Joshua Tree
Where the Mojave and Colorado deserts meet, full of Joshua trees and granite boulders
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, all year
- Entry
- $30 per car
- Reservations
- Not required
- Size
- 795,156 acres
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Joshua Tree sits where two deserts meet: the higher, cooler Mojave in the west, home to the park's namesake trees, and the lower, hotter Colorado Desert in the east. The rounded granite piles that make the park famous formed underground more than 100 million years ago and were later weathered into stacks and domes. The area became a national monument in 1936 and a national park in 1994.
Most visitors drive Park Boulevard, stopping at short trails, boulder fields and viewpoints along the way. The park is a world-class rock climbing destination with thousands of routes. It is also an International Dark Sky Park, so the Milky Way is easy to see on moonless nights. Joshua trees are not actually trees; they are a type of yucca.
The park and surrounding area
- Park boundary
- Other parks
- Major highway
- Road
- Rivers and lakes
- Town
Plan your trip
- Best time to go
- October through April brings mild days in the 60s to 80s, while summer highs often top 100 degrees.
- How long to stay
- One full day covers the highlights; two or three days lets you hike, climb and stargaze.
- Getting there
- Palm Springs International (PSP) is about 1 hour from the west entrance. Ontario International (ONT) is about 1.5 to 2 hours, and Los Angeles International (LAX) is about 2.5 to 3 hours.
- Wildlife
- Look for desert bighorn sheep, coyotes, black-tailed jackrabbits, roadrunners, chuckwallas and, after rains, desert tortoises.
Plan and book
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Where to stay
- Hotels in Joshua Tree (opens in a new tab)California
- Hotels in Twentynine Palms (opens in a new tab)California
- Hotels in Yucca Valley (opens in a new tab)California
- No lodging inside the park. The towns above are the closest bases.
Tours and activities
- Guided tours on Viator (opens in a new tab)Day trips, wildlife, photography
- Tours on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)Compare options and reviews
- Campsites on Recreation.gov (opens in a new tab)Official federal booking site
What to pack for Joshua Tree
- Large water jugThere is no water inside the park, so carry several gallons in the car.
- Wide-brim sun hatShade is scarce on nearly every trail.
- Hiking boots or trail shoesGranite gravel and rock scrambles are rough on thin soles.
- HeadlampUseful for stargazing and walking back to camp after dark.
- Fingerless grip glovesProtect your hands when scrambling on rough granite boulders.
A first day, start to finish
- Sunrise at Cholla Cactus Garden
- Skull Rock and Jumbo Rocks
- Hidden Valley loop trail
- Barker Dam walk
- Sunset at Keys View
Don't miss
- Keys ViewA paved road climbs to 5,185 feet for a wide view over the Coachella Valley, the San Andreas Fault and Mount San Jacinto.
- Hidden ValleyA 1-mile loop trail winds through a boulder-ringed valley once said to be used by cattle rustlers.
- Barker DamA 1.1-mile loop leads to a historic rancher-built dam that sometimes holds water, plus nearby petroglyphs.
- Cholla Cactus GardenA flat 0.25-mile loop runs through a dense stand of teddybear cholla in the lower Colorado Desert.
- Ryan MountainA 3-mile round-trip hike with about 1,050 feet of gain ends at one of the best summit views in the park.
Know before you go
Do
- Bring all the water you need, at least 1 gallon per person per day, since there is none in the park interior.
- Fill your gas tank and download offline maps before you enter; cell service is spotty.
- Start hikes early in the morning, especially from May through September.
Don't
- Climb on or hang from Joshua trees; their limbs break easily.
- Count on finding a campsite on spring weekends without a reservation or an early start.
- Feed wildlife or leave food out at camp.
The park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Visitor centers keep daytime hours: Joshua Tree Visitor Center 7:30 am to 5 pm, the Twentynine Palms visitor center 8 am to 5 pm, and Cottonwood 8:30 am to 4 pm. Belle, Ryan and White Tank campgrounds close June through September.
Use the north entrance in Twentynine Palms on busy weekend mornings, since lines at the west entrance near the town of Joshua Tree can back up for an hour.Trekker's tip