Joshua Tree National Park
A free guide to help you make the most of your time in the park
1. West Entrance
The quickest way to get to the most popular areas of the park is through the West Entrance. Consequently, the line to get in from here can be long and extremely time consuming, especially mid-morning and on the weekends. If you can, arrive early. The earlier the better.
As you approach the entrance, have your park pass or credit card ready, and be sure to ask the ranger for a park map—it includes helpful information not covered in this guide.
Facilities —
Small paved parking area with a restroom and running water. You won’t find another restroom with running water until you reach one of the visitor centers.
Expect little to no cell service beyond this point.
2. Quail Springs
Since this is the first large parking area after the West Entrance, it can get crowded here. If it’s too crowded or you don’t feel like stopping so soon after entering the park, there are other areas with restrooms, picnic tables, and much better trails ahead.
Facilities —
Large paved parking area with a restroom and picnic tables.
Area Description —
As you enter the parking area, you’ll see a small lot in front of a large rock formation popular with climbers. If you follow the road around the back of the formation, it leads to a much larger parking area with a restroom and several picnic tables. If you want to stretch your legs, there’s an easy path around the formation. Walking it counterclockwise offers a gentle downhill grade and better views.
3. Boy Scout Trail
This is one of the best trails in the park. When most of the other trails are in the shade, this one catches the last bit of sun, making it an excellent choice to walk about an hour or two before sunset.
Facilities —
Large unpaved parking area with a restroom.
Trail Description —
The first mile of this trail makes for a pleasant out-and-back stroll through a beautiful area of the park. At the start, the trail dips as it crosses a sandy wash, then becomes wide and hard-packed with a gentle rise for the first mile. At half a mile, you’ll come to a boulder pile with a few rocks to sit and rest on. At 1 mile, you’ll reach the huge mountain of granite you can see from the parking area—a good turnaround point if you’re looking for a shorter hike.
At this point, the trail turns left and climbs gently as it follows the base of the mountain. In three-tenths of a mile, you’ll reach a fork in the trail marked by a park sign for the Willow Hole Trail. If you take this trail to the right and follow it for a tenth of a mile, it leads to a high point where the trail dips, revealing a nice view over a big, beautiful valley.
From here, the trail continues north into the valley, then turns east and heads up it. Near the top of the valley, roughly 2.3 miles from the trailhead, you’ll see a large rock formation on the right with a spine of broken granite extending to the edge of the trail. If you climb up on this spine—which is relatively easy in places—you’ll be rewarded with a 360-degree view over one of the prettier areas of the park. This is another good turnaround point.
Beyond this point, the character of the trail changes dramatically. The final mile follows a sandy wash through a canyon of large rock formations to a park sign marking the trail’s end. From there, you’re about 3.5 miles from the trailhead.
4. Hemingway
This is a great little spot. The views from the parking area are amazing, the walk to the first cool rock formation is short and super easy, and it’s usually not as crowded as some of the other nearby areas.
If I had my mom or young kids with me, I’d definitely bring them here.
Facilities —
Medium-sized paved parking area with a restroom.
Trail Description —
From the right side of the parking area, a flat, well-established trail leads to a healthy pinyon pine standing guard over an impressive little rock formation.
From there, the trail crosses a small valley to the Hemingway Buttress—a large wall of granite with several classic rock climbs. On the way to the buttress, keep an eye out for the view looking north over the desert with the mountains way off in the distance.
5. Hidden Valley
This is one of the largest and busiest areas in the park, with lots of picnic tables and several trailheads, including the very popular Hidden Valley Nature Trail—a 1.1-mile loop through a beautiful valley surrounded by massive rock formations.
Facilities —
Large paved parking area with a paved walkway, restrooms, and picnic tables.
Area Description —
As you enter the one-way loop road, you’ll see the trailhead for the Hidden Valley Nature Trail on the right.
Just past the trailhead, you’ll come to a short loop road on the right with limited parking and a few picnic tables tucked against a wall of large boulders.
