Photo:
Brocken Inaglory / CC BY-SA 3.0
Joshua Tree is where two deserts meet, the higher, cooler Mojave with its namesake spiky trees, and the lower, hotter Colorado Desert of creosote and cholla. Add jumbled fields of golden monzogranite boulders, some of the darkest skies in Southern California, and world-class rock climbing, and you have one of the most distinctive and beloved parks in the West, an easy drive from Los Angeles.
The western, higher park is classic Mojave, forests of Joshua trees among piles of rounded granite that look sculpted for climbing. Drop east and south and the land falls into the Colorado Desert, hotter and sparser, with ocotillo, cholla cactus gardens and open creosote flats. Fan-palm oases mark hidden water, and the wildlife runs to bighorn sheep, coyotes, jackrabbits, roadrunners and rattlesnakes.
Fall through spring is the season, comfortable days, cold desert nights, and, in a good year, a spring wildflower bloom. Summer is dangerously hot, with daytime highs well over 100°F that make anything but dawn outings risky. Winter can bring frost and even a dusting of snow on the boulders, and the clear, dark nights make stargazing spectacular year-round.
Three entrances serve the park, the west and north near the town of Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms, and the south off Interstate 10. A paved road connects the major sights and trailheads across the park, but there is no shuttle and no gas inside, so come with a full tank and a vehicle.
Short hikes lead to Hidden Valley, Barker Dam and the Cholla Cactus Garden; longer routes climb to Ryan Mountain or wind through the Lost Palms Oasis. Rock climbing and bouldering are the park’s calling card, with routes for every level. Scenic drives, the Keys View overlook, and some of the best stargazing in Southern California round out a visit.
Heat and lack of water are the real dangers. Carry far more water than you expect to need, hike early, and avoid strenuous outings in summer heat. Watch washes for flash floods during storms, scramble and climb within your ability on rock that punishes mistakes, and give rattlesnakes room. Cell service is minimal, so tell someone your plans and carry a map.
A park pass is required, backcountry camping needs free self-registration, and the popular campgrounds fill fast in the cool season. Reserve ahead. Fill water and fuel before entering, since there is essentially none inside. This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report; always confirm current conditions and closures with the National Park Service before your trip.
Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.
