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Joshua Tree National Park
Visiting Joshua Tree National Park

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Hours: Open 365 days a year
Cost: National park entry fee
Location: About 35 miles east of Palm Springs. Driving directions below
How Long: Allow half a day to two days
Best Time to Visit: Spring and fall have the best weather
See It Now: Photo tour

Joshua Tree National Park encompasses over 500,000 acres of California desert. It's a starkly beautiful landscape, filled with Joshua "trees," which really aren't trees at all, but tree-like members of the yucca family.

Several earthquake faults (including the San Andreas Fault) criss-cross the park, their action forcing water to the surface and creating oases that support the native desert fan palm tree.

Things to Do at Joshua Tree National Park

Start your visit at one of the park's three visitor centers. Consult one of the rangers there to help figure out the best things to do for your interest and abilities.

Auto Tour: Just driving around Joshua Tree, you'll be able to see a lot. Keys View offers panoramic views of the Coachella Valley and San Andreas Fault, or stop at Cottonwood Spring Oasis (7 miles from the south entrance) to see one of the places where water reaches the surface. Park rangers can suggest other things to see based on your interests and time available.
Keys Ranch Tour: Join a park ranger for a guided tour of what was once a working ranch. Reservations required.
Hiking: Joshua Tree has 12 nature walks and hiking trails for every level of ability.
Rock Climbing: You'll find over 400 climbing formations and 8,000 climbing routes at Joshua Tree, with something for climbers of all abilities. Local outdoor stores sell climbing guides for the park and are also a good place to get practical information. You can also buy the guides at any park visitor center. Be sure you not only know what you're doing, but where you can do it.

Seasonal and Occasional Events at Joshua Tree

Star Parties: Away from the city's light pollution, you can see more stars than you may have known existed. To find out more about them, attend a "star party," held on Saturday nights close to the new moon. The 1.5-hour programs begin shortly after dark. Check their schedule.
Wildflower Watching: Every year is different at Joshua Tree, with the spring bloom depending on rainfall and temperatures, but in general, you'll find things blooming between February and April, with blossoms in the higher elevations lingering through June. Check the current year's conditions if you want to see the flowers.
Birding: Spring brings a host of feathery temporary visitors to join the ones who live here year-round, such as cactus wrens, roadrunners and Gambel's quail. Stop at the visitor center for a helpful checklist which will detail the species most likely to be sighted during your visit. It doesn't happen every year, but some springs, 200 or more turkey vultures roost in the trees at the Oasis of Mara.

Where to Stay in or Around Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree has 9 campgrounds with almost 500 campsites. This table describes them all in detail. If you're in an RV, you'll find RV-compatible spaces and dump stations, but no hookups.

Some campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis, but others can be reserved from September through the end of May. Call 1-877-444-6777 up to six months in advance or make reservations online. If you get there and find the park campgrounds full, the Bureau of Land Management operates a couple of camping areas nearby. This pdf file shows their locations.

If you'd rather stay in a hotel, you can find plenty of places to stay in Palm Springs or in 29 Palms.

Tips for Visiting Joshua Tree

Weather: Summer temperatures soar over 100°F and don't get much below 75°F at night. Spring and fall daytime highs run about 85°F and lows around 50°F. Winter days reach 60°F (15°C), with freezing nights, and it snows once in a while at higher elevations.
Watch Your Step: Those sturdy-looking desert plants grow in fragile soil, which contains micro-organisms that hold the sand in place and nourish the plants. Even one step on it kills the organisms and ultimately, the plants. Keep your big feet (or even little ones) on the trails.
Bring It With You: There are no concessions inside the park. If you want to make a campfire, bring your own firewood - and do it only in designated spots.
Going Off-Road: Four-wheel-drive vehicles and mountain bikes can get to more of the park than the family sedan, but they still have to stay on the road. ATVs and off-road vehicles are prohibited.

Getting to Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park
Twentynine Palms, CA
Joshua Tree National Park Website

Joshua Tree is east of I-10 near Palm Springs. It's 140 miles east of Los Angeles, 175 miles northeast of San Diego, and 215 miles southwest of Las Vegas.

Enter through any of three park entrance stations:

West entrance: Coming from Palm Springs or in I-10, exit on CA Hwy 62 east and turn south onto Park Boulevard at Joshua Tree Village.

North entrance: Three miles south of the town of Twentynine Palms and CA Hwy 62.

South entrance: Exit I-10 east of Indio, can be approached from the east or west, also via Interstate 10. Within the park, the roads from these entrances are all connected.

If you're staying in Palm Springs and see tours offered that say they're going to Joshua Tree, be sure to ask lots of questions about exactly where they go. Some may only take you into a small portion of the park and not give a full tour of it.