Joshua Tree National Park
California Est. 1994

Joshua Tree National Park

Desert
Plan a visit Check conditions
Established
1994
Size
795,156 acres
Visitors / yr
3M
Entrance
$30
Best season
October through April
Nearest airport
PSP Palm Springs International
Information: Annual Summer Closures and Restrictions in Effect +2 more Details Wildfire Tracker
01

Why Joshua Tree is worth the trip

California · Established 1994

Joshua Tree is where two deserts shake hands. The high Mojave brings the twisted namesake trees and mountains of stacked granite boulders; the low Sonoran side runs to cholla gardens and creosote flats. The seam between them, a few hours from Los Angeles, gives this park a look nothing else can duplicate, half Dr. Seuss, half sculpture garden.

Climbers mapped the place decades ago, with thousands of routes on rough golden granite, but you do not need a rope to get it. Scramble the boulders at Hidden Valley, take in Keys View across the Coachella Valley to the San Andreas Fault, and stay for dark, when winter nights run long, cold, and stuffed with stars. Skip midsummer. The desert means it.

Start with our full Joshua Tree guide, then use the planning below.

02

Top things to do in Joshua Tree

Where we would start, and what we would plan a day around. Read the full guide.

Joshua Tree National Park
Start here

14 Things to Do at Joshua Tree National Park

Read the guide
01 Stargazing at Joshua Tree Stargazing · nps.gov Stargazing at Joshua Tree Enjoy Joshua Tree National Park's amazing night sky. 02 Hike Cholla Cactus Garden Hiking · nps.gov Hike Cholla Cactus Garden An easy quarter mile hike through a cholla patch along Pinto Basin Road. 03 Hike Skull Rock Hiking · nps.gov Hike Skull Rock A relatively flat, 1.7-mile loop trail. Hike through the large, granite boulder fields around the Jumbo Rocks area, including one near Park Boulevard that... 04 Attend a Ranger Stroll Guided Tours · nps.gov Attend a Ranger Stroll Join a ranger on an educational stroll.
03

Best hikes in Joshua Tree

The trails that define the park, with the distance and elevation numbers that decide your day.

1 Cottonwood Spring (Mastadon Peak) A moderate loop to the best sunset spot in the park. 2 Barker Dam One of the park's most popular hikes, with a seasonal pool. 3 Cholla Cactus Garden One of the easiest and best known walks in the park. 4 Hidden Valley An easy loop through massive boulder piles and Joshua trees. 5 Wall Street Mill Ruins of an old gold ore mill, the region's most intact.
All Joshua Tree hikes
Before you go

Get the Joshua Tree heads-up

Permit windows, closures and seasonal alerts, plus our best Joshua Tree guides, in your inbox before you go. Free, no spam.

04

Plan your trip

Our guides for the big decisions, plus the gear, maps and lodging we would actually use for Joshua Tree.

Things to Do Best Hikes When to Visit Fun Facts

Where to stay

Gateway towns with lodging, food and outfitters.

  • Joshua Tree, CAGateway town
  • Twentynine Palms, CAGateway town
  • Yucca Valley, CAGateway town
  • Belle Campground 18 sites
  • Black Rock Campground 99 sites · Reserve
Compare stays near Joshua Tree

Maps & guides

Carry paper. Cell service dies fast inside most parks.

Joshua Tree Trails Illustrated map
Waterproof National Geographic topo of the park.
View on Amazon
Joshua Tree field guide
Trail-by-trail detail and planning help in print.
View on Amazon
America the Beautiful pass
$80 a year. Covers entrance fees at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites.
Get the pass

What to bring

Field-tested picks we bring on park trips.

  • Sun Hat
    Full-brim coverage for exposed trails with zero shade. View on REI
  • Water Bottles
    Carry at least 2 liters. More in desert heat. View on REI
  • Hiking Boots
    Ankle support and grip for rocky, uneven terrain. View on REI
  • Sun-Protective Shirt
    UPF 50+ fabric keeps you cool and blocks UV all day. View on REI

Getting there

  • PSP Palm Springs International 40 mi
  • LAX Los Angeles International 130 mi
NPS Official Page Reservations Google Maps

Some links in this section are affiliate links. If you book or buy through them we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend what we would use ourselves.

Joshua Tree map

VC Visitor Center CG Campground Nearby Park
05

When to go

Read our seasonal guide
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Month-by-Month Conditions

Tap any month for details

Month
High
Low
Crowds
Roads
Jan Best
60°
38°
Moderate
Open
Feb Best
63°
39°
Heavy
Open
Mar Best
70°
42°
Peak
Open
Apr Best
77°
47°
Heavy
Open
May
86°
54°
Moderate
Open
Jun
95°
61°
Light
Open
Jul
102°
70°
Light
Open
Aug
100°
70°
Light
Open
Sep
93°
64°
Light
Open
Oct Best
82°
52°
Moderate
Open
Nov Best
69°
43°
Heavy
Open
Dec Best
60°
36°
Heavy
Open
Best months to visit Crowd level (low to peak)
A still from our Joshua Tree film
Watch our film

Joshua Tree National Park 4K

We spent close to a month out here chasing those boulder piles and dark skies, and the winter cold was worth every shiver. If you only know Joshua Tree from a quick drive-through, this is the film that shows you what you missed after sundown.

5 min 16 sec Filmed in 4K
Watch on YouTube
Browse all our national park films
06

More Joshua Tree guides

07

Parks near Joshua Tree

Within reach if you are building a longer trip.

Death Valley National Park
California

Death Valley

189 miles away
Channel Islands National Park
California

Channel Islands

219 miles away
Sequoia National Park
California

Sequoia

235 miles away
Kings Canyon National Park
California

Kings Canyon

256 miles away

Worth protecting

Joshua Tree belongs to all of us

Protections that took generations to win can be rolled back in a single session of Congress. We keep watch so they hold.

See what's at stake Join the fight for California

Threatened Lands Map

Follow what's happening on federal lands across the country with our interactive map.

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