How To Get To Joshua Tree

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It'southward embarrassing to acknowledge, but ten years ago, when I first started going to Joshua Tree National Park, I got lost. I'd been shuffling along, marveling at the sheer magnitude of the fractured monzogranite towers, when I realized that the trail had vanished. I clambered atop the nearest pile of bouldersand took stock of the situation: an endless, undulating desert sparkling in the midday estrus—and thankfully, a familiar beige ribbon in the not too far distance.

I offer this chestnut not to dissuade a visit, merely to say that Joshua Tree is then mesmerizing that information technology's pretty easy to get turned around out there. It's also pretty damn vast. Originally home to the Cahuilla, Chemehuevi, Mojave, Serrano, Western Shoshone peoples, the park'south borders comprise nearly 800,000 acres, more than a tertiary of them designated wilderness, and many of those trail-free, a siren phone call to anyone who might savor a little desert solitaire.

Merely this is no lonely swath of sand. The whole place is riddled with snaking canyons, hidden oases, and bulbous rocks hosting a variety of wildlife, including bobcats, coyotes, jackrabbits, and the threatened Mojave desert tortoise. In addition, the Southern California park receives nearly 3 one thousand thousand visitors a twelvemonth who fan across its dual regions—the more arid and remote Colorado Desert, to the eastward, and the higher-elevation and more heavily developed Mojave Desert, to the west. The latter is where you lot'll find the highest concentration of the park's Seussian namesake, which is not a tree at all but a monocot, a flowering plant that'due south related to yucca.

What You lot Demand to Know Before You Get

Joshua Tree National Park Guide — (miroslav_1/iStock)

Beware the spiky chollas. During one of my primeval Joshua Tree hikes, a spindly segment of pencil cholla pierced through the thick prophylactic of my boot soles. Not long afterwards plucking information technology out, I accidentally kicked a hefty wad of Teddybear Cholla into my tender calf. This is to say: pay attention to your surroundings. Long sleeves and pants help prevent contact with pointy pests, but the importance of a kit featuring a beefy set of pliers to pry off stems from shoes tin can't be underestimated.

Set up to put your navigational skills to the exam. Despite all the thorny traps, my favorite way to experience Joshua Tree is to ramble cantankerous-country; for this, a skilful map and solid backcountry skills are crucial. Spend a mean solar day finding your way to Quail Mountain, the park's loftier bespeak at v,814 anxiety, and nearby Mount Minerva Hoyt, neither of which have developed trails to their summits. The latter is named for a adult female who lobbied Franklin D. Roosevelt to designate the expanse as a national park; while information technology was first protected every bit a national monument, Hoyt's wish was granted in 1994, nigh fifty years after her death. The peaks peaks are located several miles west of the Hidden Valley Picnic Area as the crow flies; several established off-trail routes exist from the north and the east, so dig into some inquiry and consult a topo map before committing to a plan.

Embrace the golden hours. Joshua Tree is pure magic during the wee hours. Low-cal pollution is minimal, so the dark skies absolutely sparkle. August is a stargazer's delight during the Perseid meteor shower. Set your alarm to catch sunrise the next day. The Cholla Cactus Garden, located on Pinto Basin Route at the park'southward center, and Keys View (boasting sight lines to the glittering Salton Bounding main and across), further due west at the terminate of Keys View Road, are specially picturesque at this time.

How to Become There

The nearest drome is Palm Springs International, located less than an hr from the park's quiet south entrance off Interstate 10. There'southward not much in this area besides tumbleweeds and highway traffic, simply y'all'll find Cottonwood Company Center seven miles from the park's southern entrance. Its 62-site campground is a less in-demand option than lodging inside the parkduring high flavour (October to May, when it accepts reservations only, from $xx), and has several hiking trails. Detour to Lappert'southward Ice Cream in Palm Desert, 25 minutes southeast of the airdrome, for a thick date milkshake to sweeten the bulldoze.

The pocket-size merely colorful community of Joshua Tree is home to the west archway and its namesake visitor center, although the park'due south most popular features are about a xxx-minute drive into the park. It's most frequently used past visitors coming from Los Angeles. The 2-and-a-half-hour drive from Los Angeles International Aerodrome offers plenty of diversions; information technology's practically required to end and snap a photo beside 1 of the famous Cabazon Dinosaurs—you'll know them when you see them, particularly if you're a Pee-wee Herman fan.

