Hikes at Joshua Tree

The hikes at Joshua Tree National Park are some of the best we have ever done! The landscape is otherworldly and just spectacular. I had no idea I would fall in love with a desert so much but I really did! This is what you need to know to go and the best hikes at Joshua Tree.

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Los Angeles to Joshua Tree

Getting from Los Angeles to Joshua Tree is pretty easy if you are driving just follow the I-10E Highway for about 2.5 hours. You can hire a car in Los Angeles and drive straight from the airport.

Alternatively you can do what we did and take public transport! It was so much easier than expected. From LAX we jumped on a bus right at the airport to Union Station, then caught the Flix Bus to Palm Springs. There is a range of buses you could take from Union Station to Palm Springs, Amtrak or Greyhound.

Palm Springs to Joshua Tree

Then from Palm Springs we hired a car and drove ourselves to Joshua Tree so we could get around the national park at our leisure. You can take a tour from Palm Springs to Joshua Tree also if you don’t want to drive yourself, but it is so worth having a car and glamping at Joshua Tree!

Joshua Tree National Park Entrance

There is an entry fee to enter Joshua Tree National Park. It is $30USD for a private vehicle which can be used for 7 days. You can purchase it ahead of time.

Reserve campsite Joshua Tree

You will also need to book and pay for your campsite in Joshua Tree. The prices vary depending on which site you choose. There are multiple campsites in the park in different areas and each offers different views and experiences.

Below I have outlined my favourites and what they are all best for, you should look to reserve campsite at Joshua Tree as early as possible, even months out. The closer it gets all the best sites will be booked out. You also really need to look at the site and what is possible to put on it before booking as some are for small tents only, some are for RVs, large tents etc. We needed a large tent site for our glamping Joshua Tree experience. We made our Joshua Tree campsite reservation a month out and it was already pretty much all booked out except for a few sites.

Joshua Tree places to stay

Best Campsites Joshua Tree

There are multiple campsites in Joshua Tree National Park to choose from. Each is slightly different but all offer that desert landscape! The most popular are:

Indian Cove- very big with lots of choices, in the northern part of the park.
Black Rock – big with lots of sites, great for kids and accessibility.
Jumbo Rocks- mid sized site. In the centre of the park with lots of…jumbo rocks.
Ryans Campsite – small size, mostly used by rock climbers. This has some really pretty views! In the centre of the park.
Sheep Pass – for groups only.
Cottonwood Campsite – big, flushing toilets and water available, best reached by the southern entry to Joshua Tree.
Belle Campsite – Beautiful! First come first served style, you can’t book sites here. You have to turn up and hope that one is available then go pay for it.

Best Campsite in Joshua Tree

My top picks for the best campsites at Joshua Tree are Jumbo Rocks, Ryans Campground and Belle Campground. These are the most beautiful to me. I also think Indian Cove has some really nice spots as well. I can’t stress how important it is to book early. The sites book out weeks or even months in advance. We booked our site about a month early and almost everything was already booked out then. There are cancellations that come up closer to your date but you can’t rely on it.

We really searched all the campsites to find out perfect one for our glamping Joshua Tree experience and I highly recommend Jumbo Rocks campsite site number 62! We had a view of jumbo rocks and were tucked away in a little alcove. The road was quiet and there was a toilet nearby. There was also a big rock right next to us that we could climb to get views across the park. It was our perfect spot! We spend two awesome days glamping Joshua Tree, check out our incredible set up!

Accommodation Joshua Tree

If you don’t want to camp in the national park here are the incredible options that are super close to it! Just have a car and drive in and out of the park. These are some really cool stays!

Casa De Frank – great price for location in Joshua Tree Town, full of character with nice hosts.

Beautiful newly remodeled home, near JT Park – Stunning interior, great location with views

Desert Escape- w Pool & Spa – modern and clean, a very ‘Joshua Tree’ desert experience!

Desert Serenity near Joshua Tree park entrance – stunning home right near the entrance to Joshua Tree

Sacred Sands – excellent location, really close to the entrance, cool experience

Airstream Joshua Tree

One thing I know is that I will one hundred per cent come back to Joshua Tree and when I do I will stay in an Airstream at Joshua Tree! These are so cool. Airstreams turned into accommodation for the ultimate Joshua Tree vibes. You will find them at AutoCamp Joshua Tree. The location is awesome, there is a pool and breakfast included, I need to stay here!

