IntroductionThe United States Congress designated the Joshua Tree Wilderness (map) in 1976 and it now has a total of 594,502 acres. All of this wilderness is located in California and is managed by the National Park Service. The Joshua Tree Wilderness is bordered by the Sheephole Valley Wilderness to the north and the Pinto Mountains Wilderness to the north. Description
The California Desert Protection Act of 1994 transformed Joshua Tree National Monument into a national park and expanded the old designated Wilderness by 133,382 acres. The additions thrust north into the Pinto Mountains, northeast into the Coxcomb Mountains, southeast into the Eagle Mountains, and southwest into the Little San Bernardino Mountains. Most of the park away from road corridors is Wilderness, a fabulous meeting place of two desert ecosystems. The lower, drier Colorado Desert dominates the eastern half of the park, home to abundant creosote bushes, the spidery ocotillo, and the "jumping" cholla cactus. The slightly more cool and moist Mojave Desert covers the western half of the park, serving as a hospitable breeding ground for the undisciplined Joshua tree. You'll find examples of a third ecosystem within the park: five fan-palm oases, where surface or near-surface water gives life to the stately palms. By day, you might spy bighorn sheep on mountainous slopes, numerous lizards lazing in the heat, and eagles soaring in bright sunlight. Still, it's nighttime that truly brings the desert to life, with tarantulas, rattlesnakes, coyotes, jackrabbits, bobcats, kangaroo rats, and burrowing owls responding to the lure of the dry, cool air. You'll witness some of the most fascinating geologic displays to be found in any of Southern California's desertland: twisted rock
formations and granite monoliths painted with faded colors into a giant and beautiful mosaic. These rocks are an immense attraction to rock climbers.
You won't find a lot of trails, but you will find travel relatively easy in multitudes of arroyos and playas, bajadas, and narrow ravines that require scrambling over skin-scraping boulders. Carry water.Joshua Tree National Park is made up of 75 percent wilderness and lies 140 miles east of Los Angeles, 175 miles northeast of San Diego, and 215 miles southwest of Las Vegas. You can approach it from Interstate 10 and Hwy 62 (Twentynine Palms Highway). The closest airport is in Palm Springs. Public transportation to the park is not available. There are three park entrance stations: 1) The west entrance is located five miles south of the junction of Highway 62 and Park Boulevard at Joshua Tree Village. 2) The north entrance is in Twentynine Palms, three miles south of the junction of Highway 62 and Utah Trail. 3) The south entrance at Cottonwood Spring, which lies 25 miles east of Indio, can be approached from the east or west, also via Interstate 10.
The California Desert Protection Act of 1994 transformed Joshua Tree National Monument into a national park and expanded the old designated Wilderness by 133,382 acres. The additions thrust north into the Pinto Mountains, northeast into the Coxcomb Mountains, southeast into the Eagle Mountains, and southwest into the Little San Bernardino Mountains. Most of the park away from road corridors is Wilderness, a fabulous meeting place of two desert ecosystems. The lower, drier Colorado Desert dominates the eastern half of the park, home to abundant creosote bushes, the spidery ocotillo, and the "jumping" cholla cactus. The slightly more cool and moist Mojave Desert covers the western half of the park, serving as a hospitable breeding ground for the undisciplined Joshua tree. You'll find examples of a third ecosystem within the park: five fan-palm oases, where surface or near-surface water gives life to the stately palms. By day, you might spy bighorn sheep on mountainous slopes, numerous lizards lazing in the heat, and eagles soaring in bright sunlight. Still, it's nighttime that truly brings the desert to life, with tarantulas, rattlesnakes, coyotes, jackrabbits, bobcats, kangaroo rats, and burrowing owls responding to the lure of the dry, cool air. You'll witness some of the most fascinating geologic displays to be found in any of Southern California's desertland: twisted rock
formations and granite monoliths painted with faded colors into a giant and beautiful mosaic. These rocks are an immense attraction to rock climbers.