The northward entrance is located just below the city of Twentynine Palms, known for its Marine Corps base and vibrant public murals. Enjoy the sights, then cool down with a stroll through the shady Oasis of Mara and next company center. During high flavour, use this entrance to avoid long waits, and pay park fees at the company middle for even faster entry.

What's the Best Fourth dimension of Twelvemonth to Visit Joshua Tree?

While hearty locals and curious visitors cruise the park year-round (even during its sultry summer flavor, when temperatures often hit 100 degrees), crowds swell in the more temperate autumn and jump months, which maintain a range of 50 to 85 degrees, dipping simply during the harshest wintertime weather condition, when it tin can go every bit low as 35 degrees.

Autumn: Prime time begins in October, when temperatures downshift from summer's triple-digit highs and visitors begin to pour in. You'll probable have to jockey for parking at most established trailheads, so arrive early on in the day. Campgrounds likewise fill upwardly quickly, at least over the weekends, then have a backup programme—say, camping outside the park or springing for a hotel room—if y'all're rolling upward without a reservation.

Winter: The months of December and January are mercurial: 1 24-hour interval you're playing lizard on a sunny stone, and the next you lot're swaddled in a pile of downwardly. Layers are central. Biting winds, rainstorms, and snow showers aren't uncommon, but the upside for those prepared for the choosy elements is that cold temperatures and precipitation go along the shoulder season's larger crowds at bay (though you won't exist completely solitary on trails or at camp).

Spring: Thanks to abundant wildflowers and mild temperatures, bound is the most popular flavour in Joshua Tree. Joshua trees begin sprouting their creamy blossoms in February, and bright splotches from blooming cacti and wildflowers—including the desert lily, sand verbena, and ocotillo—dot the desert floor through April.

Summer: A visit between May and September grants more solitude only not without significant cost: temperatures frequently top 100 degrees. Come up prepared with ample water, protective habiliment, and perhaps even an umbrella or shade construction for your campsite. And take it piece of cake—estrus-related illnesses are mutual and sometimes prove fatal.

Where to Stay in Joshua Tree National Park

In the Park

Snagging a camp in Joshua Tree is a competitive sport during peak seasons; no day of the week is easy, though the odds improve midweek. The Indian Cove, Black Stone, Jumbo Rocks, and Cottonwood Campgrounds (from $15) are reservable via Recreation.gov; all others are showtime-come, starting time-served (and some, including Belle and Ryan, close in the summer months). My favorite of these is White Tank, a small and somewhat remote campground that's a xx-minute drive from the park's Twentynine Palms entrance on Pinto Basin Road. From camp, it's a short walk forth a half-mile nature trail to find splendid sunrise views at nearby Arch Rock. Dirtbags frequent the more than centrally located Hidden Valley Campground ($15) for its proximity to primo climbing at massive Intersection Stone. Wait to brand friends if you take climbing gear lying effectually.

Beyond the Park

If you strike out in the park, in that location'south Joshua Tree Lake RV and Campground (from $20), about xx minutes due north of the main archway. It's an affordable option that lacks the park's iconic boulder piles just makes up for it with a small, serene angling lake. Alternatively, y'all tin can fix on a checkerboard of BLM parcels scattered merely below the southern archway, off of Cottonwood Springs Route and Interstate 10. For less sandy digs, book a room at the charming Joshua Tree Inn (from $115), or bunk downwards in one of 10 themed rentals at Hicksville Trailer Palace (from $75), something of a summer camp for adults thanks to amenities that include an archery range, Ping-Pong table, and mini-golf form. Both are a ten-minute bulldoze from the park's west entrance. Twentynine Palms boasts far more lodging. The 29 Palms Inn (from $110) is one of its near unique, with lush landscaping, rustic cabins, colorful adobes, and an organic garden that's harvested for an on-site restaurant. And Instagrammable Airbnb rentals abound along Highway 62, from rustic desert cabins to geodesic dome houses.

What to Practise While You're There

While driving around to ogle Joshua Tree's iconic rock formations is a noble pursuit in itself, this playful mural is best experienced on foot. Exist sure to pack in all the h2o you'll demand,becausethere'south very piddling bachelor in the park beyond at the visitor centers and Black Stone Campground. And download whatsoever maps or apps ahead of time as cell service is effectively nonexistent.

