Joshua Tree National Park is one of those Parks that everyone throws on the backburner. It never makes the “top 5” or even “top 10” parks to visit, it doesn’t have any specific bucket-list hikes or popular type 2 adventures and it never really “goes viral” on SM… but what people don’t realize is that Joshua Tree is a park FILLED with adventure opportunity, and I’m going to tell you exactly where and how to find it!!
Joshua Tree is a great place for day hiking so always bring the 10 essentials in your pack!
Contents
When to Visit Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park is situated at the very southern tip of California in a region that receives very little precipitation over the year and where two distinct deserts meet, the Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert. The area sees insanely high temps in the summer with the highs commonly above 100 F, therefore summer is a NO-GO for visiting! Okay now that I’ve gotten that little warning out of the way… let’s talk about when it IS a good time to visit!
Spring
Weather-wise, Spring is the best time to visit Joshua Tree! The temperatures are mild with highs in the 70s and lows in the 40s, making it absolutely perfect for hiking and camping. Spring is also when all the desert flora starts to bloom! The “bloom” happens quickly and doesn’t tend to last very long so it is a very special time to visit. The ONLY downside to spring is that it draws massive crowds, but if you plan and book ahead of time you will be totally fine!
Fall
Fall is a great time to visit the park as well, especially late fall. The weather is similar to springtime, but without the special desert blooms. Remember that the desert tends to have an “Indian summer” so start looking to plan your fall visit around mid-October.
Winter
Winter hits the sweet spot of good weather + less crowds! While not as warm as spring or fall, winters can see highs up to 60 F which is still wonderful hiking weather. The crowds are significantly thinner and overall winter is a great experience!
Where to Stay in Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park is SURROUNDED by BLM Land (what is BLM land?) therefore if you own a tent/truck camper/RV/van/car camping setup then you should be utilizing this free land to camp at!
For those that prefer something different, we did a whole post on where to stay in J Tree where you can find other options like hotels, established campsites, and RV parks if that is your jam!
What to Pack for Joshua Tree
- Shoes: We LOVE these Salomon’s in women’s and men’s!
- Pack: A good day pack makes ALL the difference! We both use this 30L Ortovox pack. It’s the perfect size for day hiking and we love that it unzips all of the way down the front!
- Sun protection: a brimmer hat and sun hoodie (women’s and men’s) are essentials in the desert sun!
- Cooler: Keep a few snacks and drinks cool in the car with this affordable soft sided cooler! It’s a game changer on a hot day!
- Water: There is no water in the park, therefore be sure to bring this packable water cube and a reusable water bottle!
- Snacks: Make sure to pack some trail snacks too! We love these meal replacement bars (although we use them as a snack not a meal!)
- First aid kit: Just this standard first aid kit should suffice if anything were to happen on the trail!
- Light: A headlamp and extra batteries are important to carry in case you are out hiking later than you suspect.
Best Hikes in Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree has a variety of hiking for all skill levels! Most of the trails are relatively flat and short and the ones that are longer are usually easily manageable as well. The one KEY to Joshua Tree is to start down a trail and then create your own adventure! Will all the rock piles and scree type terrain, everything is basically fair game… and that’s what makes it fun! We usually just point to a rock that we want to try to get to the top of and figure out how to make it happen!
With MOST hiking, the rule is to “stay on trail”, but in Joshua Tree the opposite applies.. so have fun with it! Okay let’s get to the hikes beginning from easiest to most difficult-
Cholla Cactus Garden & Ocotillo Patch
- Loop
- 0.25 mi
- 0 ft elevation gain
Let’s start with the best sunrise hike. If you sleep in for the entirety of your trip, I urge you to at least set one day aside and GET YOUR BUTT UP AND CATCH THE SUNRISE in the Cholla Cactus Garden. It is by far one of the most magical sunrises I have ever experienced.
The Cholla Cactus Garden is a little walking trail that takes you through a field of endless Cholla Cacti. It feels as if you have stepped on a different planet. During the day, the area is extremely crowded as it is very accessible, but if you make the small effort to wake up early and catch the morning light coming through the garden, then you will have it all to yourself!
Barker Dam
- Loop
- 1 mi
- 50 ft elevation gain
Barker Dam trail is a very easy 1 mile loop, which offers scenic rock formations and of course barker dam itself! The dam was built by cattlemen in the early 1900s to supply water for their livestock. On a good precipitation year, you may be lucky enough to catch the dam full of water! We went early spring, and the dam was dry as a bone. Still a beautiful hike and a great little walk in the past.
Hidden Valley Nature Trail
- Loop
- 1 mi
- 100 ft elevation gain
A great hike to get a little taste of what the park has to offer! Hidden Valley Nature Trail is a quick 1 mile loop that takes you into another world! Surrounded by boulders of all sizes, this hike is like a massive rock playground! It is a great place to be on the lookout for rock climbers, as there are numerous routes in the area and right off of the trail. Be sure to arrive early to snag a parking spot, as this area will undoubtedly fill up by noon!
Hall of Horrors
- Loop
- 0.6 mi
- 50 ft elevation gain
The Hall of Horrors is an area in the park that has little hidden slot canyons that you can scramble through! We had so much fun searching for the crevasses and sliding our bodies through tiny holes in the rocks!
Heart Rock & Arch Rock
- Out & Back
- 1.7 mi
- 100 ft elevation gain
These two rock figures share the same trailhead and are two of the cooler rock formations in the park! Both are a quick and easy hike, but for some reason they are not nearly as popular as other hikes (BONUS)! There are actually a ton of cool rocks in this area so feel free to explore a bit and look for your own designs in the rocks!
