Joshua Tree National Park is located in Southern California, about three hours Northeast of San Diego. This National Park is where the Mojave and Colorado desert ecosystems come together to give you the perfect place to find your zen, stargaze, and release your inner child. With tons of beautiful rock formations, different species of cacti, and of course, Joshua Trees, this park is sure to leave you in awe of it’s beauty. You can camp near or in the park and spend several days there or you can take a day trip to explore. We were limited on time when we visited, so we were only able to spend one day exploring. Here’s my guide on what to do if you only have one day to spend in Joshua Tree National Park.
Table of Contents
Park Information
Getting There
You’ll access Joshua Tree via Interstate 10 or California Highway 62 (Twentynine Palms Highway). There are three entrances to the park. To get to the West and North entrances, take exit 117 off of I-10 for CA Hwy 62 toward 29 Palms/Yucca Valley. To get to the South entrance, you’ll take exit 168 off of I-10.
Hours of Operation
The park itself is open 24/7. There are several visitors centers located throughout the park; more information on their hours and addresses can be found here.
Best Time to Visit
The park is open year round and can be visited at any time. Since the temperatures are a bit cooler in the fall and spring, these are the most popular times to visit the park. It gets pretty hot in the summertime so the crowds diminish some. We went in January and had cool temperatures and minimal crowds. If you do plan to go in the summertime, be prepared with plenty of sun protection, water, and snacks.
Park Fees
Since it is a National Park, there is an entrance fee. You can get a seven day entrance ticket for a single car and it’s passengers for $30. If you’re traveling on a motorcycle, the fee drops to $25 and if you’re on foot, it’s only $15. If you frequent National Parks and Monuments, it may be wise to invest in the America The Beautiful–National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. This has a yearly fee of $80, but grants you access to all of the parks! Definitely worth it if you travel a lot!
What to Pack
Before you head off exploring the wonderful Joshua Tree National Park, it is crucial to be prepared. Make sure you have these essential items to ensure you have a great day adventuring:
- Water, Water, Water: Pretty self explanatory, right? You’ll be in the desert, so pack plenty of water. Pack what you think you need then add some. I recommend bringing a hydration pack such as a Camelbak or something similar.
- Healthy Snacks + Lunch: There are no restaurants in Joshua Tree, so be sure to pack plenty of snacks and a lunch. I personally recommend sandwiches, fruits, nuts, and granola bars (salty snacks are crucial). There’s tons of places to settle for a picnic throughout the park.
- Dress in Layers: Due to it’s location, the temperatures in Joshua Tree can vary. Expect cooler temps in the mornings + evenings and warm temps in the afternoon. Dress in clothes you can easily take off or add on if needed and bring a windbreaker.
- Hats/Sunglasses: There isn’t much shade throughout the park, so be sure to protect your face and eyes from the sun with a hat and a pair of sunglasses.
- Sunscreen: As mentioned above, there isn’t much shade in the park so it’s important to take sunscreen so you can reapply throughout the day.
- First Aid Kit: The terrain in Joshua Tree is pretty rugged, I recommend having a first aid kit with bandaids, antibiotic ointment, gauze, etc. handy just incase a fall happens.
- Good Shoes: Do not wear open toed shoes throughout this park! There’s rugged terrain, cacti, and plenty of dust so having a good, sturdy shoe is a must. I personally wear the Altra Women’s Lone Peak 6. These shoes are comfortable, stylish, waterproof, and sand/dirt repellant!
Hiking
One of the biggest things people like to do at National Parks is hike–and Joshua Tree is no different. This park is full of trails for you and your family to enjoy. Keep in mind that due to the parks natural habitants, dogs are not allowed on the trails. They must stay at your campground or place of lodging.
Arch Rock Trail
If you’re looking for an easy trail, Arch Rock is the one for you! This is a 1.4 mile, out and back that takes you to a granite Arch Rock formation. This is a popular trail so expect to see several people exploring. You can park at the Twin Tanks parking lot (also known as Arch Rock Trailhead) and access the entry point across the street. Keep your eyes out for signs leading you to Arch Rock, as it is easy to get turned around in this area due to so many trails intersecting one another and tons of rock formations surrounding you. It’s kind of like a maze out there, albeit a fun one.
Heart Rock Trail
Accessed via the Arch Rock Trail, Heart Rock is another easy, out and back trail taking you to a heart shaped granite formation. It is an easy trail that adds about 0.3 miles to your hike. Like Arch Rock, this trail is very popular so expect to see crowds. Be sure to stay on the trail if you’re unstable on your feet, as the areas off the trail are uneven and rocky.
Hidden Valley
Hidden Valley is an easy, one mile loop suited for the whole family! Enclosed by gold rock formations, it’s easy to see where the name “hidden valley” comes from. If you only have time for one trail on your trip to Joshua Tree, try to make it this one. You’ll get to see all that the park has to offer, learn about different species, and witness some rock climbing (or partake yourself). It was unexpectedly beautiful!
There are many other trails in Joshua Tree, these are just the few we had time to see! While at the Arch Rock and Heart Rock trails, we took time to explore and climb on the rock formations. I highly recommend allowing yourself to take it all in and try not to rush the trails! I mean how often is it that you get to let out your inner child and climb on huge rocks? Of course, only you know what you’re capable of so do not attempt any climbing if you’re not physically able to! Keep in mind that there’s limited cell service throughout the park, so be sure to download trail information or grab a map ahead of time!
Joshua Tree and California are full of plenty of things to do and places to see! I hope to make it back out there one day to adventure and hopefully spend a night or two stargazing! For more things to do in the San Diego area, check out my post on 6 Things You Must do in San Diego!
til the next trip,
bre<3
If you’re planning a trip to Arkansas, be sure to check out Sunrises2Sunsets article on one of the best state parks!
11 responses to “How to Spend a Day in Breathtaking Joshua Tree National Park”
These pics are so stunning and have convinced me to put this on my bucket list! Thanks for the tips on when to visit – I tend to be heat intolerant so I’ll be sure to visit during the cooler months. Great post!
Thank you!! Yes, I can only tolerate heat in small doses so I’m so happy we went when it was cooler!
This is interesting, I would love to hike again because it’s so much fun.
Hiking is such a great way to get good exercise and see beautiful places! We love it!
I love Joshua Tree! Great tips (especially the sun screen, the sun out there can be brutal).
Thank you! Yes, sunscreen is crucial out in the desert! Especially in the summer months!
Beautiful images! Those rock formations are so interesting. Great post and loaded with great info. I’d love to go here next time on the West coast! 🙂
Thank you!! We want to go back and spend more time there!
Great information and resources to help us plan our trip to Joshua Tree National Park. It really looks beautiful and I can’t wait to take my kids there!
It’s the perfect park for kids!! The trails aren’t too hard and it’s very stimulating with all the rock formations!
Beautiful photos! That heart rock is really cool! I’d never heard of this park before, love the insight!