Joshua Tree Town

Joshua Tree town is just before the road to the Joshua Tree National Park entrance. It is really cute and worth checking out. It feels like a big western town but there is one Main Street with cute little thrift stores, clothing and souvenir shops as well as great cafes, a tavern and the national park information centre. We loved walking the Main Street and stopping in at the cute shops along the way.

A must see is the famously tiny crochet museum. It is the smallest little box full of hand made crochet items. They are really intricate and beautifully made, you can then purchase items in their shop next door. I loved visiting this!

Joshua Tree Town Palm Springs worlds smallest crochet museum

Joshua Tree Town Palm worlds smallest crochet museum

A great pub for beer and burgers is the Joshua Tree Saloon. It is an old western style pub with excellent food and character.

Right near here you will also find some cool old buildings that you have to go check out, there was even an undertaker!

Joshua Tree National Park things to do

Best Hike at Joshua Tree

The Best hike at Joshua Tree for us was the Hidden Valley. It is really beautiful and leads you on a hike of the landscape through stunning rock formations, vegetation and big open sky views! The trail is only a 1.6km (1 mile) loop and is not too difficult, we saw elderly people walking it with no problems at all. It takes about an hour to complete depending on how much you stop to look around you!

Once the hideout for stock rustlers this is now a firm favourite and one of the best hikes in Joshua Tree National Park. Keep your eyes peeled for Cow Rock during your hike. It really is a pretty place and great to get a sense of the Joshua Tree National Park. There are sign posts with information but f you want more in-depth info or stories of the area you can get this Joshua Tree’s Hidden Valley Self-Guided Walking Tour. It is really cool and a great way to learn while you are walking the area.

Hall of Horrors Joshua Tree

Our next favourite hike is the Hall of Horrors Joshua Tree. It is a cool one! There are actually multiple hikes you can do here but the actual ‘Hall of Horrors’ is a slot canyon to the back of the larger rocks. You can rock climb or go bouldering here but you have to be careful as with all areas of the park.

Skull Rock

Another of our favourite spots in Joshua Tree National Park! This rock is super famous and you have to stop and get a picture with it. Of course you can just pull over on the side of the road and take a snap or you can hike there from the Jumbo Rocks Campsite. We stayed here and hiked over, it is an easy 1 ish hour walk if you do decide to do the hike and intersects with the Split Rock Trail.

Stargazing at Joshua Tree

Stargazing is a popular Joshua Tree activity. The skies are big and open and perfect to go stargazing. By staying in the park and glamping in Joshua Tree we were able to pop out and watch the stars from our tent. We loved watching the stars come out, it was beautiful…and cold at night.

While you can see stars from most of the campsites there are designated stargazing spots at the parking lots of Quail Springs, Hidden Valley, Cap Rock, and Ryan Mountain. Stay awake and within 6 meters of your vehicle, to enjoy the night skies at their best. If stargazing is your priority then Cottonwood campground has the darkest skies so might be the best campground for you.

Joshua Tree Milky Way

Joshua Tree can be the perfect location to see the Milky Way! You will want to go in Summer and look for a still moonless night for best viewing.

Joshua Tree National Park Rock Climbing

Joshua Tree is the perfect place to go rock climbing or bouldering. I really do have to say that this should be something you attempt if you are experienced or with a group of experienced climbers. We are not climbers but love a good scramble and there are plenty of these here as well.

You will see the rock climbers kitted out, it is a serious business and one I love watching. The national park has info on the best climbing practices here. I would really recommend going in a group! We saw loads of climbers at Ryans Ranch near the campground there and at Barker Dam.

There is a hike you can do at Ryans Ranch which is super close to the campsite. It takes about an hour and a half and is a bit uphill. There are artefacts there to check out and great views out over the desert landscape.

Joshua Tree Sunset

We love a good sunset and I really loved the Joshua Tree sunset! We had a great spot right near our site, by climbing up the little hill next to our camp we could see the landscape unfolding around us with the pretty sunset colours lighting up the sky. It was also a nice spot for sunrises too!

Another great Joshua Tree sunset spot is either Keys View or the Cholla Cactus Garden.

