Do not miss these epic things to do in Joshua Tree National Park on your next visit!
Here are my top finds for (JTNP) Joshua Tree National Park:
🏨Hotels: RESET Hotel Joshua Tree, AutoCamp Joshua Tree
📍Tours: JTNP Scenic Tour, JTNP 4X4 Off-Road Backcountry Tour
🐻 Save time! Buy your National Park Pass before your trip
Things to do in Joshua Tree
Let me start off by saying that I love visiting Joshua Tree National Park! There is just so much to see and do. The park is only an hour from Palm Springs, California, and it is easy to get around. We could see so much in a short period, which made for a great experience. I would say that we just scratched the surface of this park and could have easily spent more time. I suggest you take the time to drive the Pinto Basin Road and see the transition zone between the Mojave and Colorado Deserts. Here is a list of 10 things to do in Joshua Tree National Park.
Explore one of the parks Visitor Centers
Joshua Tree Visitor Center & Cultural Center in Twentynine Palms
This beautiful new information center is near the park's North Entrance, with fantastic educational displays and a nice bookstore you will not want to miss!
For visitors who have been to Joshua Tree in the past, the Oasis Visitor Center is now permanently closed (the one by the Oasis of Mara) but you will be pleasantly impressed with the new visitor center!
They also offer rotating exhibits that celebrate the culture, history, and stories of the Native American Communities.
Open 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, seven days a week
6533 Freedom Way, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277
(760)367-5525
Joshua Tree Visitor Center
Located near the West Entrance Station, the Joshua Tree Visitor Center has educational exhibits, restrooms, a bookstore, and a cafe!
Open 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM
6554 Park Boulevard, Joshua Tree, CA 92252
(760)367-5500
Cottonwood Visitor Center
The small visitor center near the park's South Entrance has educational exhibits, restrooms, a bookstore, water, and picnic tables. They have postcards, t-shirts, and some souvenirs. There is a $5 minimum for credit/debit card purchases. You can buy a park pass at this location.
Open 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM
Pinto Basin Rd, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277
(760)367-5500
Black Rock Nature Center
They have exhibits, restrooms, a bookstore, water, and a picnic area.
Open 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM (closed 11:00 am-12:00 PM)
9800 Black Rock Canyon Road, Yucca Valley, CA 92284
(760)367-5500
Watch Sunset
Each sunset in Joshua Tree will capture your imagination! The brilliant reds and yellows cover the sky creating a background that looks magical, throw in some of the parks Joshua Trees in the foreground and you will have yourself an amazing photo that all your friends will be raving about.
Cholla Cactus Garden
Joshua Tree National Park is home to 15 species of cacti including Ocotillo, cottontop cactus, California Barrel Cactus, and the teddybear cholla.
The Cholla Cactus Garden is, without a doubt, one of the top attractions in Joshua Tree. This area is dominated by the famous jumping Cholla Cactus, also known as the Teddy Bear Cholla.
There is a nice ¼ mile loop hike through the middle of this beautiful cactus garden, and they seem to light up around sunset.
Just a word of caution: avoid sandals and stay on the trail. Please do not attempt to touch or rub up against them! They easily attach to you and are very unpleasant to remove. We always came prepared, and my wife even gave minor first aid to an unfortunate victim while we were there.
Ranger tour of Keys Ranch
Keys Ranch is listed as a National Historic Register site in a Joshua Tree National Park remote rocky canyon.
Admission to the ranch is limited to the ranger-led tours, limited to 25 people, and includes a 90-minute Ranger interpretative walk. For a list of upcoming events at Joshua Tree National Park, visit their web page at https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/calendar.htm
Hike the Bajada Nature Trail
The Bajada Nature Trail is located at the south end of Pinto Basin Road next to Interstate 10. It's a great ¼ mile loop trail with several interpretative panels describing the Colorado Desert.
There are examples of Ocotillo, brittle brush, smoke tree, and several species of wildlife that can be seen too. There are also breathtaking views of the Cottonwood and Eagle Mountains in the background.
4X4 Tour of Joshua Tree
Make sure you pick up a brochure at the beginning of this 18-mile driving tour starting off Park Boulevard between Jumbo Rocks and Sheep Pass.
