LAST UPDATED: 2/3/24 – Joshua Tree National Park Guide
Joshua Tree National Park may not get the notoriety of California’s other parks, but it has a lot to offer. The park is chock-full of breathtaking vistas and its landscape is full of beautiful Joshua Trees. This iconic tree, for which the park is named, is one of the most stunning trees in North America.
They contort into the most breathtaking positions and are incredibly beautiful at sunrise and sunset. However, Joshua Tree National Park isn’t just another pretty park in California. When it comes to outdoor adventure, this park can compete with any park in the United States. Its rock-climbing pitches are legendary, and it has some incredible hiking trails for visitors to explore.
Not only that, but its location in the Mojave Desert makes it an ideal location to star gaze and camp. Your jaw will drop when you see the clear skies and how many stars you can see at night. So, while it may not get the notoriety of Yosemite or Death Valley, Joshua Tree is definitely worth a visit.
An All-You-Need Joshua Tree National Park Guide
In this Joshua Tree National Park guide, I give you the information you need to plan your trip. Not only do I cover when and how to get to the park, I also outline the top things to see. This information will be critical as you start to plan your trip. So is the information I provide on where to stay during your visit.
Whether you like to camp or prefer a hotel, I have you covered with recommendations. Finally, I provide you with recommendations on tours, excursions, or activities for your stay. There is so much to see and do around Joshua Tree, so you will want to check those out.
Joshua Tree National Park Guide Navigation Menu
How to Get to Joshua Tree National Park
Located in the Heart of the Mojave Desert
Joshua Tree National Park is located in the heart of the Mojave Desert. It is roughly 130 miles east of Los Angeles, 130 miles south of San Francisco, and 160 miles northeast of San Diego.
If you are looking to fly into California to see the park, I would target those cities. I recommend flying into either Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) or San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
If you are visiting other locations in the Southwest of the United States, I have you covered. I included a table below with the distance and drive time from other large cities in the area.
| City | Distance | Drive Time |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | 130 miles | 2hrs 20min |
| Los Angeles, CA | 131 miles | 2hrs 30min |
| San Diego, CA | 164 miles | 2hrs 45min |
| Las Vegas, NV | 187 miles | 3hrs |
| Phoenix, AZ | 222 miles | 3hrs 30min |
| Tucson, AZ | 344 miles | 5hrs |
Make Sure to Visit Other Parks in the Area
As you can see on the map below, Joshua Tree National Park is close to other areas of interest. In fact, it is relatively close to several other national parks and monuments in the Southwest United States.
If you are combining your visit with a stop at other parks, there are some nearby parks I suggest. Specifically, the Channel Islands National Park, Death Valley National Park, and the Grand Canyon National Park. All of these parks are relatively easy drives from Joshua Tree National Park.
With a total size of roughly 1,200 square miles, there is a lot to see in Joshua Tree National Park. To give you a better idea of how to get around the park, I have included a park map below. There are three main visitor centers for the park. This includes the Joshua Tree Visitor Center and Oasis Visitor Center located North of the park. In addition, the Cottonwood Visitor Center can be found in the Southern section of the park.
The Park Boulevard road runs through the Northern section of Joshua Tree National Park. To get from the North section to the South, you will use the Pinto Basin Road. This road runs from North to South and connects to the Park Boulevard Road. You will find numerous campgrounds along the road, but be aware that many require a reservation.
Top Things to See and Do in Joshua Tree National Park
There are so many amazing things to see and do within Joshua Tree National Park that is difficult to list them all. Below you will find a list of the top 10 things that I would recommend that you see and do when you visit Joshua Tree.
Hidden Valley
Hidden Valley is one of the first stops that you will encounter along Park Boulevard Road when entering the park from the North. This one-mile loop takes you through some beautiful, rocky terrain that used to be used as a cattle rustler hideout.
The Hidden Valley Trail is considered one of the more scenic trails in Joshua Tree National Park and it is one of the best trails in the park to spot the different plants and animals that live in the park.
