Joshua Tree Trail & Visitor Guide
Joshua Tree · United States · About 790,636 acres (roughly 1,235 square miles), spanning the boundary of the Mojave and Colorado deserts.
Why Visit Joshua Tree
Joshua Tree National Park straddles the boundary between the higher Mojave Desert and the lower Colorado Desert. The park's namesake Joshua trees, actually a species of yucca, create an alien forest alongside massive granite boulder formations that draw rock climbers from around the world. The park covers 1,235 square miles and has some of the darkest night skies in southern California.
Free Joshua Tree Audio Guide with Roamee Pro
Roamee Pro offers a free, self-guided Joshua Tree audio guide. It narrates trails, viewpoints, geology, and wildlife as you explore — Hidden Valley, Skull Rock, Keys View, plus quieter spots like Ryan Mountain and Fortynine Palms Oasis. No guide, no schedule, works offline.
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Signature Trails
- Hidden Valley Nature Trail1 mile loop · Easy
Loop through a rock-enclosed valley once used by cattle rustlers; used by rock climbers and suitable for first-time visitors.
- Barker Dam Loop1.3 mile loop · Easy
Passes a cattle-ranching dam that holds water after rains, plus a panel of Native American petroglyphs.
- Ryan Mountain3 miles round trip · Moderate to strenuous, about 1,050 ft gain
Summit at 5,457 ft with 360-degree views over Lost Horse, Queen, and Pleasant valleys.
- Lost Horse Mine4 miles round trip · Moderate
Reaches a well-preserved gold mill that operated in the 1890s.
- Lost Palms Oasis7.2 miles round trip · Strenuous
From Cottonwood Spring to the largest stand of native California fan palms in the park.
Must-See in Joshua Tree
- •Hidden Valley — a 1-mile loop through a ring of boulders that once served as a cattle rustler hideout
- •Skull Rock — a naturally eroded boulder formation resembling a human skull along a 1.7-mile nature trail
- •Keys View — a viewpoint at 5,185 feet overlooking the Coachella Valley, Salton Sea, and San Andreas Fault
- •Cholla Cactus Garden — a 0.25-mile loop through a dense grove of teddy bear cholla cacti
Best Viewpoints
- •Keys View (5,185 ft) — view of the Coachella Valley, San Andreas Fault, Salton Sea, and on clear days Signal Mountain in Mexico
- •Ryan Mountain summit (5,457 ft)
- •Cap Rock and the surrounding boulder fields near Hidden Valley
- •Cholla Cactus Garden along Pinto Basin Road, at sunrise or sunset
- •Skull Rock pullout along Park Boulevard
Quieter Corners of Joshua Tree
- •Ryan Mountain — a 3-mile round trip to a 5,457-foot summit with 360-degree panoramic views of the park
- •Fortynine Palms Oasis — a 3-mile round trip to a hidden desert oasis of California fan palms in a rocky canyon
Wildlife You May See
Entrance Fee
$30 per private vehicle, valid for 7 days. Motorcycle $25, individual on foot or bicycle $15. An annual Joshua Tree pass is $55. The $80 America the Beautiful interagency annual pass is also accepted.
Getting There
No public transit serves the park. Drive from Palm Springs (about 45 minutes to the West Entrance area via Highway 62). The West Entrance is at the town of Joshua Tree, the North Entrance at Twentynine Palms, and the South Entrance (Cottonwood) is off Interstate 10 about 25 miles east of Indio. Nearest airports are Palm Springs (PSP, ~40 miles) and Ontario (ONT, ~90 miles). Fill your gas tank before entering — there are no services inside the park.
Where to Stay
The park has nine campgrounds; Black Rock, Indian Cove, Cottonwood, Jumbo Rocks, and Ryan take reservations via Recreation.gov, while Hidden Valley, Belle, and White Tank are first-come, first-served. Most have no water — bring your own. For lodging, the gateway towns of Joshua Tree, Twentynine Palms, and Yucca Valley along Highway 62 offer motels, vacation rentals, and the 29 Palms Inn.
Best Time
October through April offer the most comfortable temperatures. Spring (March–May) brings wildflower blooms in good rain years. Summer days can exceed 110°F.
Safety
Heat and dehydration are the top hazard. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F and the park has no in-park water at most sites. Carry at least one gallon of water per person per day, avoid strenuous hikes midday in summer, and tell someone your route. Cell service is unreliable to nonexistent inside the park. Watch for rattlesnakes on trails and never enter old mine shafts.
Scenic Drives
- •Park Boulevard — the main route connecting the West and North entrances past Hidden Valley, Cap Rock, and Skull Rock
- •Pinto Basin Road / Cottonwood Spring Road — crosses from the high Mojave into the low Colorado desert past the Cholla Cactus Garden
- •Geology Tour Road — an 18-mile backcountry route (high-clearance / 4WD recommended for the full loop)
- •Keys View Road — short spur to the 5,185 ft overlook
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