Joshua Tree is a national park that surprised me. I didn’t have a lot of knowledge about Joshua Tree National Park until I started planning out my trip. It was more of “it’s a national park and I want to visit all US national parks one day”, so I’d have to go to Joshua Tree eventually. As I planned, I started to get excited, but after visiting, I was amazed at this park. I spent two very busy days exploring Joshua Tree National Park and I still didn’t see everything at this park. There’s a load of variety so even when we went back the second day, I was still seeing something different. And that is pretty awesome.
Best Things to Do in Joshua Tree National Park
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but rather a list of some of the top sights. It’s the things that you should focus on—especially if you have limited time at Joshua Tree National Park.
This article is grouped into sections so you can easily jump to what interests you the most. That said, it’s in no particular order. But if you want my opinions on the best of Joshua Tree, you’ll find those later in this post.
Viewpoints at Joshua Tree National Park
Keys View
Keys View has a little bit of walking involved, if you want to get to the main overlook. This paved path is short, but is uphill. Your reward is a view of the San Bernardino mountains. While not my favorite view of the park, it was a vastly different view than much of the rest of the park. Instead of seeing Joshua Trees and the flat rocks, you saw the mountains in the distance.
Skull Rock
There’s a trail near Skull Rock, but you don’t actually have to go hiking to see Skull Rock, so it’s getting its own entry on this list (I’ll talk about the trail later).
Unsurprisingly, Skull Rock is a rock that’s shaped like a skull. It’s kinda cool, but can be very busy. On our first day here (a national park free entry day), there must have been well over 100 cars lining the road near Skull Rock. It was so busy and we didn’t even bother trying to find a parking spot. The next day, we visited first thing in the morning and had a much calmer experience. We drove past later in the day and while it was nowhere near as busy as the first day, it was still decently busy. If you want to experience Skull Rock without the crowds, go early.
Split Rock
This wasn’t a view point that I necessarily planned to visit, but we decided to take a short picnic break to eat some snacks and journal. Split Rock had plenty of picnic tables to do that. From here, you’ll also find some trails, but if you just want to see Split Rock, you don’t even need to hike. You can park right in front of it.
Split Rock wasn’t necessarily my favorite of Joshua Tree, but I did get a fun picture in the “split” of Split Rock.
Hikes at Joshua Tree National Park
Arch Rock/Heart Rock
While it’s possible to do Arch Rock and Heart Rock as separate trails, combining them makes a lot more sense. However, if you only have the energy for one, Arch Rock is closer and is cooler in my opinion.
The trail to both Arch Rock and Heart Rock is pretty uneventful. It’s more about the destination than the journey in this instance.
Arch Rock is exactly like what it sounds like. It’s a natural bridge, or an arch shaped rock. To get under the arch, you’ll need to do some a little rock scrambling. While it’s not super difficult, there’s easier rock scrambling elsewhere in the park. Despite visiting Arch Rock earlier in the day, it felt busy. The area is small, so even just ten people can make it feel very busy.
It was impossible to get a photo without other people in it and most other travelers didn’t seem to care. There was one pair of girls who were courteous, but everyone else was just there for themselves. I don’t expect people to move for me, nor do I expect that every photo will be great, but out of everywhere we visited in Joshua Tree, people here were the least considerate of other visitors.
Compared to Arch Rock, Heart Rock felt calmer. However, I think Heart Rock was less cool and that may have something to do with it. Heart Rock is a giant rock in the shape of a heart and there’s really not much more than that. It’s cool, but even with the craziness of Arch Rock, I think Arch Rock was better.
In total, we logged 1.74 miles and 112 feet of elevation gain over 45 minutes.
Barker Dam
This trail takes you out to a dam, which during the right season is filled with water. On my visit in November, there was no water and the trail was just ok. Honestly, I’d recommend skipping this trail unless there’s water in the reservoir.However, one bonus was we were able to find some rock scrambling a few steps off the trail. The scenery was similar to what we had seen on the Hidden Valley trail but it was significantly less crowded (since we did the Hidden Valley trail on a free day and Barker Dam on a day where you had to pay to visit the park). We were able to take some good photos without a lot of people. So while that moves this trail up in my book, I’m still not sure the trail is worth it.
We logged 1.1 miles and 50 feet of elevation change over 30 minutes.
