National Park
Joshua Tree National Park
- West
- 9 hikes
- 18 places to see
- 4 current alerts
Current alerts
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Closure
Geology Tour Road Temporarily Closed
The park received a significant amount of rain. Due to flooding, Geology Tour Road is temporarily closed. Please use caution while traveling on all other roads in the park.
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Caution
Partial Trail Closure of West Side Loop
There is a partial trail closure of West Side Loop trail in the Black Rock area to allow for trail crew and volunteers to conduct trail repairs. Sections of West Side will be closed to all forms of traffic, Equestrians and hikers will have to take one of the connector trails along Black Rock Canyon…
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Caution
Oasis of Mara Trail Partial Closure
Due to a heavy flooding event, the Oasis of Mara Trail is closed past the Oasis.
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Caution
Some third-party hiking apps are providing inaccurate trail and safety information to users. Please use the official NPS app for accurate information.
From the National Park Service, as of November 2, 2026, 5:14 pm. Check nps.gov before you go.
About Joshua Tree
Two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, come together in Joshua Tree National Park. A fascinating variety of plants and animals make their homes in a land sculpted by strong winds and occasional torrents of rain. Dark night skies, a rich cultural history, and surreal geologic features add to the wonder of this vast wilderness in southern California. Come explore for yourself!
From the National Park Service.
- Region
- West
- State
- California
- Designation
- National Park
- Entrance fee
- $30, private vehicle
- Hikes on this page
- 9
- Places to see
- 18
- Articles
- 15
Know before you go
Fees, hours, weather and getting to Joshua Tree.
Entrance fees
- $30 Private Vehicle 7-day vehicle permit, admitting the passengers of a single, non-commercial vehicle on the day of purchase and for the next six days.
- $25 Motorcycle
- $15 Per Person
Passes
- $55 Annual Entrance - Park
Hours
Open 24 hours a day, every day.
Joshua Tree National Park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Visitation increases as temperatures moderate in the fall, peaks during the spring wildflower season, and diminishes during the heat of summer. Some areas of the park are designated for day use only. Visitor centers keep separate hours; please see descriptions.
Weather and when to go
Days are typically clear with less than 25% humidity. Temperatures are most comfortable in the spring and fall, with an average highs around 85°F (29°C) and average lows around 50°F (10°C) respectively. Winter brings cooler days, around 60°F (15°C), and freezing nights. It occasionally snows at higher elevations. Summers are hot, over 100°F (38°C) during the day and not cooling much below 75°F (24°C) at night.
Getting there
From I-10, take exit 117 for CA Hwy 62 toward 29 Palms/Yucca Valley. This will allow you to access the West Entrance, the North Entrance, Black Rock, and Indian Cove. Take exit 168 off I-10 to come in at the park's South Entrance.
- Gateway towns
- Twentynine Palms, CA · Joshua Tree, CA · Yucca Valley, CA
- Nearest airports
- Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) · Ontario International Airport (ONT)
Contact the park
- Address
- 74485 National Park Drive, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277-3597
- Phone
- (760) 367-5500
- jotr_info@nps.gov
- Official site
- nps.gov/jotr
From the National Park Service, checked weekly. Fees, hours and road conditions change: confirm with the park before you go.
Trip planner
A day-by-day plan for Joshua Tree
Tell us your dates and what you are into. We group the stops by where they are, so each day is one part of the park, not a zigzag.
The trails and places you save below go into your plan as must-sees.
Plan your park trip Free. No account needed.
Where to stay for Joshua Tree
The gateway towns, closest first. Add your dates in the planner to search for your own nights.
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Twentynine Palms, CA Closest
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Joshua Tree, CA
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Yucca Valley, CA
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Guided tours and trips
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Things to do in Joshua Tree
The park service's own list, with how long each takes.
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Hike Cholla Cactus Garden
An easy quarter mile hike through a cholla patch along Pinto Basin Road.
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Hike Skull Rock
A relatively flat, 1.7-mile loop trail. Hike through the large, granite boulder fields around the Jumbo Rocks area, including one near Park Boulevard that closely resembles a Skul…
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Hike Boy Scout Trail
Explore the Wonderland of Rocks on the Boy Scout Trail.
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Hike Fortynine Palms Oasis
A difficult three mile hike to a desert oasis.
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Hike Barker Dam Trail
Enjoy an easy 1.1 mile hike on the Barker Dam Nature Trail.
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Hike Indian Cove Trail
An easy .6 mile loop in Indian Cove.
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Hike Hidden Valley Trail
Enjoy an easy one mile hike on Hidden Valley Trail.
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Hike Hi-View Trail
A moderate 1.3-mile loop hike.
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Hike Bajada Trail
Enjoy this short, easy trail through the Colorado desert.
Joshua Tree on the map
67 trails19 places to see39 visitor services
Places to see
Viewpoints
Natural features
Campgrounds in Joshua Tree
Run by the park service. Reservable sites book on Recreation.gov; first-come sites do not.
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Jumbo Rocks Campground
There are 124 individual/family sites in Jumbo Rocks Campground. Reservations are required. The campground is centrally located and offers great views of rock…
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White Tank Campground
This is small campground with 15 sites. There are pit toilets, picnic tables, and fire pits. There is no water available. RVs and vehicles with trailers may no…
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Sheep Pass Group Campground
Sheep Pass Group Campground has 6 group campsites and is centrally located within Joshua Tree National Park and is easily accessible to hiking trails and rock…
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Ryan Campground
Ryan Campground has 31 campsites. All campsites are reservation only. The campground is centrally located in the park and is adjacent to the California Riding…
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Indian Cove Campground
Indian Cove Campground is located off of Highway 62, thirteen miles east of Joshua Tree Village and ten miles west of Twentynine Palms. It has 101 campsites, i…
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Hidden Valley Campground
The Hidden Valley Campground has 44 sites. There are pit toilets, picnic tables, and fire pits. There is no water so bring plenty of your own. To secure a camp…
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Black Rock Campground
This large (99 site) campground is located in the northwest corner of the park. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire ring with rest rooms and water nearby…
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Belle Campground
This small campground has 18 sites. There are pit toilets, picnic tables, and fire pits. There is no water so bring plenty of your own. To secure a campsite, 1…
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Cottonwood Campground
The Cottonwood Campground is reservation only and has 62 sites, potable water and flush toilets. The Campground is near the Cottonwood Visitor Center in the so…
Reading about Joshua Tree
What to pack for Joshua Tree
Gear & Essentials
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The basics
Worth having in the car whatever the park.
For this trip
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