In good road conditions, most passenger cars can make the first few miles to stop #9, but the road can be rough and rutted.
Afterward, it is recommended only for four-wheel drive vehicles as deep ruts and soft sand are needed to navigate. There are 16 stops along this dirt road, which takes approximately two hours to complete.
Those who take the road less traveled are usually rewarded with seeing some of Joshua Trees' most fascinating landscapes!
Park Ranger John Pro Tip: Trust me when I say this: getting stuck in the sand can be a long, miserable, and expensive experience. Always go off-roading with a buddy and know what you are doing. Driving in soft sand is entirely different and requires skill, knowledge, and proper tools. If you are not proficient in these skills, please look for a guide to help you have a great experience.
Enjoy Keys View Overlook
The Keys View overlook is perched on the crest of the San Bernardino Mountains. This viewpoint looks down from 5185' to the expansive Coachella Valley below, including the Salton Sea and windmills.
Looking closely enough, you will find the San Andreas Fault in the valley below. On a clear day, you might see Signal Mountain in Mexico!
Stand among the Joshua Trees
Let's face it: everyone comes to Joshua Tree to see Joshua Trees! Whether you are a U2 Fan blaring "With or Without You" while cruising down the road or just interested in seeing this Yucca Tree that only grows in the Mojave Desert, they are striking to stand next to. Please keep in mind that Joshua Trees have sensitive roots that can break and die if stressed. Make sure to stay on designated trails, parking lots, and roadways to prevent compaction to soil around these magnificent trees.
I suggest you get out, walk up to them, and get your photo. They photograph beautifully at sunset, too.
Wildlife Viewing
Most people don't think of wildlife when they think of deserts. This is not true, especially somewhere like Joshua Tree National Park, where two distinct deserts meet, known as a transition zone.
The park is home to 57 species of mammals, 46 species of reptiles, 350 vertebrate species, and over 250 bird species have been recorded in the park!
Some of the park's residents include Bighorn Sheep, Chuckwalla, Greater Roadrunner, Desert Tortoise, Desert Iguana, Cactus Wren, Black-Tailed Jackrabbit, kit Fox, Kangaroo Rats, and Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake.
Explore the Hidden Valley Nature Trail
Hidden Valley Nature Trail is a popular trail within the park, giving you a great taste of what Joshua Tree offers. Hikers love the unusually shaped boulders on the trail and in the dayuse area.
The moderate one-mile loop trail in a rock-enclosed valley that has been rumored to have been used by cattle rustlers
Best Joshua Tree National Park Tours & Activities
Joshua Tree National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour
⭐️ Rating: 4.6 out of 5 Stars (809+ reviews) | ⏳ Tour Length: 3 to 4 hours (self-paced) | 🚗🎧 Check Rates and Availability
This GPS-triggered audio tour is one of the best values at any national park on Viator. Narration fires automatically as you reach each stop along the 63-mile route through the park, covering Skull Rock, Cap Rock, Lost Horse Mine, Hidden Valley, and more. Works fully offline once downloaded, which matters since cell service disappears quickly inside the park.
Joshua Tree National Park Scenic Tour
⭐️ Rating: 4.7 out of 5 Stars (593+ reviews) | ⏳ Tour Length: 3 to 5 hours | 🚐 Check Rates and Availability
A small-group guided tour with a maximum of 9 guests, departing from Palm Springs or the Yucca Valley Welcome Center. Guides consistently earn outstanding individual reviews for their knowledge of the park's geology, indigenous history, and ecology, and their ability to make the otherworldly landscape come alive for first-time visitors. General park admission is included in the tour price. Snacks and bottled water are provided.
Joshua Tree National Park 4x4 Off-Road Backcountry Tour
⭐️ Rating: 4.9 out of 5 Stars (470+ reviews) | ⏳ Tour Length: 5 hours | 🚙🏜️ Check Rates and Availability
The standout adventure experience at Joshua Tree, this 4x4 off-road tour from Big Wheel Tours takes guests deep into the backcountry on terrain no regular vehicle can reach. Guides Jeff, Ben, Ron, Dale, and Will earn extraordinary reviews for their knowledge of the desert's geology, plant life, and wildlife, and their ability to tailor each tour to the group's interests. Reviewers consistently say they saw parts of the park most visitors never find. Bottled water and snacks included. Recommended by 98% of travelers across nearly 500 reviews. Flagged as likely to sell out. Booked an average of 31 days in advance. Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.
