Joshua Tree National Park blew away all of my expectations. Even with nearly two full days to explore this national park, I still feel like I didn’t get to see it all. I hiked my fair share of trails, drove a scenic drive, visited viewpoints, but still left feeling like there was more to do.
For travelers who like spending several days in one place, this is great news. For travelers with limited vacation time, this can be a predicament as you may not have time to dedicate to a two day Joshua Tree National Park itinerary. But two days is what I recommend.
About These Itineraries
This post is here to provide you with a realistic two day itinerary for Joshua Tree National Park. It will be two busy days, because there is so much to see and time is limited. But, I’ll provide some recommendations of things to skip and how to shorten it.
While I think this is a perfectly reasonable two day itinerary for Joshua Tree National Park (it’s based on the itinerary I used), I realize that we all have different fitness levels. But, just know that I spent my two days at Joshua Tree National Park with my mother, who is obviously older than I am. She is active, but I make it a point to keep hiking expectations reasonable.
So, you won’t find any super strenuous trails, but instead will find several smaller trails. As we go through this Joshua Tree itinerary, I’ll note how long each trail is (with elevation change) and my recommendations as to whether you should skip it to prioritize other trails.
Two Day Joshua Tree National Park Itinerary
This Joshua Tree National Park itinerary features shorter days, making it ideal for people who can’t, or don’t want to, do a lot of hiking in one day. It’s also ideal for people traveling during the warmer months. Both days start at 8:00 am but wrap up at about 1:00 pm. This is slightly different than my normal approach to planning.
However, temperatures can soar at Joshua Tree National Park. With those soaring temperatures can come dangerous hiking conditions. There’s a reason why you’ll see signs all around Joshua Tree National Park reminding you to stay hydrated and “Not Die Today”. Because of this, I’m scheduling the more difficult hikes earlier in the day. You’ll do harder (but not super difficult) hikes in the morning and then visit some of the less active activities in the afternoon. Of course, you are welcome to change the order. Just makes sure to take plenty of water and make sure you are prepared for the day.
Day 1
Let’s finally kick off your first day at Joshua Tree National Park.
8:00 am – Hike to 49 Palms Oasis
Start your Joshua Tree National Park itinerary with one of my favorite experiences of the entire park, the trail to 49 Palms Oasis. This trail is within Joshua Tree National Park boundary, but you don’t go through the main entrance to get here. It is accessible from the town of Twentynine Palms.
The 49 Palms Oasis trail takes you up and over a mountain to a small little oasis in the middle of the desert. There’s a handful of palm trees and because this trail is outside of the main area of the park, it can be a bit quieter, especially if you hike early in the day.
The trail to 49 Palms Oasis is completely exposed so its a trail you’ll want to hike earlier in the day. In fact, the National Park Service recommends that you do not start this hike after 10:00 am.
The biggest thing to note about this hike is that it’s uphill both ways. The hike climbs about 300 feet before descending 300 feet into the oasis. You retrace your steps on the way back. But I never found the trail particularly steep or difficult. Honestly, the most difficult part of this hike is being completely exposed to the sun.
10:00 am – Leave 49 Palms Oasis
After your hike, it’s time to enter the proper boundaries of Joshua Tree National Park. It’s a 45 minute drive from the 49 Palms Oasis trailhead to your next trailhead. While you can enter Joshua Tree from either entrance, I recommend using the western entrance.
10:45 – Hike to Hidden Valley
This is one of my favorite hikes at Joshua Tree National Park, but parking is limited, so be aware. This trail is short, only about a mile, but takes you past some nice scenery. Admittedly, I didn’t love this trail as much as I should but that’s simply because we hiked it on a Free Entry Day and the trail was so crowded. But, without crowds, I know it would have been one of my favorites of the park.
11:30 – Hike to Barker Dam
After you finish at Hidden Valley, it’s a short five minute drive to the Barker Dam trailhead. This is a trail that I’d consider skipping. From what I read, this trail is only “worth it” if the dam is filled with water. When I visited, the dam wasn’t filled with water and I found myself agreeing with that advice. If you’re tired or short on time, this is the trail to skip. That said, I’ll be assuming you stopped to hike this trail for the rest of my time estimations.
Whether you hike this trail is up to you, but it’s a short one mile trail with minimal elevation gain.
12:15 Cap Rock Nature Trail
It’s another short drive to the Cap Rock Nature Trail. This trail is super short, less than a half mile (although there’s an option to add an extra half mile). This trail is great for people wanting to learn more about the nature at Joshua Tree National Park. That said, if you’re tired or short on time, this is another trail I’d consider skipping.
1:00 Keys View
We’re ending the day at Keys View. It’s a bit of a drive to get here, but that’s why we’re doing it in the heat of the day. The view here is different than so many other areas of the park. Instead of being surrounded by the Joshua Trees or the flat rocks, gaze over the San Bernardino Mountains.
Ending Your Day
Now I will admit that today is ending rather early. However, because of the earlier start and the likelihood of high heat late in the day, you won’t want to be doing anything too active in the mid to late afternoon.
That said, you are still welcome to keep exploring. If you have the energy and it’s not super hot, you can consider picking some items from tomorrow’s list. I’d suggest the Cholla Cactus Garden which is very easy.
Return to your hotel. Take a shower, get a good dinner, and relax before another busy day tomorrow.
