Exploring this Southern California national park feels like walking on Mars. But it’s only a couple hours’ drive from Los Angeles.
Brief
Joshua Tree National Park treats visitors to a glimpse of how two deserts, the Mojave and the Colorado, can make for extraordinary sights with its impressive rock formations and the curiously shaped Joshua trees.
Beginning as a national monument, Joshua Tree National Park is home to wildlife such as coyotes, desert bighorn sheep, rattlesnakes, and various migratory and year-round birds, said Donovan Smith, an interpretive park ranger.
Springtime wildflowers, cactus, and other shrubs dot a landscape that is at times flat and in some other cases elevated, and a perfect lookout.
Location / State
Joshua Tree, California
Why it matters
Thousands of acres comprise Joshua Tree National Park, and all that undeveloped land makes for a noticeable quietness and serenity, making it easy to get great views of the sky. That point is especially important as Joshua Tree National Park is an International Dark Sky Park, a great sign for stargazers and anyone who wants to appreciate the nighttime without light pollution impacting the view.
What to see today
While there are plenty of ways to spend your day or multi-day trip at Joshua Tree National Park, here are a few recommendations.
Hiking at Joshua Tree National Park: The park offers a variety of trails in terms of length and difficulty. Hikes around two miles and under include Barker Dam, Split Rock, the Oasis of Mara, and more, Smith said. Keep in mind that Joshua Tree National Park is in an “extreme environment,” facing triple-digit days to cold temperatures during the winter — it’s on the former days that Smith wouldn’t recommend anyone hike, avid hikers included.
Stargazing at Joshua Tree National Park: “We have a fun saying as rangers that half the park is after dark, and that’s because, truly, it’s like another world experience to be in the park after the sun goes down,” Smith said. Plan for an overnight stay or head to the park in the evening to gaze up and see the night sky come alive with twinkling stars and the Milky Way.
Rock climbing at Joshua Tree National Park: Climbers, boulderers, and highliners are welcomed at the park, which offers “challenges for all ability levels,” the park says on its website.
If you only have a few hours to visit the park, Smith recommends driving on Park Boulevard. By taking that road, visitors will see everything people come to the park to see, from 100-foot rock walls to the Joshua trees, he said.
Ask a local
The size of Joshua Tree National Park means that there isn’t one city closest to it. For example, its north entrance is in Twentynine Palms. Its west entrance is in Joshua Tree.
Twentynine Palms, Joshua Tree’s much less famous sister city, has a surprising number of charming bars, restaurants and other small businesses to explore. After you leave the park, grab a beer at 29 Palms Beer Company, get yourself a memorable meal at Kitchen in the Desert, and shop for souvenirs at stores like Very Very, Hi-Desert Daydream, High Desert Times Magazines, Scorpion Lollipop and Raven’s Book Shoppe.
Plan your visit
Best time: Anytime but summer. November through April is the busy season, but also the best weather.
Hours/admission: 24/7, and admission is $25 for a day pass when arriving by motorcycle and $30 for a day pass when arriving by car (prices are per vehicle, regardless of how many people are in the vehicle). Annual passes to JTNP are $55 per person, and an annual pass to all national parks is $80 for American citizens and residents
Getting there: Joshua Tree National Park has multiple entrances, but its physical address is 74485 National Park Drive, Twentynine Palms, according to its website.
Learn more: nps.gov/jotr/index.htm
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: See rocks and trees like you’ve never seen before at Joshua Tree National Park
Reporting by Paris Barraza, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Paris Barraza, Palm Springs Desert Sun | USA TODAY Network
