Very relaxing trial. Climbing the rocks is the favorite activity of children. The reservoir has dried up and there is no water. Hope the rain will be flooded next time.

Quick short trail. When I went, 11/29/20, there was no water at the dam. However, the trail is beautiful non the less. I would recommend climbing the rock formation and watch the sunrise/sunset. Truly beautiful.

Neat hike! It’s very short but scenic nonetheless! Parking lot is fairly big, but that also depends on how busy it gets! Do not expect to be able to swim in the water as it is a reservoir and it is disgusting! Enjoy uour hike:)

Very pretty! No water as of end of September! Definitely worth a hike very pretty view and lots of green!

Easy family hike. Not too strenuous. Some steps, but otherwise mostly flat. Bring plenty of water. Found a couple of petroglyphs slightly off trail. Watch out for rattlers.

A beautiful and easy hike. Great views.

This dam is not as big as other dam Ive seen before, but it fills with natural wonder-it is the only dam in Joshua tree natural reserve and it is like a small oasis for plants and small wild animals. Dont forget to wear strong sunscreen and be prepared for strong sun if you travel in daytime, particularly in summer months. The hike takes about 15-30 min, depending on how fast you walk, from the parking to the dam. Youll see bunches of beautiful gigantic rocks on both sides along the trail. If you are lucky enough, you may spot wild long-horn sheep on those rocks

Awesome to see in the spring when it is filled with water. The reflections from the rock make for some awesome pictures as well. This is one of the busiest hikes in the park so make sure to arrive early. Great easy hike for all ages and a great way to start your day at the park!

Dam doesnt have water since its summer, but still looks nice.

Had a great time visiting Joshua Tree National Park with family. Back home in Arkansas we wouldnt dream of walking around the desert and climbing around massive rocks. My daughter had a blast and it was fun for the whole family.

One of the primary tourist features of Joshua Tree National Park. Early settlers constructed a small dam in a spring to provide a more reliable source of water for cattle. Although the water is very low right now, the hike was easy from the parking lot and there were interpretive signs to provide information. Make sure to bring water though! There is no safe drinking water at this site, although there is a pit toilet.

Great short and easy hike, reservoir is dry now so you will be able to see the dam construction easier now.

This was a short hike and to a wonderful dam I got some awesome pictures and it was just relaxing. Ot was a bit cold but it was sunny. To get into the park was some traffic but once we were in parking was easy. Barker dam is barely marked so try to ask for best possible direction to get there and look back a look to mark landmarks for when you are going back to your cat because you can easily get lost.

Easy walk to get there for a beautiful pond. If you are there at the right time you might see a duck or ducks. I saw a duck in the middle of May. They have one way trail to the dam.

Interesting landscape, the parking lot was full and the trail was crowded. Not a tough little hike but for those who really want to enjoy the park wear hiking boots. Weak ankles beware. Fine sand that will need shakeout prior to car entry. Take water and snacks. A visual treat of rock formations.

A short loop trail, beautiful desert landscape

I think the fact that the trail was a responsible length loop was more of a draw than the dam itself. It was a rubble wall.... The hike to and from it, was much neater. Lots of plaquards listing the names & traits of vegetation specifically found there made it easier to appreciate the unique desert landscape.

I think this should be considered as a must see destination in Joshua Tree National Park. Water in the desert is always special, and there has been plenty of it here on both of my visits. Its an easy, mostly-level walk of 1.3 miles, with an opportunity to get closer to the shore via a brief scramble among some of JTs famous boulders. Its a fun and different way to spend an hour or so.

A nice trailhead with washrooms. Well maintained short loop. The actual dam and reservoir is pretty interesting. There are hieroglyphs too, but they’ve unfortunately been vandalized. A nice little walk.

A very nice sight amongst the desert trails , I highly recommend you visit if youre at the Joshua Tree National Park. The trail to get to baker dam is short if you park in the nearby lot, I think this lot get packed quickly though.Also, you might be able to climb your way to one of the boulders in the middle of the water.

