trail), the next section crosses a wide expanse of the riverbed. It’s harder to stay on trail after Red Dome, but it’s a bunch of fun.
To the left, far away, you can see gigantic mountains. In front of you is the wide, dried-up riverbed. And to the right is the path the actual river takes, which is gorgeous.
Take your time here and have a snack or lunch!
4. Hike Back (it’s even better)
The view hiking back is even better than it is hiking to Red Dome.
This is because, while the hike to Red Dome is on a slight incline, the hike back is slightly downhill. You’re hiking down the valley and everything just perfectly points towards the mountains in the distance.
It’s a picture-perfect hike in a beautiful part of the southwest!
Other Hikes in Whitewater Preserve
For reference, here’s a trail map for Whitewater Preserve, so you can start getting your bearings. These are the other hikes in Whitewater Preserve:
- Canyon Overlook (3.5 miles)
- Mission Creek Stone House Trail (6.5 miles one way)
- Cottonwood Trail (8 miles one way)
- Pacific Crest Trail (2,650 miles)
Where to Next? – Road Trip Ideas
Odds are if you’re visiting Whitewater Preserve, you’re on a road trip, like we were!
Here are some destinations you can add to it:
- Joshua Tree: You can visit Joshua Tree, which is just 50 minutes from Whitewater Preserve. Joshua Tree is known for its Joshua trees and gigantic piles of boulders. It’s a great place for hiking and rock climbing!
- LA and San Diego: Driving from Whitewater Preserve to the west coast is like a breath of fresh air. You go from mountains and rocks to trees and beaches. Our 2 days in San Diego were awesome. We loved going to the beach, watching people surf (we have yet to surf) and eating good food. On the other hand, Los Angeles wasn’t that fun… too much traffic!
- Las Vegas and Death Valley: After LA and San Diego, we headed back into the desert towards Las Vegas. We got to know the Las Vegas strip one night but mostly enjoyed the outdoors – Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire State Park. Then we explored Death Valley for 2 days and kept driving north through California and the PNW!
If you have any questions about hiking to Red Dome in Whitewater Preserve, comment below and I’ll be sure to answer!
