Article Overview: Best Hikes Joshua Tree National Park

Looking for the best hikes in Joshua Tree National Park? I can assure you, you’ve come to the right place.

In 2014 I was part of a small film crew that shot a visually-stunning film on Joshua National Park – it was my job to find all of the most beautiful places in the park. As a result of that, I’ve hiked nearly every trail in Joshua Tree and have some pretty epic photos of each spot.

I’ll be including all the popular Joshua Tree hikes AND some incredible hikes you’ve never heard of that have a tiny fraction of the crowds and are just as amazing.

Let’s dive in!

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Things to Know Before You Hike in Joshua Tree National Park

Entrance Fees

Entrance Fees are $30 per vehicle OR if you plan to visit more National Parks within the next 12 months I suggest you go ahead and purchase the America the Beautiful Pass (which can be found at the entrance gates to most national parks). This pass gets you into all National Parks, Forests, Monuments, and more including 2,000 sites for free after a one time $79 fee.

Best Guide Book

James Kaiser is the proverbial bees knees in this department. I love all of his National Park guides and his Joshua Tree Guide Book is no exception.

Best Map

I like this map best for Joshua Tree National Park.

Lather Up!

Sunscreen: Use it. Lots of it. Especially this one which I never leave the house without because it plays nice with our dear friend, earth 🙂

Getting Around

Joshua Tree is a very accessible park with the main park road taking visitors through various viewpoints, hiking opportunities, and interesting sites. Any vehicle will do on the main park road, but you’ll need a 4WD high-clearance vehicle for some of the unpaved and off-the-beaten-path roads in the park.

Either way prepare for some scenic driving! The park does get very busy in the Summer so be prepared for limited parking in the more popular areas and full campgrounds.

Cell Service

Cell Service is spotty in the park. AT&T is pretty rough but Verizon is better.

Leave No Trace

Leave No Trace: We’re big fans of Leave No Trace, here at MTJP. Want to learn more? Read about the seven principals of Leave No Trace here.

Dogs

Dogs are not allowed on trails in most national parks due to their potentially disruptive presence with the natural ecosystem. The basic rule is they are allowed where cars can go so be sure to check the rules before bringing along your furry friend.

Hydration

Water: Drink it. Lots of it. Don’t forget it in the car.

Best Time to Visit Joshua Tree National Park

The Best Time to Visit Joshua Tree National Park is during the winter and early spring when the park is cooler and the crowds are lesser.

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Best Hikes Joshua Tree National Park

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Top 5 Best Hikes in Joshua Tree National Park

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1. Cottonwood Spring (Mastadon Peak) Hike

• Distance: 3 miles
• Elevation: 375 feet
• Time: 1-2 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate

Hiking Mastadon Peak

Mastadon Peak via Cottonwood Springs is one of my favorite hikes in Joshua Tree National Park. The hike is a moderate one that leads to the best place in the park to soak in a sunset, Mastadon Peak.

From the Cottonwood Springs parking lot hikers should take the Mastadon Mine Loop Trail past Cottonwood Springs. The trail is a 3 mile loop with about 375 feet elevation gain in total.

Hikers will hike through a few dry washes on this gently inclining trail up to Mastadon Peak itself. Mastadon Peak represents perhaps the best place in the Joshua Tree National Park to see a sunset.

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2. Barker Dam Hike

• Distance: 1.1 miles
• Elevation: Minimal
• Time: 1 hour
• Difficulty: Easy

Hiking Barker Dam, Joshua Tree

Barker Dam is one of the most popular hikes in Joshua Tree National Park featuring much of the park’s best known topography along with a largely seasonal pool of water.

Along this hike is one of the best places in the park to spot the elusive bighorn sheep.

The Barker Dam hike is just over a mile long with minimal elevation gain taking most folks about an hour or so to complete. Scenery includes Joshua Trees, cholla cacti, lizards, rock piles, and Barker Dam.

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3. Cholla Cactus Garden Hike

• Distance: .25 miles
• Elevation: Minimal
• Time: 30 minutes
• Difficulty: Easy

Hiking Cholla Cactus Garden

Located on the eastern side of the park, Cholla Cactus Garden is one of the easiest and most well-known hikes in Joshua Tree National Park. The main attraction of the hike is the deceptive Cholla Cactus (also known as the Teddy Bear cactus and Jumping Cactus).

The spines of the cactus plant have barbed ends while they may look fuzzy like a teddy bear they are actual quite painful and somewhat difficult to remove.

While hiking this short trail and many others in Joshua Tree I was graced by more than a few of these spines and can attest first hand to their incredible ability to grab onto hikers.

The Cholla Cactus Garden trail itself is very easy and flat at a quarter of a mile for the entire loop. If you’re bringing small children keep them close by so they don’t end up bringing any of these spiky friends home!

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4. Hidden Valley Hike

• Distance: 1 mile
• Elevation: 100 feet
• Time: 1 hour
• Difficulty: Easy

Hiking Hidden Valley Trail

Hidden Valley is an easy and popular hike in Joshua Tree National Park featuring beautiful desert scenery. Along the trail hikers are treated to massive boulder piles, joshua trees, a variety of cactus, and all sorts of reptiles.

