Up early this Sunday morning, we decided to visit the park’s extreme western end and take in some final sights before heading for home.  We originally had on our radar a steep-ish hike to Warren Peak, a prominent summit that dominates this area, but, wanting now to save some miles for an alternate stop at the Poppy Reserve on our way back, we chose instead to do a shorter, scenic loop on the High View Nature Trail – we didn’t know quite what to expect given our limited research of this particular hike, and we were pleasantly surprised with a most enjoyable little trip.  We found the trailhead easily enough at the end of a smooth dirt road west of the popular Blackrock Campground, and we instinctively chose the higher west fork of the trail when the handful of others there were going east – not at all sure why we headed this direction, but it was, we think, a fortunate choice.  The loop is about 1.4 miles long, and it climbs to a high overlook at its midpoint (thus the trail’s name) – however, the eastern trail is steeper while the western is more gradual, although we had yet to realize this.  Our track led southward up a gentle grade and into a box canyon, really beautiful in the morning sunlight.  At the end of the canyon, we ascended up some short switchbacks to a saddle, there turning north to the high point – there was a steel podium here with a register inside, and we signed in before descending northward down the ridge, passing other parties heading up and crossing the flats at the bottom back to the Jeep.  Cynthia completed Mile 9 on the way up and Mile 10 on our return, and we returned to Yucca Valley for some antiquing before turning up Hwy 247 for the long drive back through the desert to the Antelope Valley.  A very pleasant tour of the desert this whole weekend with fantastic weather, great company, and beautiful scenery.