Late evening here is so quiet and beautiful

This is a very nice and not too hard trail in Joshua Tree; good for young kids also. Problem is that it’s very easy to get lost and the signs aren’t very clear so you’ll keep going around and around. It’s supposed to be a loop trail for a little over a mile but signage needs to be better.

This is a fun easy hike the kids will enjoy. Easy with lots of rocks to climb along the way. The day we were here most of the water behind the dam was frozen.

An easy short hike from the parking lot. Water optional for this, it is that short and easy. Nice foto ops. As of April 2017 the water level is only at about 40-50%. This is the best water source for miles, a great opportunity for critter watching when the crowds are not there...early AM or some weekdays, if you are lucky. The wall street mill is a short mile walk away, nice piece of history there. attached are some plant pics....plenty already of the dam.

Nice easy hike. Beautiful area.

Absolutely beautiful! I recommend going in the later hours of the day because the way the sun lights the rocks and makes everything reflect in the water is stunning! Keep an eye out for jack rabbits and quail. They are awsome to see and are everywhere in the valley nearby. The loop trail is a very easy walk and is only about 1.5 miles. You can also see Native American petroglyphs on some of the rock walls towards the end of the trail.

After you spend some time in Joshua Tree, you’ll soon realize how special it is to see water. There still isn’t much of it, but it’s a wonderful change of scenery compared to the rest of the park. Nice short hike, pretty easy except for all of the sand, which makes walking a bit harder. The boulders surrounding the hiking are also really unique and interesting, though if you go around the park, you’ll be sure to see plenty more of them.Worth checking out if you’re in the park.

A short and easy hike to the dam, itself. Trail is clearly marked. I recommend the loop and seeing the rock paintings.

Nice quick hike from the main parking lot. About -.3 miles to Lake.

Mountains to lake to desert. Absolutely incredible scenery and possibly the best easy hike in the park. If youre short on time, do this and hidden valley.

This trail is short and easy to walk to. Its an amazing visit and beautiful scenery. Take some water and lunch and have a unforgettable picnic!

The loop was beautiful, did it at the end of June which was really hot but still worth it!

Its just an amazing place. Couldnt go all the way to the damn cause it was getting late. But its a great place to visit. U will fall in Love w the place..

Beautiful and serene, with a small lake, and areas of rock that can be traversed for great views

This short hike is an absolute MUST for us here in the Joshua Tree National Park! In principle, it is a boring, short hike in the desert. But with the right light and some water in the dam, you may see a spectacular light and great reflections in the water! On the way back, there are some petroglyphs and a nice valley with Joshua trees. And here, you have a great chance to see bighorns! This year, we had a big herd of them.

The trail leads to the dam a bit harder to follow but as long as you have the map, youll be okay. The dam is beautiful especially in the afternoon because the water will give you clear reflection of the surrounding environment. Along the trail, you could find several spot where people do rock climbing.

Nice little place... not too far of a hike from the parking lot.When its recently rained, thats the best time to go.When its dry, its alright...but after the rain you see life come alive.

A lovely hike that allowed for a variety of skill levels. The path is gentle but the boulders provide some scrambling opportunities for the more daring. Be sure to know your skill level when climbing. Even when dry, the area provides some nice scenery and wildlife viewing opportunities.

