Joshua Tree National Park is a desert located close to Palm Springs (less than an hour’s drive away, 38 miles) and within a couple of hours’ drive away from Los Angeles, San Diego and Las Vegas. If you are planning to visit any of these cities for a weekend, this National Park is a perfect stop to add to your sojourn for an additional day or two. You will need a car to drive around the park as there are not many other alternatives.
While it is possible to see this place in a day, I would highly recommend staying overnight to truly enjoy all the wonderful sceneries and activities that Joshua Tree National Park has to offer.
Close to Joshua Tree National Park is San Diego. If you have a couple of extra days, do check out this fun coastal city. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about San Diego!
When to go
Joshua Tree National Park is a massive desert wilderness that is open year-around. The best time to visit is October through May, when temperatures are milder. Summer temperature can soar higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
However, I would recommend visiting it in mid August if you are interested in stargazing (more on that later).
Highlights
- Day 1 – Hidden Valley Nature Trail, Keys View, Skull Rock, Cholla Cactus Garden, Ocotillo Patch
- Day 2 – Activities within the park including biking, hiking, rock climbing or backcountry driving
Day 1
1. Get up, close and personal with a Joshua tree (but not too close!)
The Joshua tree is a distinctive looking tree that you can’t miss as you drive into the park. Their spiny leaves are easily recognized as well as the wide-spread branches. You will want to get a photo (or multiple) with them simply because they are so unique to look at. However, be careful to not touch their dagger-like spines – they can be sharp!
Fun fact: Legend has it that these trees were named by Mormon immigrants crossing the Colorado river in the 19th century. They likened the image of a Joshua tree to the biblical figure, Joshua, whose limbs were stretched in prayer.
The ubiquitous trees present a stunning backdrop as you stroll across the park, hike or bike around, and their rarity lends to the feeling of being amid an otherworldly desert.
Native American people recognized these trees for the tough leaves and used to weave them into baskets and sandals. They also used the flowers and seeds as a healthy addition to their diet.
2. Explore the Hidden Valley Nature trail
As a first stop (or second, depending on whether you jumped out of your car at the first sight of a Joshua tree for a photo with it), the Hidden Valley Nature trail serves as a perfect introduction to the landscape of the park. It is a 1 mile, easy but heavily trafficked loop trail. And it contains tall rock formations and boulders, interspersed with desert vegetation and wildflowers.
Note that this trail is mostly sandy and level, and is perfect for a hike with a family.
3. Drive to Keys View
As the next stop, plan to drive to Key Views as your next stop for sweeping views of the Coachella Valley. This lookout contains a short 0.2 mile wheelchair accessible trail from where you can view the Santa Rosa Mountains, the San Jacinto Peak behind Palm Springs and the San Gorgonio Mountain. You can also view the shiny waters of the Salton Sea to the left (picture below).
Keys View offering sweeping views of Coachella Valley
Fun fact: You may be able to see the Signal Mountains in Mexico if the air quality is great!
4. Climb the Skull Rock
One of the most popular spots in the park is the Skull Rock – and for good reason! This somewhat scary-looking but fascinating rock formation was created when rain drops accumulated in tiny depressions in the granite rock and started to erode. As time passed, more and more rain drops continued to accumulate, and the erosion continued until two eye sockets-like holes appeared. The resemblance of the shape to a skull led to its current namesake.
Bonus tip: For avid hikers looking to explore beyond, a 1.7-mile nature trail (Skull Rock Nature trail) starts here. This location is also close to the Jumbo Rocks Campground.
5. Walk around the Cholla Cactus Garden
The Cholla Cactus garden at Joshua Tree National Park is another must stop! Here, you can view numerous species of cacti. Walk around the 0.25 mile boardwalk and your eyes will easily gravitate towards the predominant teddy bear cholla.
Cautionary fact: NPS website cautions against touching the teddy bear cholla cactus because the spines can detach and latch onto skin or clothes and can be painful to remove.
Depending on the time of year, you can also view some stunning flowering cacti and shrubs such as the Hedgehog cactus, Beavertail cactus, Desert Senna, and Desert Starvine, to name a few.
6. Check out the Ocotillo Patch
Three miles east of the Cholla Cactus garden lies another curious viewpoint that is oft overlooked. It is the Ocotillo Patch – an unusual cactus (or plant) that only blooms occasionally.
Ocotillo Patch is indigenous to the Sonoran Desert and Chihuahuan Desert in the southwestern regions of the US. The fascinating thing about these plants is that even though they appear to be a spiny collection of dead sticks for most of their lives, after a shower, bright red flowers burst to bloom and last for a few days, making for an incredibly colorful vista.
Unfortunately, when we visited this patch, there were no blooming flowers, but I will be on the lookout next time to witness this rare occurrence!
7. Camp overnight
Spend a night sleeping under the stars in various campgrounds located in the park, with the popular ones being Blackrock, Cottonwood, Indian Cove and Jumbo Rocks campgrounds. The NPS website provides resources for reserved and unreserved campgrounds available around the park.
Note that attaching lines to vegetation is prohibited, including Joshua trees and junipers.
8. Star gaze
Another activity I would highly recommend is camping overnight for stargazing! The absence of tall trees and little light pollution make it an ideal spot for overnight stargazing. Because this landscape affords an uninterrupted 180 degree view of the night sky for, it an ideal backdrop to witness a celestial event such as a meteorite shower.
On a clear moonless night, you can get a panoramic view of the Milky way in the sky.
I had the fortune of camping overnight on a previous trip to this park to watch the annual Perseids Meteor shower in mid-August. And gosh, it was beautiful! I count this event as one of the best nights of stargazing I have ever experienced!
Day 2
9. Bike around
A host of biking trails await in Joshua Tree’s backcountry roads just begging to be explored! They include areas such as the Covington Flats, Geology Tour Road (you can drive around this dirt road as well) and Black Eagle Mine Road (spanning several old mines).
10. Climb a rock
It should come as no surprise thanks to all the rock formations mentioned here, but the park is ripe with rock climbing spots that enthusiasts flock to. In fact, the Park is considered a top rock climbing spot. There are opportunities for all skill levels, including traditional-style crack, slab, and steep face climbing.
For an extra bit of fun on your vacation, consider adding SeaWorld in San Diego to your trip. There, you can see all sorts of sea creatures including sea-life shows. Read this guide to learn all about visiting SeaWorld, San Diego!
What to pack
- Sunscreen and sunglasses – Especially important during summer when temperatures soar in the desert
- Face masks – To stay safe and protect others around you
- Water – Make sure to carry ample supply of water
- America the Beautiful pass – If you visit US National Parks often, or are traveling through multiple US National Parks in less than 12 months, consider getting this pass Note: If you buy this pass online, a physical pass will be shipped to you, so consider the additional time in your planning. Alternately, you can also purchase it at a designated site
- Map – Cell phone connection within the park is spotty at best. So, consider picking up a map at a park gate and carrying it with you
- Alltrails – Download Alltrails if you plan to hike for accessing trail options and keeping you on track
- Hiking shoes – If you plan on doing some hiking, don’t forget to pack your favorite pair!
Looking for other trip ideas in California? Check out my sojourns to the stunning Yosemite National Park and the fascinating Lassen Volcanic National Park for more ideas!
Enjoyed reading this article? Don’t forget to follow me for my latest stories!
Pictures are of unique beauty, specially the cactus flowers. Will try to make a plan to visit Joshua when reach US next summer.
Thank you! Next time, we can visit for sure! 🙂