Key’s View
Key’s View is one of my absolute favorite spots in Joshua Tree National Park. Perched on the fringe of the Little San Bernardino Mountains, Key’s View gives visitors some absolutely stunning views of the valley and the Coachella Valley.
If possible, I would try and make it to Key’s View for a sunrise or sunset as you can get some absolutely epic pictures at Key’s View during the Golden Hours of the day.
Quail Springs
If you are visiting Joshua Tree National Park to do some rock climbing, then you will not want to miss out on the Quail Springs area within the park. If you are coming into the park from the West Entrance in the North, then it is the first major stop that you will encounter on Park Boulevard Road.
Quail Springs includes several wonderful rock faces that are excellent for climbing, including the famous West Face of the Quail Springs rock formation, which is one of the most frequently climbed rock faces in Joshua Tree National Park.
Jumbo Rocks
Jumbo Rocks is another one of my favorite areas within Joshua Tree National Park, and the location of my favorite campground within the park. Within the Jumbo Rocks area of the park, you will find an abundance of amazing rock formations that you can hike and scramble through, climb, or just sit back and admire.
The Jumbo Rocks Campground is my favorite campground within the park and usually fills up fairly quickly. So, if you would like to camp at Jumbo Rocks, you will need to make sure you reserve your spot as early as possible.
One of the most famous rock formations in the Jumbo Rocks section of Joshua Tree National Park is Skull Rock, which is pictured above. This unique and interesting rock formation got its name because it looks a lot like a human skull.
If you are camping in the Jumbo Rocks campground, there is a short 1.5-mile round-trip hike that takes you to Skull Rock. If you aren’t up for a hike or are not staying in the Jumbo Rocks campground, there is also a stop along Park Boulevard for Skull Rock as well. The rock is located just off the road so there isn’t really any hiking involved to see it.
Hall of Horrors
Another of the amazing rock-climbing locations within Joshua Tree National Park is the Hall of Horrors area of the park. The Hall of Horrors gets its name from the many climbing routes available to the top of the Horror rock formations.
There are plenty of different climbing routes and rock scrambles available to visitors in the Hall of Horrors, which makes it one of the more popular areas of the park. It is also another amazing location to take sunset pictures in the park, so if you are into photography I would strongly suggest stopping by around sunset.
Cholla Cactus Garden
With all of the focus on the beautiful Joshua Trees and rock climbing, it is very easy to overlook the Cholla Cactus Garden in the center of Joshua Tree National Park. However, this is a stop you will not want to miss out on as the cactus garden is absolutely beautiful. So make sure you save some room on your camera’s memory card for the many photographs you will want to snap in the garden.
Rock Climbing and Scrambling
If you are an avid rock climber, then you are probably very familiar with how popular Joshua Tree National Park is with rock climbers. Some of the most technically challenging rock faces to climb in North America are located in the park.
Even if you are a novice at rock climbing, there are routes with a variety of different levels of difficulty to climb, so there is something for people of all abilities. If you are interested in learning more, I have included some resources below that were written by people who know far more about climbing at Joshua Tree National Park than I do.
Joshua Tree Bouldering Resources
- Joshua Tree National Park – Rock Climbing Guides
- Mountain Project – Climbing in Joshua Tree National Park
- Dirt in My Shoes – Rock Climbing at Joshua Tree National Park
Even if you aren’t interested in rock climbing, the rocky landscape of Joshua Tree National Park offers some of the best rock scrambling available in North America for hikers. If you aren’t familiar with what rock scrambling is, imagine taking a hike through an obstacle course of large boulders that you have to climb over, go around, or even go through to continue your hike.
It is far less technically challenging than rock climbing but far more of a challenge than simple hiking. The best part is that you choose your route, so the rock scrambles only have to be as difficult as you want them to be.
Ryan Mountain Hike
Though Joshua Tree National Park doesn’t have the high elevations that its sister parks in California like Yosemite and King’s Canyon have, there are still a few mountain hikes that are challenging enough to be worth the effort for avid hikers. The most famous of which is the Ryan Mountain hike.