Beyond that is the least crowded and most accessible area in Hidden Valley, with restrooms and picnic tables close to the parking area. You’ll find more picnic tables tucked near the base of Turtle Rock—a large rock formation that, from a distance, resembles a giant turtle. The area around Turtle Rock is also fun and easy to explore.
Trail Description —
The 1.1-mile Hidden Valley Nature Trail has rock steps, uneven natural surfaces, patches of soft sand, a slight downhill grade for the first half mile, and a slight uphill grade for the second half mile.
Because the trail is surrounded by large rock formations, it can get very hot. It’s best to walk this loop in the early morning to avoid the heat and the crowds.
If the nature trail is crowded, you’ll find a couple of well-established trails near the short loop road heading south into the desert.
If the parking area feels too crowded, consider heading across the street to Intersection Rock or driving a little further up the road to the Cap Rock Accessible Nature Trail and Picnic Area. Both are great and attract far fewer people.
6. Intersection Rock
This is a fantastic spot to hop out of the car, stretch your legs, and take in the incredible scenery. It’s also a great place to get a feel for Joshua Tree’s climbing culture.
For me, this area is the heart and soul of the park — and one of my favorite places to explore.
Facilities —
Large paved parking area with a restroom and an emergency phone near the restroom.
Area Description —
As you turn into the parking area from Park Blvd, the large dome of granite on the right is Intersection Rock, and the one on the left is The Old Woman — you’ll know why when you see it.
Across the parking lot is Hidden Valley Campground, a home away from home for climbers from around the world. Don’t be surprised to see people climbing the granite formations all around this area—it’s home to some of the park’s most popular routes.
Between the parking lot and the campground is a huge slab of granite, almost like a natural amphitheater. If you walk up on it, you’ll get an excellent 360-degree view of the entire area. If you have binoculars, you’ll want to have those with you.
Over the years, I’ve spent a quite a bit of time exploring the backcountry around here—wandering through the quiet valleys, scrambling up massive rock formations, getting lost in the beautiful landscape.
I came for the climbing, but it was the wandering that made me fall in love with this park.
7. Barker Dam
The 1.1-mile Barker Dam Trail loops out to a historic dam built by cowboys in the late 1800s, then winds through one of the park’s most beautiful valleys, surrounded by massive rock formations and endless opportunities for walking and scrambling.
If you’re a climber, this area is home to some of the park’s most iconic bouldering problems, including an incredible traverse called Gunsmoke.
Facilities —
Large paved parking area with a restroom.
Trail Description —
The trail starts from the parking area and heads a few hundred yards into a canyon, then continues for about a third of a mile to the area above the dam.
For much of the year, the basin above the dam is dry, but after heavy rainfall or during the winter and spring months, it can transform into a small lake.
Early mornings can feel especially peaceful here, and the lake often attracts a variety of birds and other wildlife. Watching the sunrise from here can be amazing.
The trail continues along the edge of the lake to the top of the dam, descends a series of rock steps to the valley floor, then climbs through the heart of a beautiful valley.
As you approach the head of the valley, interpretive signs guide your way, and ancient petroglyphs appear on some of the rock surfaces.
From there, the trail cuts through a small canyon before returning to the trailhead—but don’t be in a hurry. The valley is a wonderful area to explore. Watching the sunset from the head of the valley can be an inspiring way to end the day.
Keys View Road
This scenic paved road climbs 5.5 miles to an amazing viewpoint overlooking Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley. The drive itself is an attraction as the road winds through a dense forest of mature Joshua trees on its way up to the viewpoint. On the return drive, you’ll be treated to a beautiful, sweeping view over the Mojave Desert.
Keys View Road will also bring you to the wonderful Cap Rock Accessible Nature Trail and Picnic Area. One of my favorite areas in the park.
8. Cap Rock
Cap Rock is in a really nice area of the park. The short accessible nature trail is great and it’s usually not as crowded as some of the other nearby areas.