Skull Rock
- Out & Back
- 1.7 mi
- 150 ft elevation gain
Technically skull rock is a 1.7 mile loop trail with about 150 ft elevation gain, but the main attraction is right at the start of the trail. This massive rock formation in the shape of a skull attracts tons of visitors every day! This area is extremely popular and normally stays crowded throughout the day. The rest of the hike is wildly unimpressive and therefore I suggest just stopping briefly to check out the rock.
Split Rock
- Loop
- 2 mile
- 252 ft elevation gain
Split rock trail is a loop trail that is has scenic rock formations around every turn! We personally enjoy trail running this loop, as it is not too long and the elevation in minimal. Still, a great hike on a day where you might be feeling a bit tired from hiking Ryan Mountain the night before.
Inspiration Peak
- Out and back
- 1.8 miles
- 700 ft elevation gain
OKAY so the picture is from Keys View, because the actual inspiration peak trail isn’t pup friendly! BUT I would highly suggest hiking Inspiration peak for sunset! It has the exact same views as Keys View but with NO crowds!
49 Palm Oasis
- Out and back
- 3 miles
- 600 ft elevation gain
There are a handful of Oasis’s within the park, but the 49 Palms one is our favorite! Hike 1.5 miles in where you will be met with a beautiful natural occurring oasis. An oasis is defined as “a fertile spot in the desert, where water is found”. It is a pretty rare and extremely beautiful phenomenon.
The 49 Palm oasis trail is a moderate hike that leads to numerous fan palms, birds chirping, and little ponds of water! As you can imagine, animals and wild-life flock to these areas. If you close your eyes, it will feel as if you have stepped into a little jungle! Be sure to bring a lot of water with you and avoid going at the hottest part of the day, as the entire trail is unapologetically exposed.
Ryan Mountain
- Out and back
- 3 miles
- 1050 ft elevation gain
Ah, the perfect hike to end the day! Ryan mountain trail is one of the most popular in the park, and for good reason! In a short 1.5 miles, you will find yourself with breathtaking panoramic views of JTNP! I highly suggest hiking this for sunset, as there is no shade and trail holds a steep grade for the entirety of the hike. At the top there are plenty of places for everyone to spread out, relax and enjoy the peaceful sunset. Make sure to bring a headlamp, so you can navigate your way back when the sun goes down!
Boy Scout Trail
- Point to point
- 8 miles
- 300 ft elevation gain
This one is usually done as a 2 day backpacking trip, but if you have 2 cars then point to point is the way to go! The boy Scout trail is super diverse through the 8 miles with Joshua Trees, rock features, canyons, desert flora and plenty of mountain views!
Non-Hiking Activities in Joshua Tree National Park
Believe it or not, Joshua Tree is more than just hiking! Most visitors that come to the park actually don’t plan to do ANY hiking… so what are they doing then?! Check out these 6 fun ideas to enjoy Joshua Tree without getting out on the trails.
Keys Ranch Guided Walking Tour
The Keys Ranch Guided Walking Tour is a fascinating journey into the history of the Joshua Tree National Park. This tour takes visitors through the Keys family’s homestead, a historic landmark preserved by the National Park Service. The tour guides, often descendants of the Keys family themselves, take visitors on a 90-minute walk through the desert landscape, showcasing the history of this unique location, including mining and ranching history, as well as the day-to-day life of the Keys family.
Along the way, visitors can view historic artifacts, including vehicles, tools, and buildings, while also catching a glimpse of the local wildlife. The tour is ideal for families, history buffs, or anyone interested in the natural beauty of the area and the stories it holds. With experienced and knowledgeable guides leading the way, the Keys Ranch Guided Walking Tour is not to be missed.
The tour lasts about 1.5 hours and requires permitted entry which you can purchase here.
Rock Scrambling
I touched on this earlier when I talked about hiking, but the BEST way to enjoy Joshua Tree is to create your own adventure! Pick a rock that you want to scramble to the top of and make it happen! It’s SO much fun and appropriate for all age/skill levels! Basically J-tree is just a big jungle gym!
Watch Rock Climbers
I definitely don’t condone rock climbing if you do not have the skills or equipment to do so… BUT it is super fun to watch rock climbers and boulderers do their thing in the park! The largest concentrated area to do this is the Hidden Valley area.
Wildlife Spotting
You should always keep your eyes peeled for native wildlife no matter where you are! This past visit we got to see the rare desert tortoise!!! It was SO cool!
Stargazing
Joshua Tree is a dark sky park meaning that there is little to no light pollution from the surrounding areas making it the PERFECT place to stargaze!! You will even see popular star gazing areas denoted with signs around the park. This is a MUST DO if you have the time!
Backpacking
There are a few notable backpacking trips that you can take in J-tree with the best one being the aforementioned Boy Scout Trail! You can do a point-to-point trip if you have multiple vehicles or make it a fun out and back if not! We did the latter and had so much fun.
Explore the Town
Joshua Tree has a charming little town filled with thrift stores, local eats, coffee shops, etc. We love hanging around town for the day and then grabbing some food at Joshua Tree Saloon in the evening!
Joshua Tree Travel Tips
- Sunscreen: a MUST HAVE! The sun in the desert is unforgiving. We love this environmentally friendly one from Sun Bum!
- Water/food: There are no amenities in the park so it is super important that you plan to bring enough food and water for the entire day! Also be sure to bring WAY MORE WATER than you think you’ll need! That desert sun can sneak up on you!
- Download offline map: There is NO service within the park so you’ll need to either download an offline map (we use maps.me for travel and alltrails for hikes) or you can grab a park map from the rangers upon entry.
- Guide along: We recommend this for every single national park! Guide along is a location-based audio tour that gives you tips and stories about the location your driving along. The tour operates totally offline and hands free! Check it out here!