According to the National Park Service it’s rumored the enclosed valley was used at one point in time by cattle rustlers so beware!

The Hidden Valley hike itself is a short loop hike, great for people of all ages.

Interested in visiting all nine of the California National Parks? Read our California National Parks article!

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5. Wall Street Mill Hike

• Distance: 2.4 miles
• Elevation: Minimal
• Time: 1-2 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate

Hiking to Wall Street Mill, Joshua Tree

Wall Street Mill is one of the coolest hikes in Joshua Tree featuring the ruins of an old gold ore crushing mill, the most intact of it’s kind anywhere in the region. Walking around the actual mill feels like you’re on the a set of western movie.

The mill was built by one of the park’s most lasting characters in 1933, William F. Keys, whose marks remain all over the park. The Wall Street Mill is on the register of national historic places.

Hiking to the mill is straightforward, starting next to the Barker Dam Trailhead, and following the separate Wall Street Mill Trail for just over a mile to the mill. Along the way hikers will pass by rusted out cars and more ruins from the 19th and 20th centuries.

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Top 10 Joshua Tree National Park Hikes

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6. Skull Rock Hike

• Distance: 1.7 miles (loop from Jumbo Rocks)
• Elevation: Minimal
• Time: 1 hour
• Difficulty: Easy

Hiking to Skull Rock

Skull Rock is one of the most recognizable features in Joshua Tree National Park. Getting to the rock is actually extremely easy as it is situated just feet off of Park Boulevard with a small, roadside parking lot for a quick pull off.

The Skull Rock Trail is best accessed from the Jumbo Rocks parking lot located just down the road from Skull Rock itself.

The trail is an easy and beautiful 1.7 mile loop that meanders through the popular Jumbo Rocks area and past the trail’s namesake rock.

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7. Arch Rock Hike

• Distance: 1.4 miles
• Elevation: 100 feet
• Time: 1 hour
• Difficulty: Easy

Hiking the Arch Rock Trail

The Arch Rock Trail is a popular Joshua Tree hike located off the north end of Pinto Basin Road. The trail is great for kids and very interactive, full of beautiful rock formations that create hallway effects at times.

The loop trail starts at the Twin Tanks parking lot circling by Arch Rock before making its way back. Hikers should keep a look out as Arch Rock is somewhat easy to miss amongst all of the other striking rock formations.

Alternatively, if you are camping at the White Tank Campground and have a parking spot there, the hike to Arch Rock is much shorter!

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8. Ryan Mountain Hike

• Distance: 3 miles
• Elevation: 1000 feet
• Time: 1.5 – 3.5 hours
• Difficulty: Challenging

Hiking Ryan Mountain in Joshua Tree

The Ryan Mountain Trail is one of the more challenging trails in Joshua Tree National Park due to its steep climb and completely exposed nature. There is no shade along the trail and as such this is a hike that should not be attempted during peak heat hours (or anywhere close).

The views from the top of the Ryan Mountain hike are some of the best in all of Joshua Tree National Park so if you think you’re up for it the reward is great.

Hikers should start this trail early and bring plenty of water (and a snack for the top!) The going is a steady incline of 1000 feet or so over a mile and a half, the back down.

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9. Hall of Horrors Hike

• Distance: .6 miles round trip
• Elevation: Minimal
• Time: 30 minutes
• Difficulty: Easy

Hiking Joshua Tree’s Hall of Horrors Trail

The Hall of Horrors Trail is a really cool and interactive hike as well as a popular bouldering spot in Joshua Tree National Park. The Hall of Horrors trailhead is located off of Park Boulevard (the main park road) and is easily accessed via a parking lot.

This short stop is a really great, family friendly hike, that features narrow boulder slots and great scrambling rocks. At just .6 miles with no elevation gain, Hall of Horrors is one of the easiest hikes in Joshua Tree.

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10. Cap Rock Hike

• Distance: .4 miles
• Elevation: Minimal
• Time: 30 minutes
• Difficulty: Easy

Hiking Cap Rock Trail in Joshua Tree

The Cap Rock Trail is a short, easy, and interactive hike in Joshua Tree National Park. Hikers pass through massive piles of large boulders similar to those that can be seen at the Jumbo Rocks and other areas throughout the park.

At just .4 miles with no elevation gain this is one of the easier trails in Joshua Tree and a great way to experience the desert scenery the park is known for.

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Top 15 Best Joshua Tree Hikes

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11. Boy Scout Trail Hike

• Distance: 8 miles (point to point)
• Elevation: 1200 feet
• Time: 5-7 hours
• Difficulty: Challening

Hiking the Boy Scout Trail

At 8 miles point to point, the Boy Scout Trail is one of the most difficult hikes in Joshua Tree National Park. This hike should be started as early as possible in the morning and should not be attempted during midday heat.

While the trail winds its way through the beautiful Wonderland of Rocks area hikers should make sure to stay on the marked path rather than exploring the boulder piles as it is very easy to get turned around.

