Joshua Tree NP

(Mojave Desert, southern California)

General info about the park...

This expansive wilderness area in the southern Mojave Desert covers nearly 800,000 acres and sees on average 3 million visitors per year. Just a few hours by car from major cities such as San Diego, Los Angeles, and Phoenix, this national park is an easy weekend trip for many southern Californians. Although Joshua Tree was declared a national monument in 1936, it did not reach notional park designation until 1994.

The park's namesake Joshua Tree is actually a species of yucca and closely related to the agave family. The park is known for its unique desert landscapes and rock formations. It's also very popular for rock climbing and star gazing. Native Americans have inhabited these lands for over 5,000 years.

Visitors centers and park roads

Joshua Tree National Park has three visitor centers with the most commonly used being located in the town of Joshua Tree. Further east, there is another visitor center in the nearby town of Twentynine Palms. On the south end of the park, there is another entrance and the Cottonwood Visitor Center.

Park Boulevard is the most trafficked park road beginning at the park entrance closest to the town of Joshua Tree and taking visitors to the most popular hiking trails, scenic viewpoints, and picnic areas within the park. Pinto Basin Rd intersects Park Blvd and will bring travelers to the southern entrance also known as Cottonwood. Always check the NPS website for road closures and hours of the entrance stations.

Hidden Valley Nature Trail

One of the most popular trails within the park, this family-friend 1 mile loop is relatively flat and graded as easy. This trail within an enclosed valley winds among massive boulders providing a very scenic backdrop and a good introduction into the geological diversity of the park. Along the trail are interpretive signs which explain more about the wildlife within the park and the history of the valley and the park at large.

A large parking lot serves the Hidden Valley Nature Trail with many picnic benches making it a great stop for park visitors.

Barker Dam

Another easy and mostly flat 1.2 mile loop trail brings hikers past the historic Barker Dam constructed in 1900 as a water storage reservoir for the local cattle ranchers. The dam was later raised by iconic park figure Bill Keys in the 1940-1950s.

This trail also offers some rock arts from early inhabitants and low intensity scrambling opportunities.

Skull Rock

Another popular trail within the park, this 1.7 mile loop trail with barely 150 feet of elevation gain is another fairly easy hike where you can view the infamous "skull rock". The hike

Most hikers park along the road nearby the Big Boulders Campground to begin the hike. You can also drive very close to the rock if you are just stopping to take some photos.

Even on short hikes, it's important to always carry plenty of water and use sun protection especially if you are visiting the park outside of the more temperate winter months.

Cholla Cactus Garden

Located along Pinto Basin Road towards the southern reaches of the park, the Cholla Cactus Garden is a scenic area to view the unique cholla cacti. These spiny desert inhabitants can withstand extreme heat and bitter cold surviving on very little precipitation. In dawn or dusk, they take on a golden color.

Key's Ranch

This lesser known experience is one that should not be missed if visiting Joshua Tree National Park (unless visiting in the summer months when the ranch is usually closed). The historic ranch is only visited as part of a ranger-led tour at a cost of $10 USD with an approximate duration of 90 minutes.

The wooden two story ranch is where the Keys family, some of the first settlers who came looking for gold, lived for over 60 years in this harsh and remote outpost. This impressive complex also features a barn, a schoolyard, mining equipment, faming equipment, and a cemetery.

Camping & Lodging

There are 8 campgrounds within the park- some working on a reservations system while some are first come, first serve.

Reservations system: Black Rock, Cottonwood, Indian Cove, Jumbo Rocks, Ryan

First come, first served: Belle, Hidden Valley, White Tank

There are no hotels within the park, but you can find nearby accommodations in the towns of Joshua Tree or Twentynine Palms. The city of Palm Springs is about 1 hour away.