Flowers Joshua Tree National Park

Wild flowers in Joshua Tree National Park bloom from January to June. They start in the lower lying areas such as Cottonwood early in the year and move higher as the weather warms up. Keep an eye out around Jumbo Rocks between March to May, then April to June around Black Rock. The flowers in Joshua Tree National Park are not great big blooms but smaller desert flowers. Due to the harsh conditions the flower buds are smaller to conserve water. They are fragile and many are endemic to the area. Please don’t pick flowers here, just take some great pictures and leave them to thrive. You will need to look at the ground to see them as they are small and usually grow low to the ground.

Once every 5+ years there is a superbloom. This happens when there has been excess water in the water table. We visited the San Andreas Fault with Red Jeep Tours and they were experiencing one there. It was incredible to see such tiny flowers that they said had not been seen for years!

Cholla Cactus Garden

The Cholla Cactus Garden in Joshua Tree is really beautiful, especially in the late afternoon. It can also be a great sunset spot. Here you will find a huge cactus garden that has a walking path through it. These cactuses are also called jumping cactus so be careful how close you stand or step. I have read of people walking here in thongs or canvas shoes and getting cactus thorns in their feet. Make sure not to get too close and you should be fine. I wore my converse and didn’t have a problem.

Joshua Tree Tours

These are the best tours to see Joshua Tree if you don’t have a car or can’t get there yourself.

Joshua Tree National Park Air-Conditioned Tour – half-day tour from Palm Desert. Visit the most iconic locations in the park including its legendary giant boulders. Learn about the San Andreas Fault and hear stories of the Native Americans who lived in the area.

Joshua Tree National Park Offroad Tour – Touring the park via 4×4, you’ll get to ride deep into the rugged backcountry, nabbing enviable views of the Mojave Desert, the sacred Joshua trees, wild rock formations, and more, making the most of your precious time in this incredible national park.

Joshua Tree National Park Self-Driving Audio Tour – DIY but with no hassle! This Joshua Tree National Park Self-Driving Audio Tour lets you explore the park in your own vehicle while navigating the area with a tour that leads the way. Just download the app on your smartphone, launch the app when you get the park, and follow the recommended route and speed limit.

Palm Springs & Joshua Tree: National Park Self-Guided Tours – Discover Joshua Tree National Park and Palm Springs with this pair of self-guided driving tours, featuring amazing desert sights, plenty of history, and homes of celebs like Frank Sinatra and Elvis!

Joshua Tree: Half-Day Private Hike of the National Park – Experience the magic of Joshua Tree National Park on a private tour tailored to your interests. Explore unique landscapes and learn from a local guide.

Facilities at Joshua Tree National Park

There is no water in the national park after entering. You will need to bring your own water or be prepared to drive out to the entrance when it is needed.
Most sites have a fire pit which is very cool! Keep an eye on your fire and make sure to extinguish it complely when it is unattended. Also keep an eye out for fire ban signage as there will be periods you can not light a fire. You will need to bring your own firewood, starters and matches.
There are no flushing toilets in the park except at Black Rock and Cottonwood campsites. The rest have drop toilets which are cleaned very regularly. They are stocked with toilet paper and there is no tap to wash your hands. They also usually have no lights to see inside.
The sites are not electric so come with ice to keep your food fresh and charged batteries. If you have a generator please respect the operating hours.
There is no cell service in much of the park, make sure to travel, hike and stay with a friend or group
Much of the park is one way so you will need to keep an eye out for signs indicating this as well as speed limits. There are rangers that patrol the park and will hand out speeding tickets or parking fines as well.

Safety in Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park is a desert landscape so you do need to take precautions when visiting. Make sure to carry enough water with you, eat slightly salty snacks so you don’t lose too many salts if sweating, wear a hat, sunscreen and always tell someone where you are going or stay with your group.

Don’t attempt any climbing, bouldering or scrambling you are not confident with. Take a first aid kit with you and be aware that for much of the time you will be out of cell service. Make sure your batteries are charged up and be a considerate camper.

In terms of animals, there are some to be aware of in the park. Make sure to keep your food in containers, an esky or locked up in the car. Animals will try to enter your tent or be attracted to food left out at your site.

Check out all the necessary safety tips at the Joshua Tree National Park website to get the most up to date information.