Hiking

The one-mile loop effectually Barker Dam, located off its namesake road in the north side of the park, is a family unit-friendly option that passes ane of Joshua Tree's few watering holes, a pond that nurtures plant life and rises during winter rains, which makes it one of the best sites to view migrating birds. At the dam site, wait for an inscription in the physical and a spiral-shaped trough beneath, remnants of the area's cattle-ranching history. Farther ahead, an obvious turnoff leads to a cave decorated with petroglyphs.

Ten minutes south, on Park Boulevard, the popular three-mile out-and-back hike to Ryan Mountain leads to can't-miss views of the park's western one-half, including the massive boulder piles that form the Wonderland of Rocks. For more confinement, depart from Black Stone Campground on the park'due south quieter western edge for a 6.three-mile out-and-dorsum hike to the summit of Warren Peak, a craggy promontory that offers front-row views of two SoCal gems—San Gorgonio Mountain and Mount San Jacinto, often snowcapped from fall through jump.

Of form, no Joshua Tree experience is complete without a trip through its aureate-loving by. The moderately difficult 6.5-mile loop to Lost Equus caballus Mine, located off Keys View Route, features the well-preserved remnants of a successful mine that generated the modern equivalent of $5 1000000 worth of gilt and silverish ore during its heyday too every bit expansive vistas across the park's southernmost reaches. For a longer alternative, set up a auto shuttle to day-hike or backpack the 16-mile roundtrip Boy Picket Trail, which skirts the impressive Wonderland of Rocks and offers a side trip only over a mile from its southern terminus to visit Willow Hole, a seasonal water source and wild animals draw that rings its famed tree.

Climbing

The rock here is globe-famous—and famously sandbagged—so cheque your ego before chalking up. Winter and spring offer the grippiest rock, just that iconic grit will also chew the flesh right off your fingers, and then pack plenty of tape and antibiotic ointment.

While it doesn't have much to offering sport climbers, the park boasts thousands of slabby boulder issues and crack-laden trad routes spread far and broad. A bike, car, or opposable thumb is necessary to go around. The Subconscious Valley area is popular, due to its proximity to its namesake campground, only no matter where you lot climb, bring plenty of sun protection, approach shoes, and a level caput. Runouts are mutual, as are surprisingly spicy walk-offs.

Robert Miramontes'sJoshua Tree Bouldering is the volume to carry if you lot're dragging a crash pad. Joshua Tree Outfitters rents well-worn copies. For more hands-on teaching, consider taking a class or springing for a individual guide from Vertical Adventures. You tin too snag beta from rangers and fellow dirtbags at the Climbers Coffee sessions offered weekend mornings at Hidden Valley Campground during the high season.

Horseback Riding

While riding across an exposed, waterless desert isn't for everyone, well-prepared equestrians (including those who hire the knowledgeable guides at Knob Hill Ranch, from $105 for 90 minutes) volition be able to access over 250 miles of …horse-friendly paths, including a 37-mile chunk of the much larger California Riding and Hiking Trail, which stretches from Blackness Rock Campground in the park's northwest corner to its n entrance virtually Twentynine Palms.

Bird-Watching

Pack your binoculars, bird nerds. Thank you to its location forth the famous Pacific Flyway migration route, the park hosts over 250 species of songbirds, waterbirds, and raptors. Year-circular, you'll likely spot quail, roadrunners, egrets, osprey, cerise-tailed hawks, and bald eagles. But visit in spring for max avian stoke.

Cycling

While singletrack is off-limits, bikes are allowed on all of Joshua Tree'southward public roads. Stick to the dirt roads for more solitude and gamble. Queen Valley Road, which begins merely south of the Barker Dam Trailhead, is a relatively chill prowl that leads to the trailhead for Desert Queen Mine. Lock your cycle at the trailhead and hike in one.5 miles to view the remains of historic stone buildings and mining equipment. Farther west, climb some 400 anxiety on remote Eureka Peak Road to reach its eponymous summit and excellent views. Check in with the folks at Joshua Tree Bike Shop for boosted recommendations and rentals.