Hall of Horrors
Adventurous travelers will love this trail because the main highlight of this trail is the narrow canyon that involves rock scrambling to get through. Now, I’ll admit that I did not hike the proper trail and my mom and I cut out the canyon. After seeing pictures of the canyon, I decided that is too claustrophobic for my liking and said “Nope!”.
But if you like rock scrambling, like a challenge, and aren’t claustrophobic, I think this is a trail you should really look into. While you can walk around the canyon, hiking through it only adds an extra half mile to your total distance.
My mom and I skipped the canyon at Hall of Horrors, but hiked around the rest of the area. We logged 0.76 miles and 30 feet of elevation change over 20 minutes.
Hidden Valley
In another world, this trail would get marked as one of my favorites. It’s a short trail that takes you through some amazing rocks and scenery.
So why didn’t I love it? Because it was SO busy. Admittedly, we hiked the Hidden Valley trail on a free day where all entrance fees were waived for the day. This was trail was just too full and we were always near people. It just made for a not enjoyable experience. Oh, and the lady who very clearly ignored the no pets sign and brought her dog on trail didn’t do much to improve my mood.
That said, the scenery was beautiful and if we could have had a little more calm, I’m sure it would have been one of my favorites.
We logged 1.04 miles and 125 feet of elevation gain. It took us about a half hour, including stops for photos.
Mastodon Peak
Mastodon Peak was originally part of our itinerary, but got scrapped for other trails. The big thing to note about this trail is that is very far from most other sights in the park. You’ll likely add an hour and a half of driving just because of this hike (45 minutes there and 45 minutes back). Because of this, I’d only recommend this hike if you have several days at Joshua Tree. There are so many other great sights that involve significantly less driving.
Mastodon Peak, like the name suggests, takes you to a mountain peak. This three mile trail includes a little rock scrambling, but is sure to make a good adventure. And because of it’s distance from other sights in the park, you’ll hopefully find fewer travelers.
Skull Rock
Ironically, the Skull Rock trail doesn’t really take you to Skull Rock. You can make a very short detour to Skull Rock at either the start or end of your hike, but you really aren’t hiking to it. Instead, you’re hiking a trail nearby Skull Rock. The trail is easy and features some great scenery. We hiked early in the morning and had the entire trail to ourselves, making it one of our favorite experiences at Joshua Tree.
We could have made this hike shorter, but we added on a small section to get to Face Rock. So with that detour, we logged 2.4 miles and 207 feet of elevation change. It took us just over an hour, including plenty of stops to take pictures.
49 Palms Oasis
My mom and I both agree that the hike to 49 Palms Oasis was our favorite at Joshua Tree. The trail itself is ok, but can feel uneventful at times. You are hiking through some mountains though, so it’s not like your view is bad. After a mile and a half of hiking, you reach the oasis, a series of palm trees nestled in the mountains. It’s beautiful and the perfect spot for a break.
This hike is a little interesting in terms of elevation. You’ll climb up and over a mountain before descending to the oasis. So in some ways, this hike is uphill both ways. But I never found it super steep. The hardest part of this trail is it’s lack of shade (except for the shade you find at the oasis).
We logged 3.17 miles and 630 feet of elevation. Including photo stops and a break at 49 Palms Oasis, we spent just under two hours on the trail.
Short Nature Trails at Joshua Tree National Park
I have three trails listed here that I didn’t feel really fit in the hiking section. These are easy trails that are less than a half mile long, but have more of a focus on nature.
Cap Rock Nature Trail
For some information about the surrounding nature, check out this trail. While not necessarily my favorite, it’s an easy trail and if you do it early on during your visit at Joshua Tree, it’s going to feel more impressive.
The trail around Cap Rock is only about 0.4 miles, but we added an extra section and did a figure eight type loop. We logged 0.82 miles and 36 feet of elevation. It took us 20 minutes
Cholla Cactus Garden
This 0.25 mile loop takes visitors through a cactus garden, which given the name shouldn’t be surprising. If you like cacti, you need to add this trail to the list. I was blown away by how many cacti I saw here and I thought it was so cool to walk through it.
On the other hand, my mom found it interesting, but was nowhere as enthused about it as I was. I guess that just goes to show that different travelers have different opinions.
Oasis of Mara
This short, half mile trail is paved and is located outside of the national park. You’ll find it behind the old visitor center. It’s an easy path, but there’s little shade, so be prepared.