If I had my mom or young kids with me, I’d definitely take them here.
Facilities —
Large paved parking area with a restroom and picnic tables.
Area Description —
As you enter the parking area, you’ll see several picnic tables scattered along the base of Cap Rock—a massive granite dome with a precariously balanced boulder on top.
In front of the accessible parking is a large rectangular boulder, and just to the right is the trailhead. If you follow the trail around the back of the boulder, you’ll find a restroom and another quiet picnic table hiding near the base of Cap Rock.
Trail Description —
At just under a half-mile, the wide, flat, hard-packed accessible loop trail with interpretive signs might not be that long, but it sure is pretty.
Along the trail, you’ll find several park benches with views of the surrounding area. This is one of those places where it’s nice to just sit back, relax, and take in the incredible scenery.
The trail is beautiful in both directions, so consider walking it one way, then turning around and walking it back the other way.
9. Keys View
One of the must-see attractions in the park is the view over Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley from Keys View. On a clear day, you’ll see not only the city and valley, but also the Salton Sea near Mexico, 10,834 ft Mt. San Jacinto, and 11,503 ft Mt. San Gorgonio—the tallest peak in Southern California.
Facilities —
Large paved parking area with a restroom and a paved walkway.
Area Description —
As you approach Keys View, you’ll first see an ADA viewpoint on the left with two accessible parking spots and a short paved walkway leading to a small, protected viewpoint. However, if you can manage the elevated walkway at the main viewpoint a half-mile up the road, the view from there is even better.
As you enter the main parking area, you’ll see a small lot on the right with accessible parking and a restroom.
Beyond that, the road becomes one-way as it loops through a larger parking area with more accessible parking and a paved walkway leading up to the viewpoint.
One way up to the viewpoint is a little shorter but steeper, with a handrail along the walkway and a park bench about halfway up. The other way is slightly longer and less steep. It doesn’t have a handrail, but there is a park bench up at the viewpoint.
The view is amazing at any time of day, but watching the sunrise and sunset from here can be one of the most memorable experiences the park has to offer.
10. Hall of Horrors
This is a really fun area to walk around and explore, especially for those with some scrambling chops. If scrambling’s not your thing, there’s an easy loop trail that will take you out to the first large rock formation. From there, you’ll see another trail that will take you back behind this formation to another cool formation.
Facilities —
Large paved parking area with a restroom.
Area Description —
From the parking area, you’ll see a relatively flat, well-established trail that loops out to the base of a large rock formation popular with climbers. You’ll also see a number of primitive trails used mostly by climbers to access the spectacular rock formations scattered throughout the area.
What makes this place unique are the long, narrow slot canyons hidden inside some of these rock formations, including one known as the Hall of Horrors.
The rock formations are impressive from the ground, but be careful if you decide to leave the desert floor—getting into the slots requires some serious scrambling, and the spaces can be extremely tight. If you’re not careful, you can quickly find yourself in over your head.
If you look to the south from the Hall of Horrors, you’ll get an excellent view of Ryan Mountain—one of the park’s most prominent peaks and home to one of the best hikes in the park.
One of the things I love to do is the hike to the summit of Ryan Mountain for sunset, then head to the Hall of Horrors for little scrambling after dark. I recorded this from the Hall of Horrors at around midnight under a full moon…
11. Ryan Mountain Trail
If you like to hike, you’ll love this rugged 1.5-mile trail to the summit of Ryan Mountain. If the hike to the top feels a bit much, the views over the Mojave from partway up the trail are excellent, too.
Facilities —
Large paved parking area with a restroom.
Trail Description —
The trail has lots of rock steps, uneven natural surfaces, and nearly 1,000 feet of steady elevation gain. In about a third of a mile, you’ll start to get a really nice view over the desert, and the higher you go, the better it gets. If you head up for sunrise or sunset—which I highly recommend—you’ll want a headlamp and maybe a hat, gloves, and a jacket. It can get little chilly up there, especially if the wind’s howling. If you have binoculars, you’ll want those with you, too.