Click here to find more great Joshua Tree National Park tours.
Rock Climbing - Bouldering - Highlining - Slacklining
Joshua Tree is a world-class climbing destination! There are over 9000 Routes that include everything from beginners to professionals. If you have never tried but want to, make sure to look below and book a guide to take you out. They provide equipment and will help you pick the perfect route for you.
Even if you don't care to give it a try yourself, it is easy to get caught up watching others!
We found ourselves watching them for quite a while! We then discovered that several companies teach rock climbing here in the park. Now there's a great excuse to visit Joshua Tree; You can see the park and learn rock climbing too!
Lodging near Joshua Tree National Park
There are no lodges in Joshua Tree National Park. Here are a couple of hotels I would love to stay in on my next trip to Joshua Tree!
⭐️ 4.4 of 5 Stars - RESET Hotel Joshua Tree - Click here for Rates and Availability.
Joshua Tree's first new boutique hotel in 15 years and one of the most exciting hotel openings in the American Southwest, a minimalist Mars-inspired desert retreat on 180 spectacular acres just 8 minutes from the park's north entrance!
The 65 rooms and suites feature private patios with Solo Stove fire pits, outdoor daybeds for stargazing, French doors opening to unobstructed desert views, in-room pour-over coffee setups, spa-inspired bathrooms, and solar lanterns. RESET is the only hotel in the world with a Celestron Origin smart telescope, and guided sessions with a retired NASA/JPL astronomer are available. Shared amenities include a saltwater pool with mountain views, outdoor hot tub, five-person sauna, cold-plunge tub, morning yoga, the Split Rock Cafe and Bar, communal fire pits, a Moonpad stargazing deck, EV charging, free WiFi, and free parking. Pet friendly and open year-round!
⭐️ 4.6 of 5 Stars - AutoCamp Joshua Tree - Click here for Rates and Availability.
The coolest place to sleep near Joshua Tree National Park, a luxury glamping resort featuring iconic Airstream suites, classic cabins, and tiny homes sitting just steps from the west entrance to the park!
Each accommodation features a private patio, kitchenette with microwave and cookware, rainfall showerheads, Smart TVs, and premium linens, with the Airstream Vista suites offering a separate outdoor shower under the desert sky. Complimentary granola, pour-over coffee, and tea are served each morning, and the Clubhouse bar and restaurant host evening live music and events. Additional amenities include a seasonal heated outdoor pool, complimentary bikes, free WiFi, EV charging, fire pits, a kids playground, yoga classes, pet friendly options, and free parking. Open year-round!
Click on this link or the map below for vacation rentals and lodges near the park.
Joshua Tree National Park Entrance Fee
7-day single-vehicle park pass - $30.00
7-day individual park pass - $15.00
7-day motorcycle park pass - $25.00
Joshua Tree National Park Annual Pass - $55.00
Valid for one year through the month of purchase. Admits one private, non-commercial vehicle or its pass holder.
Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.
$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the free entrance days the National Park Service offers for US citizens and residents.
Complete List of Joshua Tree Campgrounds
- Belle Campground
- Black Rock Campground
- Cottonwood Campground
- Hidden Valley Campground
- Indian Cove Campground
- Jumbo Rocks Campground
- Ryan Campground
- Sheep Pass Campground
- White Tank Campground
Additional Information About Joshua Tree National Park
- Complete Guide to Joshua Tree National Park
- Complete list of things to do in Joshua Tree National Park
- Best Hikes in Joshua Tree National Park
- 9 Best Tours to take when visiting Joshua Tree National Park
- Joshua Tree Camping Guide
Parks Near Joshua Tree National Park
- Mojave National Preserve
- Castle Mountains National Monument
- Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
- Death Valley National Park
- Channel Islands National Park
- César E. Chávez National Monument
Check out all of the California National Parks along with neighboring Arizona National Parks, Oregon National Parks, and National Parks in Nevada
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