Joshua Tree National Park evacuates visitors, closes several roads after monsoonal rains
Severe flooding from monsoonal rains Monday forced the Joshua Tree National Park management to evacuate visitors and close the south boundary road of the park as well as a five-mile stretch of Pinto Basin Road between Porcupine Wash and Turkey Flats.
An unknown number of visitors in the southern portion of the park were safely evacuated after the area was hit by heavy rains. Roads will remain closed Tuesday morning while road crews evaluate the roads, with a possible reopening later in the day.
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The closures will not affect facilities and roadways in the northern portion of the park, which remain open for visitors.
Park management said monsoon rains often cause flash floods in the dry creeks and dirt roads of the park, with some roads closed at no notice due to storm damage. Staff also advise visitors to be alert for tortoises in roadways, as they often emerge during a rain.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Roads closed by rains in Joshua Tree National Park