Don’t be fooled by the distance of this roughly 1.5-mile hike as the elevation change is very dramatic. On most of this hike, you will be ascending almost vertically, so the hike is rated as very difficult. However, if you are up for the challenge then you will be rewarded with some absolutely amazing views from the highest point inside Joshua Tree National Park.
Lost Palms Oasis Hike
One of the best rock scrambling hikes available in Joshua Tree National Park is the hike to the Lost Palms Oasis in the Southern section of the park. The Lost Palms hike is a moderately difficult 7-mile hike that takes you to the largest concentration of California Fan Palms inside Joshua Tree National Park.
The hike takes you through some beautiful scenery and involves a good deal of rock scrambling. If you attempt this hike, please make sure you bring an adequate supply of water.
Star Gazing
One of the most underrated and most overlooked activities in Joshua Tree National Park is star gazing at night. Joshua Tree National Park is renowned for its amazing star-filled skies at night. Because the park is located away from unnatural light sources, the stars are crystal clear in the night sky on clear nights. You see some of the most amazing views of the Milky Way while enjoying the quiet serenity of the park.
If you are looking for a group experience for star gazing inside Joshua Tree National Park, the Sky’s the Limit Observatory and Nature Center offers some guided treks into the park to observe the stars at night. I got feedback from a reader that it is highly recommended.
When to Visit Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park is a fantastic park to visit year-round, but like most places, some factors make certain times of year better for visiting than others. These factors include the weather, the number of other tourists visiting, and the amount of available daylight throughout the year. I discuss each of these factors in detail below so that you can make an informed decision on what time of year would be best for you to visit.
Average Temperature (°F)
Seeing as though Joshua Tree National Park is located in a desert, it should come as no surprise that temperatures can get really hot within the park during the summer months of June through September. If you plan on visiting the park during these months, you will want to make sure that you have an ample supply of water.
During the winter months of December through February, the high temperatures in the park are typically in the mid-to-lower ’60s, which is quite mild. However, the low temperatures during this time of year can fall below freezing at night so you will want to make sure you are prepared for cold nighttime temperatures if you are going to be camping in the park.
In my opinion, the best temperatures for exploring the park occur during the Spring months of March through April and the Autumn months of October through November. During these times of the year, the high temperatures typically don’t get too hot during the day and nighttime temperatures typically don’t fall below freezing.
This makes these times of year the ideal times to do a lot of hiking or climbing within the park and the most comfortable time of year to camp within the park.
Average Precipitation (Inches)
As you might have also guessed, being located in a desert landscape also means that Joshua Tree National Park doesn’t see too much rainfall throughout the year. In fact, during the Spring months of April through June, the park sees very little rainfall at all.
Even during the winter months of January and February, when the park sees the highest amount of rainfall throughout the year, less than an inch of rain a month typically falls within the park.
This means that you typically won’t have to worry about rainstorms ruining your outdoor activities. Even if you do see some rain during your trip to Joshua Tree National Park, the rain typically won’t last very long.
Average Visitors (Per Month)
Another factor that is important to most people who visit national parks is the number of other tourists they will have to contend with when visiting the parks. If you have large crowds of people to deal with as you make your way through a park, it is a lot more difficult to enjoy the tranquility and beauty of the park.
Peak Visitor Season is in the Spring
The peak visitor season in Joshua Tree National Park is in the Spring months of March and April. This is the time of year when the park is really dry, and temperatures are rather moderate. You don’t get the blistering hot days and you don’t get the freezing cold nights. However, you will have to deal with bigger crowds to enjoy these ideal conditions.
Summer is When the Park is Least Crowded
It should come as no surprise that the least busy time of year in Joshua Tree National Park is the summer months of June through September when temperatures can be blisteringly hot during the daytime. If you are prepared to deal with the uncomfortably hot temperatures and are prepared with enough water, then this can be an excellent time to visit the park and avoid the crowds.
During the Winter months of December through February, the traffic in the park is much more moderate than it is in the Spring, and you don’t get the blistering hot daytime temperatures the park sees during the summer months. However, if you are planning on camping out in the park, you will have to deal with nighttime temperatures that can dip below freezing.