The Best Places to Eat and Potable Effectually Joshua Tree

The customs of Joshua Tree, 10 minutes n ofthe park's westward entrance, is pocket-size but mighty when information technology comes to eats; plus, everything is inside walking distance of the town's sole stoplight. I've spent more mornings than I can count hunched over a stiff loving cup of joe (roasted by Joshua Tree Coffee Company; snag an excellent bag of beans at their storefront across the route) and a plate of salsa-slathered eggs and polenta at Crossroads Café.

For lunch I pull up a stool (and order a pint), then sink into a portobello burger at the Joshua Tree Saloon. For lighter fare, information technology'due south over to the Natural Sisters Café for a smoothie. On the rare occasion I'm not scarfing dinner by headlamp, I caput straight to Sam'southward Fine Indian Cuisine and Pizza (these multitasking entrepreneurs besides own a convenience shop next door) for a belly total of curry.

Twentynine Palms offers a more expansive pick of eateries, including fast-food joints you won't find in the town of Joshua Tree. Skip those in favor of Kitchen in the Desert, a cozy and creative eatery with Caribbean-inspired foodlocated on Mesquite Avenue; information technology's as well a nifty identify to hammer abroad at your keyboard if the need should arise. You don't need to exist a guest to enjoy an evening at the 29 Palms Inn; grab a seat at the poolside bar and restaurant for cocktails and upscale comfort food, much of information technology crafted from its on-site garden.

If You Have Time for a Detour

South Entrance: If entering from the south, it'southward worth the mileage to drop 30 minutes down to the Salton Sea, a highly saline (and rapidly disappearing) lake formed accidentally at the turn of the 20th century when the Colorado River flooded an existing irrigation system. At that place's a visitor center and campground on its north shore at the Salton Sea State Recreation Expanse, which offers bully bird-watching, with several hundred species of feathered friends making their way through on their winter migrations. Forty minutes southeast of here sits Salvation Mountain, a vibrant folk-art installation with religious overtones and pop-culture connotations. The site served every bit a backdrop for a memorable scene in the film accommodation of Into the Wild.

West Entrance: The long stretch of Highway 62 between Morongo Valley and Twentynine Palms offers enough of diversions and deserves at least a full day of your itinerary. Heading east, brainstorm with a saunter around the lush Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, a major stopover on the Pacific Flyway and part of the relatively new Sand to Snowfall National Monument, to bask the very rare sight of desert wetlands. From there, bulldoze ten minutes to caffeinate at Yucca Valley's rustic Frontier Café, and so veer due north a few minutes more to sit a spell at the rustic Pappy and Harriet'southward Pioneertown Palace, equal parts dive bar, BBQ joint, and earth-class music venue (I highly recommend making dinner reservations and scoring show tickets every bit its outdoor stage is unforgettable, no matter who'due south playing). Farther due north, in tiny Landers, make an appointment well ahead of time to align your chakras to the dulcet tones of a sound bath at the Integratron (from $40), a domed structure that sits on a geomagnetic vortex in the Mojave Desert. Closer to the park's Joshua Tree entrance, trace a series of dusty roads to go far at the Noah Purifoy Desert Art Museum of Assemblage Art (free of charge, open sunrise to sunset), an immersive homage to its namesake creator, who used discarded materials to concoct fantastical sculptures.

How to Be Conscious

Joshua Tree Rock Formation — (innovatedcaptures/iStock)

Judging from the relentless news coverage of vandals running amok during the near recent authorities shutdown, you'd call back Joshua Tree was overrun with trash and criminals. While some damage did occur, the impacts were mitigated by local groups, including Friends of Joshua Tree and the Mojave Desert Land Trust, which take stewardship seriously, and aside from occasional sprays of graffiti, virtually visitors do too.

The park's ecosystems are fragile, so enter with a spirit of respect, and research seasonal restrictions. If you venture off-trail, accept care to avert trampling cryptobiotic soil underfoot. This dark and delicate crust, which traps rainfall and provides structural stability, is comprised of living organisms and can take years to rebuild once crushed.

In more well-traveled areas, look out for climbing and overnight-camping restrictions, which are frequently enacted to protect nesting raptors and desert bighorn sheep as well as allow wildlife unfettered access to precious water resources. On the field of study of climbing: any bolting, even the replacement of existing hardware, requires permits, and power drills are not allowed in the wilderness. The place is packed with traces of man history—petroglyphs, pictographs, shelters, mines, mills, and across, which endure damage over time merely from human touch.