Beyond Ryan Mountain
After Ryan Mountain, the road climbs through a gentle canyon and out onto a wide expanse of high desert, with sweeping views of the Mojave and Joshua trees stretching as far as the eye can see. You’ve now entered a quieter, more remote area of the park.
Before continuing, make sure you have enough time. From here, you’ll be heading farther away from the West Entrance, with a longer drive back than you might expect.
12. Skull Rock
Thanks to social media, one of the more popular attractions in the park is getting your picture taken next to Skull Rock — a huge boulder that looks like a giant skull.
Facilities —
Parking for Skull Rock is along both sides of Park Blvd, which can turn hectic when it’s busy.
If it’s too crowded to stop, not to worry. There’s an endless amount of boulders in the park that look like faces, animals, you name it. Just use your imagination and you’ll be amazed at what you see.
13. Live Oak Picnic Area
Two little picnic areas here — you want the one on the left.
Facilities —
Two small unpaved parking areas, one with a restroom and both with picnic tables.
Area Description —
Shortly after turning into Live Oak, the unpaved road splits. To the right is a small turnaround parking area with a restroom and a few picnic tables scattered along the base of a large rock formation.
To the left is a better, more secluded area with a few picnic tables and a beautiful view over the desert. If the park is really crowded, this can be a great place to find a little peace and quiet. The open desert behind the picnic area is also fun and easy to explore.
14. Split Rock Trail
I love this trail—at least half of it, anyway.
Facilities —
From Park Blvd, take the unpaved road a half a mile to a large unpaved parking area with a restroom and picnic tables.
Trail Description —
As you approach the end of the parking area, you’ll see a few picnic tables scattered around the base of Split Rock—an enormous boulder split in two.
Most visitors begin the 2.5-mile loop trail to the left of Split Rock, drop down into a large valley, and hike the trail counterclockwise.
However, it’s easier and more scenic to start at the opposite end, just up from the restroom, hike about halfway, and treat it as a 2.5-mile round-trip out-and-back rather than a full loop.
If you go this way, the trail winds through a few beautiful little valleys with towering rock formations and spectacular views. In about a mile, you’ll reach a park sign for the Face Rock Trail heading left.
At this point, the Split Rock Trail turns right and heads through the desert for a bit before climbing gently to a high point between two rock formations with a boulder beside the trail—this marks the turnaround point for the out-and-back.
For those who want to continue the loop from this direction, the trail goes over the high point and heads out along a high ridge with a sweeping view over the desert. From this vantage point, you should be able to see Split Rock and the trailhead on the other side of the valley.
The trail becomes more rugged as it descends to the valley floor, where it can get quite hot, and the trail a little tricky to follow. If it feels like the trail is leading you down valley, away from Split Rock and the trailhead, don’t worry—it eventually turns right and heads back up the valley.
Pinto Basin Road
The scenic Pinto Basin Road stretches 36 miles from Park Boulevard along the remote western edge of the Colorado Desert all the way down to Cottonwood Visitor Center and Interstate 10.
This area of the park has far fewer trails and developed areas than the Mojave, but it’s a beautiful drive with plenty of opportunities to pull over and take in the view. It’s also a fun area to explore. The first five miles of the road in particular has several pullouts with opportunities to hop out of the car and wander.
15. Arch Rock
A pleasant walk to a cool little arch with a nice view along the way.
Facilities —
Parking for Arch Rock is in the large paved parking area for Twin Tanks, a right-hand turn off Pinto Basin Road. The trailhead is at the far end of the lot.
Trail Description —
The mile-and-a-half round-trip walk to the arch starts out relatively flat with a sweeping view over the desert. In about half a mile, the trail descends rock steps and loops around the area to Arch Rock, then reconnects with the trail back to the trailhead.
