Joshua Tree National Park guides
12 in-depth guides to Joshua Tree National Park, in reading order: what to see, how to get around, and what to know before you go. Back to the Joshua Tree National Park overview.
High-Desert Seasons and Spring Wildflowers
Most of Joshua Tree National Park sits at or above 4,000 feet, so it often feels cooler than visitors expect.
Joshua Trees: The Park's Seussian Namesake
Scientifically called Yucca brevifolia, the Joshua tree belongs to the agave family and gives Joshua Tree National Park its name.
Monzogranite Boulders 100 Million Years in Making
The boulder piles of Joshua Tree began as molten rock deep underground. Between 250 and 75 million years ago, tectonic plate movements pushed volcanic material toward the surface, and the magma cooled into monzogranite.
Keys View: San Andreas Fault to Salton Sea
Keys View sits along the top ridge of the Little San Bernardino Mountains, and from it you can take in a wide vista across the Coachella Valley.
Hiking Ryan Mountain and Other Desert Trails
Few trails in the central part of the park draw as many hikers as Ryan Mountain. Expect about three miles out and back and roughly 1,050 feet of climbing.
8,000 Routes: Quail Springs to Intersection Rock
Rock climbing is the big draw at Joshua Tree, with more than 8,000 established routes spread across the park.
Dark Sky Spots: Cap Rock to Pinto Basin
Night skies are a major draw here, since the park is an International Dark Sky Park and one of the finest national parks for watching the stars and capturing the Milky Way on camera.
Where Mojave Meets Colorado Desert
Two desert ecosystems meet in this park, the Mojave and the Colorado, and elevation is the main factor separating them.
Bighorn Sheep, Coyotes and Desert Survivors
Desert bighorn sheep are one of the park's notable animals. To let them reach water sources without being disturbed, certain areas are off limits to overnight stays.
Keys Ranch and Bill Keys' Desert Homestead
Keys Ranch can only be seen on a ranger-led walking tour. Park staff limit access to guided walks to protect the property's historic character, and each outing covers about half a mile and lasts between 90 and 120 minutes.
Nine Campgrounds and Peak-Season Camping
Joshua Tree National Park has nine campgrounds, with settings that range from developed sites with full facilities to more primitive camps.
Arch Rock and Heart Rock Scramble
The Arch Rock Trail is a 1.8-mile loop in Joshua Tree National Park that most hikers finish in one to two hours.
