Flooding forces closures at Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park’s main thoroughfare, acampground and a visitors’ center were closed today due to flooding fromweekend rains, a park spokeswoman said.

Pinto Basin Road was closed Park Boulevard to Interstate 10, and“significant debris” was blocking the road in the Smoke Tree Wash andCottonwood Canyon areas, spokeswoman Jennie Kish Albrinck said. She said theroad would likely be closed for one to two weeks while crews clear debris andrepair campgrounds.

The Cottonwood Visitor Center and Cottonwood Spring campground were alsoclosed.

Park officials asked people to be careful traveling in flood-prone areas.

Updates are posted on the park’s website, www.nps.gov/jotr.