If you look at it right, Arch Rock looks like a giant head with a long, skinny neck. If Skull Rock had a cousin, this might be it.
The Colorado Desert
Past this point, Pinto Basin Road begins its long, gradual descent toward the Colorado Desert. This is a good time to check in and make sure you have enough time to continue.
From here, you’re heading farther away from the West Entrance, with a longer drive back than you might expect. If you do go ahead, you might consider leaving through the south end of the park.
16. Cholla Cactus Garden
A 10-acre field of dense teddy-bear cholla cactus with a beautiful view looking east over the Colorado.
Facilities —
Large paved parking area.
Trail Description —
If you’re looking for the safest way to see the garden, enter the quarter-mile loop trial near the accessible parking and walk to the first wooden bridge and back. This section is wider and generally easier to navigate than the rest of the loop.
Be sure to keep a safe distance from the chollas. They can jump on you without being touched. Seriously, they really can.
17. Ocotillo Patch
Forever, I thought these alien-looking things were cactus, but they’re actually a plant.
Facilities —
Small paved parking area.
Area Description —
Just down the road from the Cholla Cactus Garden, you’ll find a small parking area on the right for the Ocotillo Patch, a collection of unusual desert plants that, in the spring, produce reddish-orange blooms at the tips of their long, slender branches.
18. Desert Views
A series of pullouts with sweeping views over the Colorado Desert.
Facilities —
Small paved parking areas.
Area Description —
Just down the road from the Ocotillo Patch, you’ll come to a large parking area on the left for Turkey Flats, with a view of Pinto Mountain to the north.
Beyond this point, the road begins to gently climb. As it does, you’ll come to four consecutive pullouts on the left, each offering a progressively better view over the Colorado Desert. The third pullout has an open stretch of sand in front of it, making it a good place to hop out of the car and take in the view. From here, you can see the Coxcomb Mountains way off in the distance. It’s hard to believe those mountains are still in the park.
19. Cottonwood Springs
A short walk to a desert oasis, with the option to continue on a longer hike.
Facilities —
Large paved parking area with a bench at the oasis.
Trail Description —
At the end of the parking area, an unpaved, hard-packed trail with a handrail descends a steep hill roughly 200 feet to the Cottonwood Springs oasis.
The spring itself sits partially hidden behind a cluster of large fan palms, but if you continue another 100 feet along the trail and turn around, you’ll get a great view of the entire oasis.
If you’re up for a hike, follow the trail up the hill for about half a mile to a junction with a park sign for the Mastodon Peak Trail, which branches left. This three-mile loop includes rock steps, uneven natural surfaces, and about 400 feet of elevation gain.
From the trail, you’ll get excellent views over the south end of the park. The trail eventually winds its way back down to the Cottonwood Springs parking area.
20. Bonus Area
After the Cottonwood Visitor Center, Pinto Basin Road winds through a gentle canyon on its way to Interstate 10. As you come out the other end of the canyon, you’ll see a small paved parking area on the left for the Bodega Trail.
This quarter-mile loop trail might not look like much from the road, but it’s actually a nice place to sit on one of the park benches and relax for a bit before jumping on the Interstate. The view over the desert from here is pretty sweet.
I hope you had a wonderful time in the park. If you’d like to share a story from your trip, I’d love to hear it. You can send me a message through the Contact page at daytrippersguide.com.
Safe travels,
Tim
Disclaimer
The information in this guide is provided for general informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, conditions in the park can change without notice due to weather, park management, or natural events. Visitors assume all responsibility for their own safety, including while driving, parking, hiking, or exploring. Trails and roads may be uneven, steep, or otherwise challenging. Always exercise caution, stay on designated trails where appropriate, and carry sufficient water, food, and safety equipment. This guide does not replace official park regulations, signage, or guidance from National Park Service personnel. Use of this guide is at your own risk. The author and publisher are not responsible for accidents, injuries, property damage, or other incidents that may occur while following the recommendations in this guide.
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