Photo: Robb Hannawacker, while working for Joshua Tree National Par, public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Two deserts meet here: the higher, cooler Mojave, home of the shaggy Joshua trees, and the lower, hotter Colorado Desert to the south. Golden boulder piles, quiet washes and some of the darkest night skies in Southern California make it a place to slow down. Two days covers the highlights, with a sunset at Keys View and a night of stargazing. October through April is hiking season. In summer, hike only at dawn; afternoons often top 100°F.
TRAILS
1 OF 8
Ryan Mountain
Difficulty
Hard
Length
3 mi
Elevation gain
1,050 ft
Park Boulevard · Ryan Mountain trailhead — The best summit view in the park for the time it takes. Rock steps climb steadily to a broad top looking over Lost Horse Valley, Queen Valley and the boulder-strewn heart of the park. There is no shade at all. Go at sunrise and carry plenty of water.
⚠︎ No shade. Do not attempt in hot weather.
Photo: Joshua Tree National Park, public domain, Wikimedia Commons
2 OF 8
Hidden Valley
Difficulty
Easy
Length
1 mi loop
Elevation gain
100 ft
Park Boulevard · Hidden Valley picnic area — A sandy loop into a valley walled in by giant boulders, said to have been a hideout for cattle rustlers. Joshua trees, junipers and pinyon pines fill the bowl, and climbers dot the rocks above. It is the classic first walk in the park. Come early or late; the lot fills by mid-morning on weekends.
Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
3 OF 8
Barker Dam
Difficulty
Easy
Length
1.1 mi loop
Elevation gain
50 ft
Park Boulevard · Barker Dam parking — An easy loop to a small reservoir built by early ranchers, which can hold water after wet winters and draw birds and bighorn sheep. On the way back, a rock panel shows petroglyphs, some of which were painted over for a film long ago. Morning is the best time for wildlife. Stay on the trail; the rocks around the water are fragile.
Photo: King of Hearts, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
4 OF 8
Skull Rock
Difficulty
Easy
Length
1.7 mi loop
Elevation gain
160 ft
Jumbo Rocks · Skull Rock parking — The famous rock with hollow eye sockets sits right by the road, but the loop behind it is the real treat: a winding path through boulder piles and sandy washes toward Jumbo Rocks Campground. Kids love scrambling on the low rocks. Late afternoon light turns the granite gold.
Photo: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
5 OF 8
Arch Rock
Difficulty
Easy
Length
1.4 mi
Elevation gain
100 ft
White Tank · Twin Tanks parking — A short lollipop loop through sand and granite to a graceful natural arch tucked among the boulders. It is a favorite spot for night photography under the Milky Way. Park at the Twin Tanks lot, not in the campground. Watch your footing on the rocks after dark.
Photo: John D. from Pasadena, USA, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
6 OF 8
Fortynine Palms Oasis
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
3 mi
Elevation gain
300 ft
North side · Fortynine Palms parking (Highway 62) — A rocky trail climbs over a ridge and drops into a hidden canyon where a cluster of fan palms grows around a spring. The green after all that brown rock is a real surprise. Remember the climb is on the way back, in full sun. Watch quietly for birds and bighorn sheep near the water.
⚠︎ Avoid in hot weather. There is no shade on the return climb.
Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
7 OF 8
Lost Palms Oasis
Difficulty
Hard
Length
7.5 mi
Elevation gain
500 ft
Cottonwood · Cottonwood Spring — The longest of the classic oasis hikes, rolling through sandy washes and over low ridges in the Colorado Desert to a canyon filled with the park's largest grove of fan palms. It is quiet and wild, far from the crowds on Park Boulevard. Plan on four hours or more. Start at first light and carry at least a gallon of water in warm weather.
⚠︎ Do not attempt in the heat. No water on the trail.
Photo: Joshua Tree National Park, public domain, Wikimedia Commons
8 OF 8
Cholla Cactus Garden
Difficulty
Easy
Length
0.25 mi loop
Elevation gain
10 ft
Pinto Basin Road · Cholla Cactus Garden — A short nature trail through thousands of teddybear cholla packed together on the desert floor. At sunrise and sunset the spines light up like a glowing field. Wear closed shoes and keep your distance; the segments detach at a touch and hurt. Carry a comb or tweezers just in case.
Photo: Steven Lek, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Plan your Joshua Tree trip
The Nova Bound app builds the whole trip around these trails: where to stay, where to charge, and what to see each day. Coming soon to the App Store.
Distances are round trip unless noted, from NPS.gov and rounded. Trails, permits and road openings change; always check nps.gov before you go. Trail write-ups by Nova Bound.