Hey Cirque Running community! We’ve got a special video for our final 52 videos in 52 weeks project for you today. It’s been an entire year of releasing a new video every week, we hope you’ve all enjoyed this project and have been able to use these videos as an online digital guide for trail running in California. We’ll still be posting videos in the future, just not as frequently, so be sure to check back often to see what we’ve been up to, especially when mountain running season comes back around!
A special place for so many people, Joshua Tree National Park is the crown jewel of California deserts and a park that contains a never ending list of must-do adventures within its high desert landscape.
Panorama Peak is a beautiful out and back, lollipop loop nestled in the western reaches of Joshua Tree National Park, beginning in the Black Rock Campground, the jumping off point for the Joshua Tree Traverse, which meanders it's way through the entire length of the park and clocks in at 37 miles! More to come on that traverse in the future, but for now, we'll be focusing on Panorama Peak.
Clocking in at 7 miles and roughly 1,300' feet of elevation gain, Panorama Peak is an absolutely beautiful trail run with breathtaking views of Joshua Tree National Park and the surrounding, Southern California peaks, San Jacinto and San Gorgonio. If you've never run in the desert, this is the perfect intro for you, and if you're a seasoned desert rat, you'll be happy to add this to the list of runs if you've never been out that way.
The views become increasingly beautiful as you begin your ascent towards Panorama Peak, as you climb out of Black Rock Canyon. Once atop Panorama Peak, you'll see why they've named it this! As I mention in the video, make sure to run the lollipop portion counterclockwise as the single track off the summit is all time and incredibly engaging, you'll be happy you went this way. It's hard to beat a good day of trail running in the winter in Joshua Tree National Park!
Make sure to check out our Trail Running GPX page so you can download the route and upload it to your watch or phone. This GPX page will be a continuous work in progress so make sure to take advantage of the GPX files we already have posted and be sure to check back weekly as we continue to update the page.
Also, make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel @CirqueRunning to keep up to date with all of our latest trail running edits. Enjoy this video of Panorama Peak in Joshua Tree National Park!
Cirque Running’s other sites and media channels
Website: cirquerunning.com
GPX Files: Trail Running GPX Files
Coaching: cirquerunning.com/coaching
Instagram: @cirquerunning
Facebook: Cirque Running
Run Gear List
Patagonia Strider Pro Shorts 5”
Patagonia Capilene Cool Lightweight Shirt
Patagonia Duckbill Cap
Suunto Race Titanium
Raide Research LF 2L Running Belt
Hoka Tecton X3
Goodr sunglasses
Your online digital guide to trail running in the Sierra and Southern California. Cirque Running’s mission is to inspire our trail running community through digital dirt surfing, elevated retreats and professional coaching, with certified UESCA ultrarunning coaches. We’re Trail Runners, Mountain Guides, Educators, Coaches and Stewards of the Sierra and California, and we want to share these remarkable places with all those seeking natural abundance in the Range of Light and beyond.