One of the great hikes-- and great groves of Joshua Trees-- in the park. The lake is nice, but behind it and the dam you can ramble for miles among stunning rock formations, palms, Joshua Trees-- and if youre lucky, spot a ling- eared jack rabbit

Water in the Desert . Within the Wonderland of Rocks in Joshua Tree National Park is a small reservoir named Barker Dam with a 1.5-mile loop hike. Once there everything changes. The Stagnant waters with mounds of boulders rising on either side. There are willow trees instead of Joshua trees. Lots of grassy type plants instead of cactus. Many birds instead of jack rabbits and geckos. It’s become a gathering place for desert wildlife, including many species of birds and Desert Bighorn Sheep.Barker Dam was built over a century ago by ranchers to save up some water for cattle. Built upon a natural water tank, the original Barker Dam was built higher by the Keys family while homesteading nearby. Don’t miss the Native American petroglyphs a short distance to the west.You can follow K15 Adventures on Instagram and Facebook. See where we are headed next.Typically, remote destinations where the journey of Fishing, Kayak Fishing, Hunting, Camping is the principal goal with, some shenanigans thrown in.

Awesome spot within Joshua Tree NP. Relatively easy hike, with scenic dam and petroglyphs. Rock formations are stunning. Be on the lookout for bighorn sheep.

Didnt see river, just small dam. But nature is amazing around

Barker Dam is an easy hike that will take you through some beautiful flats packed with Joshua Trees. You will even pass some Petroglyphs. The dam makes for some pretty scenary and the rocks are fun to climb. I highly recommend it.

Pretty easy walk. Not stroller or wheelchair friendly though, as there are some sandy/rocky areas with steps. Gorgeous view!

Joshua Tree National Park is a National Treasure and a gorgeous place to spend time. Besides all of the well documented trails in the brochures from the park service at the visitor center, there are a lot of other well marked day trails throughout the park. It is also a nice place to get off the beaten path and have a picnic. Bring plenty of water, food and make sure your gas tank is full. Visitor Centers dont open up until 8 so it might be worthwhile just stop in the day before and talked to the Rangers. This way you can get an early start before the throng of people stream in especially on the weekends. A day pack is a good idea if youre going to go on any hikes that are longer than 2 miles. Barker Dam with a nice little hike with some interesting sites and plenty of boulders.

What a beautiful hike! I will need to return for the rest of the hike though. The trail is supposed to be a loop, but half the trail was being worked on while I was there. Dont forget to check out the short side trail to the petroglyphs.

Nice walk, but there isnt any water there, just water lines from once was

Breathtaking views. Fun hike for all ages.

Great area for climbing. Planet X bouldering is found here.

Great sanctuary for wildlife. There was a lot of water there when I went.

This trail was short enough if you follow the designated way. I lost the way out because i took diffirent one. . Had hard time there to escape from the virgin rock mt. with a family from local town...germany mom and italy hus with 2 pretty little girls... unforgettable challenge but will never do that again...

Went to Joshua tree for the day, decided to explore the Barker Dam trail. Its a really easy loop, its got good views and lots of nature.

Beautiful area. Move away from the crowd, explore area beneath dam.

Awesome loop trail that I would rate as an easy hike! Its a must do short hike in Joshua Tree!

Barker Dam is the only place in Joshua Tree Ive seen water, which means theres some GREEN, a rare thing in the desert. There is a narrow pass with awesome rock walls on either side, an open valley walkway with big trees, and then a dam with some mucky water. The hike to the dam takes 15 minutes, and theres cool stuff and a few trees to hide under along the way. This is the first place Id come in Joshua Tree. The varied topography gives a lot of unique looks and the hike is pretty easy.

What a delightful place within Joshua Tree National Park. About 100 years ago this area received more rainfall than it does now and there was active ranching going on here.The settlers built a dam in a narrow spot of a gulch so the cattle would have water all the time.I visited this place in May of 2016 on a brilliant sunny day. The temperature was close to 90 F so if you come in the middle of summer, youll DIE if you dont have plenty of water with you. The loop trail from the parking lot to the dam is about a mile would be my guess.Dont wear sandals because the grit from the trail will irritate your feet for sure.The water level was very low, but saw a photo recently where the lake was filled to the brim from the late-fall rains that fell in southern CA.

A good little hike (about a 1.3 mile loop) with amazing photo opportunities. But BRING WATER and try to avoid the heat of the day if possible

Nice place to visit when youre at the park.

