Nestled in the heart of Southern California, Joshua Tree National Park is a breathtaking desert wonderland that you have to see for yourself. There are plenty of Joshua Tree attractions for casual hikers and sightseers. The artsy vibes, diverse wildlife, and otherworldly landscapes make Joshua Tree an incredible place for explorers. We’ll help you choose what to see with these Joshua Tree attractions.
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When to visit Joshua Tree
Joshua Tree National Park is open year round! However, the temperature may range from freezing to the low 100’s depending on the season. The best times to visit considering the weather is September – May and in particular the Spring season (February – April). However, it’s also the busiest time and can be very crowded. The rest of the year can also be a great time to visit the park because the crowds will be minimal and you’ll see very few people. This is a great time to visit for photography at Joshua Tree. However, you must use caution when adventuring during the day as high desert temperatures can be fatal.
How to get to Joshua Tree
There are several options to get to Joshua Tree National Park. The fastest option is flying into Palm Springs Airport because it’s located right next to the park. However it’s a smaller airport, so you may need to fly into Los Angeles or Las Vegas international airports and make the 3 hour drive to the park. In any case, you’ll need to rent a car to see these Joshua Tree attractions. The park did introduce a shuttle in 2018, but the pilot program ended the next year.
Where to stay at Joshua
One of the best thing about Joshua Tree National Park is the accommodation options. You’ll find plenty of chic airbnbs with pools, hot tubs, and cozy outdoor patios. There are many options near the entrance of the park.
You can also camp in Joshua Tree National Park. There are 5 reservable campgrounds and 3 first come first served.
Reservable:
- Black Rock
- Cottonwood
- Indian Cove
- Jumbo Rocks
- Ryan
First come first serve:
- Belle
- Hidden Valley
- White Tank
Keep in mind that Joshua Tree becomes extremely hot in the summer, and camping may not be an option. You can book reservations on recreation.gov.
Responsible Recreation in Joshua Tree
A trip to Joshua Tree National Park requires a lot of preparation. It’s very important to be prepared for the desert heat with sunscreen, hats, and light layers with UV protection. It can get chilly in the morning and evenings. If you are traveling in the winter you should appropriate gear. Finally, the cell service is spotty and it is necessary to download offline trail maps with the AllTrails app.
In order to recreate responsibly in these remote areas, follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles:
- plan ahead and prepare: research current weather and trail conditions, bring enough food and water, bring/download an offline map, prepare for crowds in certain areas
- travel and camp on durable surfaces: be sure not to hike off trail or use social trails! Camp at designated areas only
- dispose of waste properly: even an orange peel or cherry pit can disturb the ecosystem and take years to decompose. Be sure to pack out absolutely everything!
- leave what you find: do not take rocks or build cairns of rocks, do not carve into trees, rocks, or other natural objects
- minimize campfire impacts: know current fire restrictions, keep fires small and only use established fire rings
- respect wildlife: Joshua Tree has scorpions and snakes so always be cautious of where you step.
- be considerate of other visitors: do not play music on the trail, give the right of way to uphill hiker
8 Must See Joshua Tree Attractions
1. Cholla Cactus Garden
Cholla Cactus Garden is a great stop any time of day, but the way the light hits the unique cacti at sunrise (or shortly after) is absolutely magical! The light makes the cacti appear to glow. This is a great spot for photography. The spikes of the Cholla cacti litter the ground so be careful walking and wear closed toed shoes!
2. Hidden Valley Nature Trail
The Hidden Valley Nature Trial is a short 1 mile trail that packs a lot of diversity into such a short trail! You’ll see lots of unique rock features desert plants including cholla cactus, yuccas, and Joshua Trees of course.
3. Arch Rock Trail
Departing from White Tank Campground this short 0.5 mile trail leads to a stunning large natural arch. We actually did this trail at night to shoot astrophotography. It’s an incredible place to shoot astrophotography because of how the milky way lines up with the arch. We were the only ones there and it was so cool. If you choose to hike at night, you’ll need headlamps and to monitor the ground for snakes!
4. Hall of Horrors
Not only a popular rock climbing spot, but the perfect place for hikers wanting to explore. The Hall of Horrors is a small slot canyon surrounded giant stacks of boulders. It’s only a short walk from the parking area to the Hall of Horrors, but you can explore the surrounding area. It’s basically a giant playground of rocks.
5. Pioneertown
Another quirky stop, Pioneertown was originally built in the 1940s as an Old Western movie set. Now, it’s a tourist destination and has some restaurants and shops. It was so fun to walk around, explore, and take photos of the wooden Western buildings. Don’t miss the popular Pappy & Harriet’s, a famous restaurant with American food and a full bar. We had margaritas that totally hit the spot in the desert heat.
6. Keys View
At 5,185 feet elevation, Keys View is an epic place to watch the sunset overlooking the desert landscape. It’s a popular spot for sunset so get there early to grab your spot. From Keys View, you can see the San Andreas Fault, a significant geological boundary between the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate and is responsible for a lot of the earthquake activity in California.
7. Skull Rock
Skull Rock is one of the most popular photography spots in the park! It’s very accessible due to the parking lot right across the road. Erosion has caused this massive rock to appear like a skull. This is an easy stop and a fun one. If you’re in the mood for a hike, you can head on the Jumbo Rocks Trail departing from Jumbo Rocks Campground that is very close to Skull Rock. This 1.6 mile nature trail takes you through the campground surrounded by towering rocks. It’s definitely worth doing as there are lots of photography opportunities of the unique rocks.
8. Joshua Trees
This one is obvious, but we had to include it. You’re going to see tons of Joshua Trees at this park without looking for them, but give yourself time to stop alongside the road to take photos of them. We particularly liked the Joshua Trees on the main road between the West Entrance Station and Jumbo Rocks Campground, but there are so many areas that are great for photos. Did you know that Joshua Trees are not actually trees, but yucca plants? Each Joshua Tree is unique from the next, which is wild to think about considering Joshua Tree National Park is home to an estimated 1.3 million Joshua Trees!
Psst, did you know that Death Valley National Park is only a 4.5h drive from Joshua Tree? Make it a part of your trip and check out our ultimate itinerary.