Day 2
8:00 am (Optional) – Hall of Horrors
It’s day two of this Joshua Tree National Park itinerary and you have a choice to make. Adventurous hikers may want to visit the Hall of Horrors and tackle what I refer to as the “claustrophobic canyon”. Out in Joshua Tree National Park, you’ll find this narrow canyon and the trail for the Hall of Horrors leads right through it. Admittedly, I did not do this hike because I took one look at pictures from other hikers and said “absolutely not!”.
But I realize that not everyone is like me. So, if you want to hike the Hall of Horrors, do it early in the day. It will be less crowded and will lead to a better overall experience.
The hike is about 1 mile.
9:00 am – Hike the Skull Rock Trail
This is another trail where it pays to get here early, but just for one specific area of the trail. Ironically the Skull Rock Trail barely passes Skull Rock. In fact, you can visit Skull Rock without actually hiking the trail. But, Skull Rock is the part most people want to see and if you want a photo without other tourists, you need to get here early and/or bring your patience. It can get busy.
But don’t just take your picture and leave. This is a nice, easy trail that and is one of my favorites of Joshua Tree National Park.
I logged just under 2.5 miles on this hike with about 200 feet of elevation gain.
10:30 – Hike to Arch and Heart Rock
Next, we’re heading for one more trail. Arch Rock and Heart Rock could technically be visited separately, but it makes more sense to visit them together. First, hike out to Arch Rock, but be careful of crowding. Arch Rock is cool, but very popular. Heart Rock has less visitors, but also, it’s less exciting.
Still, it’s not that far of a hike from Arch Rock, so visit it while you’re here.
I logged 1.75 miles and just over 100 feet of elevation gain.
11:45 – Visit the Cholla Cactus Garden
While looking at cacti isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, I’m including a stop at the Cholla Cactus Garden. It’s here that you’ll find loads of Cholla Cacti. There’s a 0.4 mile trail that weaves its way through the area and it allows you to get up close with some of these cacti. A visit here can be quick, just a quick stroll, or you can take your time trying to get the perfect picture of a cactus.
12:30 – Visit the Oasis of Mara
My last activity is the Oasis of Mara which is located outside of the main boundaries of Joshua Tree National Park. I’m including it on the list, but it’s one that I think most people could consider skipping, especially if you hiked 49 Palms Oasis. This is a short, paved trail that gives the vibes of the 49 Palms Oasis without a lot of effort.
Ending Your Day
That’s all I have for you today. Head back to your hotel, get a good dinner, and relax. You’ve earned it.
One Day Joshua Tree National Park Itinerary
Now, let’s say you’re an active hiker and you’re visiting during a cooler month. If that’s the case, I think it’s possible (and reasonable) to squish my two day Joshua Tree National Park itinerary into a one day itinerary. That said, I did have to cut a few things just to make it fit a little nicer.
8:00 am – Hike to 49 Palms Oasis
10:00 am – Leave 49 Palms Oasis
10:45 – Hike to Hidden Valley
11:45 am – Hike the Skull Rock Trail
1:15 – Hike to Arch and Heart Rock
2:15 – Visit the Cholla Cactus Garden
3:00 – Keys View
With More Time
If you have an extra day to add to your Joshua Tree itinerary, I recommend visiting some of the lesser visited areas of the park. Specifically, I would head to Cottonwood Springs and hike Mastedon Peak. It’s a bit of a drive, but it should mean less tourists.
When to Visit Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park follows the motto “Don’t Die Today”. While it may seem morbid, conditions can be brutal and dangerous at Joshua Tree. While it can be dangerous all year round, it’s especially noticeable in the summer months when temperatures soar and can get above 100 degrees. Plus, there’s very little shade at Joshua Tree National Park. Nearly every hiking trail I did was almost entirely exposed.
I visited in mid November and it was still warm. Temperatures reached into the 70s which while much more pleasant than 100 degrees, still feels warm in the sun.
Where to Stay
The town of Twentynine Palms sits just a ten minute drive from the entrance of Joshua Tree National Park. There are several hotel and restaurant options and it makes a great base for exploring Joshua Tree.
For campers, there are loads of campgrounds at Joshua Tree. In fact, I’m convinced there are more campgrounds at Joshua Tree than at any other national park I visited. It just felt like we were constantly passing signs directing us to campgrounds.
About My Experience
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. I can’t even begin to imagine how hot it can get during summer.
While it wasn’t planned, we visited Joshua Tree National Park on the national park free entry day. While this is a great way to introduce people to national parks, Joshua Tree 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, because 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 is a fantastic park to visit. I was blown away with its beauty and its seemingly endless list of things to do. Even with nearly two full days at this park, I feel like there’s still more to explore. So just know, the more time you have to dedicate to your Joshua Tree National Park itinerary, the better.
Continue Your Adventure
Joshua Tree National Park: Learn about all of the best things to do at Joshua Tree National Park.
Death Valley National Park: It’s easy to combine Joshua Tree and Death Valley into one itinerary. Learn about the best things to do at Death Valley National Park and check out my 1-2 day itinerary.
Itineraries: I visited Death Valley as part of a 7 day road trip from Las Vegas that also included Joshua Tree. For another road trip from Las Vegas, check out this 10 Day Utah National Parks Itinerary. Or if you have less time, check out my long weekend from Las Vegas.