You won't find a lot of trails, but you will find travel relatively easy in multitudes of arroyos and playas, bajadas, and narrow ravines that require scrambling over skin-scraping boulders. Carry water.Joshua Tree National Park is made up of 75 percent wilderness and lies 140 miles east of Los Angeles, 175 miles northeast of San Diego, and 215 miles southwest of Las Vegas. You can approach it from Interstate 10 and Hwy 62 (Twentynine Palms Highway). The closest airport is in Palm Springs. Public transportation to the park is not available. There are three park entrance stations: 1) The west entrance is located five miles south of the junction of Highway 62 and Park Boulevard at Joshua Tree Village. 2) The north entrance is in Twentynine Palms, three miles south of the junction of Highway 62 and Utah Trail. 3) The south entrance at Cottonwood Spring, which lies 25 miles east of Indio, can be approached from the east or west, also via Interstate 10.
Trails
Summary
Difficulty
Distance
Hidden Valley, Joshua Tree National Park
Sample the best of Joshua Tree National Park on this short 1 mile nature trail loop in the heart of the park.
Sample the best of Joshua Tree National Park on this short 1 mile nature trail loop in the heart of the park.
Easy
1.0 mi/
1.6 km
1.6 km
Joshua Tree Peak from Indian Cove Campground
Rock scrambling. 3.9 mile trail near Panorama Heights, California
Rock scrambling. 3.9 mile trail near Panorama Heights, California
n/a
3.9 mi/
6.3 km
6.3 km
Guides
Sample the best of Joshua Tree National Park on this short 1 mile nature trail loop in the heart of the park.
Rock scrambling. 3.9 mile trail near Panorama Heights, California
Community Trips
some of this text from Hiking in Palm Springs:
Painted Canyon, in the heart of the hills, exhibits many mineral
deposits in hues of rose, pink, red, purple and green. The canyon runs
in a general north-south direction, and is distinguished by sandy
washes sprinkled with Ironwood, Smoke Trees, and Palo Verde. Keen eyed
wildflower enthusiasts will also find the rare Mecca aster, a lilac
tinted bloom resembling a daisy. Along the rim of the canyon and...
A short but rewarding nature walk in the heart of Joshua Tree.
Full write up at Modern Hiker.
Scrambling around Joshua Tree
Joshua Tree NP - Wonderland of Rocks, California, United States
10.2 miles
10.2 miles
We spent a few days in Joshua Tree with warm weather and a great campsite. Our big hike there was an off trail hiking/scrambling adventure that got quite a bit longer than planned. Our outbound wash was pretty easy for the most part with only a few rock piles to scramble over. But the return route was full of car and bus sized boulders that took a long time to get over....
Amidst the Eagle Mountain Range at the SouthWest corner of Joshua Tree National Park, lies Carey’s Castle, a small cave-like dwelling constructed in the 1920’s for use as a place to live while mining the adjacent vertical shaft. Very little is known about the “Carey” character, however without the inquisitiveness of the destination; this is still a magnificent hike full of incredible flora and terrain to behold. An early spring hike such as ours is probably...
Samuelson Rocks Hike, Joshua Tree National Park, CA
Joshua Tree, California, United States
5.8 miles
5.8 miles
A slightly more interesting and less direct route to the Samuelson Rocks. The rocks on which Mr. Samuelson engraved his philosophies while homesteading in the 1920's make for a great day hike destination! Read the history here: http://www.nps.gov/jotr/historyculture/samrocks.htm.
This is an easy, popular hike as it is closest to 29 Palms and does not require an entrance fee to the national park to get to the trail head. It also has great views of 29 Palms, but no Joshua Trees (it does have yucca plants). The palm tree oasis is worth the walk too. Spring time is nicest as the flowers and blooming cactus add to the scenery.
*** 2 miles each way ****the triangle area is a campground called jumbo rocks $10 a night with camp fire ring and table...the square is Crown prince rock formation...click on satellite view for actual terrain picture...for those that dont know, when the pics stop showing click outside that black box to see the map, the small black rectangle should disappear so you can see the way points and trail.......................................Great trip, entered from...
A short but steep scramble up the side of a mountain in Joshua Tree's backcountry. Full write up at Modern Hiker.
Reviews