We did this walk last and weren’t super impressed with it. However, I think this can be a great for some people. I absolutely loved our hike to 49 Palms Oasis, but I realize that not everyone is going to be able to do that, so I think the Oasis of Mara can be a great alternative to that. Get the vibes of the oasis with significantly less effort than the 49 Palms Oasis trail.
Scenic Drives
Geology Tour Road
This drive requires a 4×4 and since we had a small Kia Forte (affectionately named Will), this road was a no go for us. However, if you have a suitable vehicle, this 18 mile scenic drive takes you past some beautiful landscapes.
Queen’s Valley Road
In lieu of Geology Tour Road, I drove Queen’s Valley Road as it was just an alternative route in the direction I was headed. Honestly, I wasn’t impressed. Sure it was cool for the first two minutes, but the novelty quickly wore off. The road is gravel and you have to take it slow, but it’s suitable for all vehicles (we drove it in a Kia Forte). But honestly, I’d recommend skipping it. The views aren’t worth it.
My Favorites
Without a doubt, my favorite hike was 49 Palms Oasis. But I also enjoyed the trail at Skull Rock and presumably would have enjoyed Hidden Valley if there were fewer people.
In general though, my favorite part of Joshua Tree National Park was the variety we found. Every trail and viewpoint we visited felt different, which is awesome!
Entrance Fees
An entry pass costs $30 per vehicle to enter Joshua Tree National Park. The pass is valid for seven days.
Annual passes, such as the America the Beautiful pass, are also accepted.
Just as a note, keep your pass handy. Not only did we have to present our pass when we entered the park, but that pass was also checked when we left the park. This was the first national park I’ve been to where that’s the case.
When to Visit Joshua Tree National Park
Summers can be not only hot, but dangerous. If you are planning to visit in summer, make sure you are prepared and have plenty of water.
Spring and fall can be a great time to visit. Temperatures are more tolerable, especially if you are hiking. I visited in mid November and had highs in the low 70s. It felt a touch warm, but it made me thankful that I had visited at this time of the year. I can’t imagine how hot it can get during the summers.
Where to Stay at Joshua Tree National Park
While there are plenty of camping options within Joshua Tree National Park, non campers should look at the town of Twentynine Palms. There’s numerous hotels and restaurants here and you’ll still be close to the park. Our hotel was a ten minute drive from the North Entrance of Joshua Tree National Park.
Is Joshua Tree National Park Worth Visiting?
Yes, it is worth visiting Joshua Tree National Park.
How Long Do You Need in Joshua Tree National Park
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a fast paced traveler. One day at a national park is pretty standard for me because that’s all my vacation time allows. Normally, I feel like with one day, you’re able to get a really good overview of an area, whether that be a national park or a big city. Joshua Tree National Park was different and it was a park that I was thankful to have two days at.
At an absolute minimum, you’ll need one full day. It will be a very busy day and you’ll have to be more selective with what you choose to do. A better option is two full days at Joshua Tree. This allows you to see more of the park and go at a slightly relaxed pace. Two days will still be busy though. If you have the time and you like hiking or rock climbing, three days would be ideal.
About My Visit
I visited Joshua Tree National Park in November. Temperatures were pleasant in the morning but it got a little warm by the afternoons. As there is very little shade in this park, you’ll feel the heat.
While it wasn’t planned, we visited Joshua Tree National Park on the national park free entry day. Yes, this is a great way to introduce people to national parks. However, Joshua Tree National Park was packed! While we had no problems at 49 Palms Oasis, everything that we did within the main park boundaries was a struggle.
We slowly crawled through parking lots with crossed fingers hoping that we’d find someone who was leaving so we could take their spot. We got lucky in most lots, but this really is not a fun way to spend your day. The next day, entrance fees were back in place and crowds felt non-existent. What a difference it made!
I’m thankful we spent two days here. Even though the second day of our visit was a weekend day (a Sunday versus free entry Saturday), the park felt so much more calm. It was a delight to explore the second day. You don’t realize how much the added stress of parking and crowds affects your visit until you don’t have to worry about it.
Final Thoughts
Joshua Tree National Park blew away all of my expectations and quickly rose up to one of my favorite national parks. Its variety in scenery and activities really made this park stand out to me. So if you’re looking for a sign to add Joshua Tree National Park to your next trip, this is that sign.
Continue Your Adventure
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US National Parks: Check out my guide to all US National Parks to start your adventure.