Losing the trail is something to be avoided on this hike especially as temperatures rise.

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12. Keys View Hike

• Distance: .25 miles
• Elevation: Minimal
• Time: 30 minutes
• Difficulty: Easy

Hiking to Keys View in Joshua Tree

In my opinion Keys View is potentially the most overrated hike and attraction in Joshua Tree. The main feature of the hike is Keys View which, back in the day would’ve been a site to behold, but now is basically an overlook of the Coachella Valley greater Palm Springs area with lots of wind mills etc.

At one point hikers could see as far as Mexico’s Signal Mountain but smog and poor air quality has pretty much done away with that.

Keys View is an easy and accessible hike however which makes it appealing to lots of folks as the entire path is paved and just .25 miles long.

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13. Fortynine Palms Oasis Hike

• Distance: 3 miles
• Elevation: 300 feet
• Time: 2-3 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate

Hiking to Fortynine Palms Oasis

Fortynine Palms Oasis is perhaps Joshua Tree’s most beautiful desert oasis featuring massive fan palm trees. The trail can be steep at a view spots but all in all is doable were it not for the intense desert heat which should be avoided.

Sunrise is a great time to attempt the Fortynine Palms Hike. At 3 miles the trail is not too long with 300 feet of elevation gain.

Make sure to heed the posted signage and DO NOT enter the oasis as it is a very sensitive biological area containing a crucial water supply for a fragile ecosystem of desert life.

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14. Squaw Tank Trail Hike

• Distance: 4.4 miles Point to Point (or however long you want to go)
• Elevation: 800 feet
• Time: 3-4 hours
• Difficulty: Challenging

Hiking the Squaw Tank Trail

The Squaw Tank Trail offers visitors a very remote hiking experience in Joshua Tree National Park. Located 5 miles down the dirt Geology Tour Road, Squaw Tank Trail is out there.

There is no service at the trailhead so be sure to pack the basic emergency essentials with you in case you get stuck.

The trail is mostly used as a point to point trail but I just hiked it about halfway before turning around which gave me a great sense of solitude in the desert without a large amount of exertion.

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15. Warren Peak

• Distance: 6.3 miles
• Elevation: 1100 feet
• Time: 3-5 hours
• Difficulty: Challenging

Hiking to Warren Peak

Last but not certainly not least on this list of best Joshua Tree hikes is the Warren Peak Trail. Warren Peak itself is situated at 5,103 feet and presents hikers a great challenge in Joshua Tree.

The going can be tough at times up the mountain with some loose rock on the dirt trail so hikers should take caution. The trail is about 6 miles long with 1100 feet of elevation gain and should only be attempted early in the morning to avoid heat exhaustion.

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List of the Best Joshua Tree Hikes

1. Cottonwood Spring
2. Barker Dam
3. Cholla Cactus Garden
4. Hidden Valley
5. Wall Street Mill
6. Keys View
7. Skull Rock
8. Arch Rock
9. Ryan Mountain
10. Hall of Horrors
11. Cap Rock
12. Boy Scout Trail
13. Fortynine Palms Oasis
14. Squaw Tank Trail
15. Warren Peak

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Watch the Award-Winning Joshua Tree National Park Video

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Map of Joshua Tree National Park Hikes

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Getting to Joshua Tree National Park

Closest Airport: PSP – Palm Springs International Airport (Palm Springs)

The fastest way to get to Joshua Tree National Park of course depends on where you’re coming from, but it’s probably safe to say it’s by flying into Palm Springs. From Palm Springs you can rent a car and be in the park in under an hour without trouble.

The most affordable way to get to Joshua Tree, other than driving, is most likely by flying into LAX or San Diego International Airport and then renting a car. Yes you’ll likely have to deal with hellish traffic, but you’ll get the cheapest prices on both flight and rental cars.

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Navigating Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree is an easy park to navigate from your car. There’s really only one main road that takes you through the park with a few other options to different trails or areas.

There are a few 4WD high-clearance roads in the park that will get you out away from the main roads and crowds without having to hike. It’s important to note though that in Joshua Tree when they say 4WD high-clearance, they mean it. Some of those roads are nasty.

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Summary of Joshua Tree National Park Hikes

That’s a wrap folks! If you enjoyed this post about the best hikes in Joshua Tree National Park please leave us a comment below!

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Pin the Best Hikes in Joshua Tree National Park

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Further Reading (Best Joshua Tree National Park Hikes)

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Joshua Tree Guide: Joshua Tree National Park Ultimate Guide

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Redwood National Park: Redwood National Park Ultimate Guide

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Death Valley National Park Guide: Death Valley National Park Ultimate Guide

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San Francisco National Parks: 8 BEST National Parks Near San Francisco

Yosemite Facts: 10 Shocking Yosemite National Park Facts

Sequoia Facts: 10 GIANT Sequoia Tree & National Park Facts

West Coast Parks: 20 BEST West Coast National Parks Ranked by Experts

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By Will Pattiz

Co-founder of More Than Just Parks. Husband. Conservationist. Currently living in NYC.