The Ultimate Joshua Tree National Park Travel Guide

June 25th, 2020 | Posted by: Grace Kim

Located between Mojave Desert and Colorado Desert, Joshua Tree National Park stretches 800,000 acres long. Larger than the state of Rhode Island, the park is known for the infamous Yucca brevifolia plants, also known as Joshua Trees.

East of Los Angeles and neighbors with Palm Springs, Joshua Tree is home to a zoo of mammals ranging from reptiles, birds, amphibians, and invertebrates. These wild animals have adapted to thrive in these desert environments of extreme heat and scarce water resources.

But aside from animal watching, Joshua Tree has a number of things to do that range from hiking to camping and stargazing.

Whether you’re or a local or you’re visiting Southern California for a week, this unique part of the state is one that you won’t regret visiting.

What Exactly is a Joshua Tree?

As mentioned, a Joshua Tree is a type of yucca brevifolia plant, which is also a member of the Agave family.

No one Joshua Tree looks the same as they come in different shapes and sizes. Some may have shorter branches than the other, but all have spikes that you don’t want to come across.

The Joshua Tree is also a monocot, which is in a subgroup of flowering plants that also include grasses and orchids. Ranging from different types of plant families, this unique plant is one of a kind.

Helpful Tips to Know About Joshua Tree National Park

Prior getting to the park, these are a few things that I wish I knew before getting into the park. It’s exciting thinking about all the trails and picturesque spots to visit in the park. But to get the most out of your trip, listed are tips that will bring an ease of mind throughout your visit.

The best time to visit Joshua Tree is either between March to May, or October to November. Although the park is open all year-round, it does get extremely hot during the peaks of the summer. As average temperatures range between the mid-80’s, it really feels around the mid-90’s.
Once you get into the park, there is no WiFi or service. Remember to send your last text to your friends or family, and be prepared to be social media free. As addicted we are to our phones, it’s rewarding to focus solely on the nature around us.
When planned correctly, two or three days is more than enough to cover most of the park. Because many of the activities are not far in distance, you can cover multiple landmarks in a short amount of time.
Bring cash in forms of 20s, 10s, and 5s. The entrance fee into Joshua Tree National Park is $30. If you plan on camping, it cost $15 per night. For the entrance, you can pay with a credit card but for the camp grounds, remember to bring exact change because you’ll have to deposit a yellow slip into a box.
Pets are not allowed in the park. Sorry to break it to you but if you’re van-ing through the west coast in an RV, your beloved road buddy can’t enter into the park.

Skull Rock Astro Shot — (Source: Grace Kim)

10 Top Sights at Joshua Tree

While looking for the best Joshua Tree to take photos in the park, there are a ton of hikes and trails to explore. Most activities don’t take too much time as you can fit in more than one hike throughout the day.

Not entirely in shape? Don’t worry because many of these hiking trails are not elevated and are on flat ground. Just remember to wear sneakers or hiking shoes and a lot of iced water.

1. Arch Rock

Starting off with my favorite landmark in Joshua Tree, Arch Rock is a staple that’s great to visit during the day or at night for astro. From the parking lot, getting to Arch Rock is a 1.3 mile walk as you will have to cross a road midway.

The hiking trail is an easy walk, but make sure that you go when there’s light. If you’re going to Arch Rock to shoot astro, I’d highly recommend going during the day in order to find your way to the rock. When it’s pitch dark, Arch Rock is almost impossible to find so make sure you’re in sight of the trail.

2. Barker Dam

With a visible walking path, Barker Dam is a short 1.3 mile walk. Although driving through hundreds of Joshua Trees continues to be breathtaking and underrated, admire a part of the park that doesn’t have any Joshua Trees at all.

Visiting Barker Dam around sunrise is a great time to go as there are barely people around. The breeze is amazing while overlooking the park as you might even be able to spot some of the wildlife waking up for the day.

3. Skull Rock

While wandering around the park, you may look twice coming across a rock that looks like two hollow eye sockets. Skull Rock is one of the more popular spots for visitors, as the face looks like it’s coming out of a movie scene.

If you’re curious and want to feed to your curiosity, parking is located right across the road from the iconic rock. However, if you want to explore, the hiking trail stretches a total of 1.7 miles long when entering from the Jumbo Rocks Campground.

