Hidden Valley, Hiking trail in Joshua Tree National Park, US.

Hidden Valley is a one-mile self-guiding loop trail that winds among massive rounded tan boulders in Joshua Tree National Park. The sandy path runs between rocky hills and passes through a notch blasted in 1936 by desert pioneer Bill Keys, which serves as the main access point.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, this enclosed valley served as a hideout for cattle rustlers who exploited the natural rock barriers for protection. The isolated location made it an ideal refuge from pursuit.

The valley's name comes from its enclosure by rock walls, which made it a reputed hideout for cattle rustlers. Bill Keys blasted a notch through those walls in 1936 to move his cattle herds, and that gap is the trail's main entry point today. A nearby campground takes tents and small RVs up to 25 feet.

The trail has rock steps that require careful footing, and visitors should bring at least one liter of water per person for the walk. Cell service does not work here, so planning ahead and letting others know your schedule is wise.

Hidden Valley's name comes from its concealment: the one-mile trail sits inside a ring of massive boulders, and until 1936 the only way in was over the rock walls. That year desert pioneer Bill Keys blasted a notch through the stone to move his cattle herds, and the gap he made is still the trail's main entrance.