Pretty cool, saw some goats up on the rocks!Not alot of water, but you can definitely see that there used to be alot of water.

Great easy day hike in Joshua Tree! Parking is a freaking nightmare.

Great hike amazing views

Its a very beautiful place, but sad to see all the water gone.

Nice short hike with options. Hoping for a water reflection shot but very dry. Need to come at a different time of the year. Check out conditions to determine if this is for you.

A nice hike with rewarding views of reservoir at the end.

Great easy hike - dam payoff at the end.

Man-made oasis. The guy who built the dam had a shoot out with his neighbor... in 1943 on the nearby Wallstreet Mill trail.

An oasis in the desert. Water!

It takes only a short hike to get there. A must do in the park.

Beautiful experience toget in touch with the past.

Beautiful dam in the middle if the desert. Well worth the visit just for the contrast from everything else around you.

Amazing & beautiful day here.

Good ole national park :)

What a beautiful hike at Joshua Tree National Park.

Even more Beautiful on a snowy day

Nice easy hike, I am still trying to get my head around it that they had cattle out there

Amazing after all the rain

Not an intense hike but varied enough for any hiker. The snow was a cool bonus

A 1-mile loop hike with the ranchers’ dam as the turning point. If you go during/after raining season you will get to see water accumulation in this rather deserted landscape. Otherwise the trail is comparable to others in the park.

Smallest dam you will ever see. Reminds how previous life giving water is in desert.

Cool little stroll. Most definitely not a hike

No water .. the dam was not special in any kindboring walk.. better walks to do than this one.

Nature and great rock formations. Easy to walk around.

Great hike. Easy, little elevation with tricky area that maybe challenging for the little ones and elders.

Short hike, easy for anyone to get there and worth the walk. Beautiful spot

A perfect day for outdoor hiking. It was picture perfect with refection of nearby mountain on the dam. Very peaceful & tranquillity to see mother nature at her best work. A gentle breeze @ 62 degree early December. Thumb up for a nearby Joshua National park.

Great easy hike to the dam. Beautiful body of water in what seems uninhabitable.

It was really small and pretty packed even in the morning. I think its worth seeing once since water in the desert is pretty cool but I probably wouldnt do it again. There are other hikes on Joshua Tree that significantly better.

It worth trying

Its kinda sad how low the water is.... but over all a nice hike.

It was an easy hike and cool to see but if youre expecting the dammed area to have water in it like many of the pictures show it doesnt have any water in it at the moment.

Amazing hike at sunset, please stay on the trail.

Cool, easy trail. Flat.

Incredible place

A small hand-built dam constructed in 1949-50. Trail leading from dam (when you continue walking the loop as opposed to going back in the direction you came from) is totally unmarked and confusing. Be warned.

Pretty walk/hike. Its currently dry though so not much to see at the dam itself.

It is a nice one mile hike. It gives you a taste of the dessert. Make sure to go early in the morning as it can get really hot later in the day.

This is 1-mile long trail. It is flat, therefore doable in 20 min - even with kids. The Dam itself is nothing special, quite smelly and infested by flies due to the stagnant water.

A wonderful and very scenic. How ever, please be considerate of others photo opps, please do not photo bomb in any way.

Dam seems like it would be a lot better with a decent amount of water. We were there in late may and there was little more than a puddle. The hike there was amazing, but the dam its self was underwhelming. There was trash floating in what water there was. People really need to learn to clean up after themselves. It amazes me that even in national parks some people lack the decency to pick up their own trash.

The amazing, rich history this place has. To learn how they survived in the desert is remarkable. Just like much of the vegetation here, it took a certain kind of individual to adapt to this harsh and desolate environment. I loved this place. If youre in the area, I do recommend this as a must do if you love the outdoors, love nature, love to hike, love a unique picnic, love photography, love the desert, love cacti and succulents and love camping. A true treasure to the U. S. National Parks.