May and October are the Ideal Months to Visit
In my opinion, the ideal months to visit Joshua Tree National Park are the shoulder months of May and October. During these months the park is far less crowded than it is during the early Spring months, but the temperatures are also rather mild. These are the perfect months to visit because you will be able to enjoy moderate temperatures in relative peace and quiet.
Estimated Sunrise and Sunset
The last factor that you will want to take into consideration when deciding when to visit Joshua Tree National Park is the amount of available daylight you will have in the park. This is especially important if you are planning on taking long hikes, doing a lot of difficult climbing, or are interested in photography.
Below I have included a graph that shows you the average sunrise and sunset times in the park throughout the year, including the time changes for daylight savings.
Other Things to See in the Area
In addition to the amazing things to see and do within the park itself, there are also a lot of great things to see in do in the surrounding area. For instance, the city of Palm Springs is just a short drive from Joshua Tree National Park.
This famous resort city has a lot of fun activities, including several great golf courses you can play. The park is also just a short drive from the beautiful Lake Havasu, which has postcard-caliber beauty and is definitely worth exploring.
If you are hoping to combine a trip to Joshua Tree National Park with a visit to some other US National Parks, then I would consider a stop at the Channel Islands or Death Valley National Parks, which are both a reasonable distance away.
There are also several beautiful state parks in the Joshua Tree area, including the beautiful Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, which is one of California’s prettiest state parks. I have included a list of links to visitor guides below in case you would like to review some of these attractions in the surrounding area.
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Palm Springs |
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Lake Havasu |
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Anza-Borrego Desert State Park |
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Channel Islands National Park |
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Death Valley National Park |
Where to Stay Near Joshua Tree National Park
Campgrounds
When visiting the national parks, monuments, and other areas of interest in the United States, it is a really neat experience to camp out. Some of the best campgrounds in America can be found inside the country’s national parks. This includes national monuments, recreation areas, and surrounding areas.
Without a doubt, this is also true of the Mojave Desert. The extra dark skies in the area make it a great place to stargaze. If you are interested in camping out during your visit, I have included a map of campgrounds in the area for you to review in my Joshua Tree National Park guide below.
Hotels in the Area
If camping is not your speed, you need not worry as there are a variety of good hotels for you to choose from in the area as well. In fact, the incredible town of Palm Springs, California is just a short drive from the park. This is the perfect place to book a hotel for your visit.
If you are in the process of planning your trip to Southern California, then you are in luck. I have included a map and list of recommended hotels at different price points for you to review in my Joshua Tree National Park guide below.
Joshua Tree National Park Resources
I want to make sure your trip to Joshua Tree National Park is a complete success. So, in addition to this Joshua Tree National Park guide, I also included several additional resources below.
- Joshua Tree National Park – Map
- Joshua Tree National Park – Plan Your Visit
- Joshua Tree National Park – Campgrounds
- Joshua Tree National Park – Operating Hours and Seasons
- Joshua Tree National Park – Wildlife
- Joshua Tree National Park – Things to Do
- USA Today – 10 Tips for Visiting Joshua Tree National Park
- REI – Joshua Tree National Park Guide
Activities in the Joshua Tree Area
If you are looking for some activities to do within the Joshua Tree National Park area, you are in luck. I have included a list of activities and excursions I recommend in my Joshua Tree National Park guide below.
Recommended Sightseeing Tours
Recommended Climbing Tours
Recommended Tours in Nearby Palm Springs
Joshua Tree National Park Photo Gallery
Joshua Tree National Park is a beautiful park with some of the best rock climbing and scrambling in the world. It is also home to the highest concentration of Joshua Trees in the United States. Below is a gallery of just some of the images I was able to capture while visiting this amazing park.
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Thanks for putting this guide together Josh! This is absolutely killer. Literally everything I wanted to know!
Thanks Emily!! I am happy you found it helpful!! Have fun on your visit! 👍😀