4. Cholla Cactus Garden

Joshua Trees aren’t the only iconic plants present in the park. Known for their dense yellow spines and clustered stems, you’ll come across 10 acres of teddybear cholla cactus. Don’t be fooled by the friendly fuzz found on the cacti because the “jumping cholla” will stick on you.

As exciting as these plants may appear, be aware and don’t pet these plants. Because once you get these on your skin, the spines are extremely painful to remove.

5. Keys View

Known for breathtaking views, Keys View’s lookout point has an elevation over 5,000 feet. During the day, you can see a handful of landmarks, such as Palm Springs, the Salton Sea, and the San Andreas fault line. Crazy to think how much you can see at a bird’s eye level.

Drive about 30 minutes from the National Park’s West Entrance and cross your fingers that you’re visiting on a clear day. With fog, you wouldn’t be able to see the overlooking views as easily. But on a clear day, you’re in for a treat. Now, take a break from the heat and enjoy cooler weather thousands of feet above ground level.

6. Hidden Valley Nature Trail

One of the most accessible areas of the park is a short hike that stretches only one mile long. Enter the trail through an opening surrounded by a wall of rocks as you won’t be located too far into the desert.

Hike past massive rock formations as you continue to embrace your inner wander self. And get ready to take a break from viewing hundreds of Joshua Trees all around you.

7. Ryan Mountain Hike

Get ready for a more strenuous hike in Joshua Tree. The Ryan Mountain Hike seems a bit challenging from the bottom view but you won’t regret it once you get to the top.

With an elevation gain of 1,000 feet, this is a round trip hike of three miles. Don’t forget to wear your hiking shoes while making your way to the top because it’ll sure be difficult walking up without them.

TIP: bring a hat or a pair of sunglasses because there’s barely any shade along this trail.

8. Cottonwood Spring

Located seven miles from the south entrance is one of Joshua Tree’s hidden secrets. One of the best kept secrets in Joshua Tree, Cottonwood Spring is a short and easy walk. Walk through desert willow trees and enjoy one of the best birding spots in the park. So, don’t forget to bring your binoculars and come in and out of the campground located half a mile away.

Curious about more of the history of the area, there are ranger-led hikes, walks, and evening programs offered most weekends. What’s better than getting a tour from professionals at the park?

9. Rock Climbing

Gazing at these gigantic rocks, ever think about what it’ll be like climbing them? Rock climbing is one of the more popular recreational activities at Joshua Tree. With 8,000 climbing routes available, get a different feel by being one with the rocks. Maps and more rock climbing information is available at the visitor center.

A popular rock climbing spot is located in the Hidden Valley area, located in the west end of the park. During the winter, climbing becomes more popular as bigger parks, such as Yosemite National Park, usually close due to the weather.

10. Camping

Can’t get enough of the outdoors? Joshua Tree is a real treat if you’re a fan of camping. As long as you come early enough, you’ll have enough spots to choose your preferred campground. But if you’re not a fan of not having running water available at all times, there are beautiful Airbnbs located all around the park.

Different from your standard camping trip, you’ll be sleeping right by optimal locations to venture around. There are a number of campgrounds to choose from that all share something in common. All camping grounds are surrounded by enormous rock formations that line up perfectly with the stars in the sky. So, get ready to take some night shots right outside your tent!

Should You Visit Joshua Tree?

If I haven’t convinced you enough, I think you know what the answer is. Whether you’re a local or you’re visiting Southern California, yes, you should visit Joshua Tree.

Valued for its unique persona and activities, Joshua Tree encapsulates unity from the community and visitors from all around the world.

From venturing through hundreds of Joshua Trees to star gazing at night, visiting this National Park is a no brainer.

As campgrounds are available all year around, there are plenty of things to do that will keep your schedule packed throughout the weekend. And the best part of visiting this park is that because there is no access to WiFi and data, you’ll have a single focus of appreciating your company and the open nature around you.

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In December 2019, I quit my 9-5 to experience passion driven pursuits, leading me towards indefinite travels.

Now, I help travel enthusiasts solo travel, plan indefinite trips, and how to explore the outdoors. And through travel, blogging and photography, I also share and teach others how to obtain this non-linear lifestyle.

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