Joshua Tree National Park in California, USA - map, photos and visitor information

Joshua Tree National Park combines boulder landscapes, desert plants, and short nature walks in Southern California. A useful first visit pairs a few stops along the park roads with one or two trails. Bring supplies before entering: water and services are limited, and summer heat can rule out a hike that looks short on a map.

Highlights of Joshua Tree

• Hidden Valley: Walk a loop inside a valley enclosed by rock formations.
• Cap Rock: See Joshua trees and granite boulders on a short interpretive trail.
• Keys View: Look across the Coachella Valley from a roadside viewpoint area.
• Oasis of Mara: Follow a paved loop that introduces the relationship between an oasis, wildlife, and people.

Know before entering the desert

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Check the park's conditions page and closure map before travel.

Heat, water, and navigation

Carry at least one gallon of water per person per day during warmer months, with more for strenuous hiking. Do not count on finding drinking water in the park interior. Take food, sun protection, and a map even for a short walk.

The park advises avoiding summer hiking between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tell someone your route and return time. Cell reception is limited, so download maps before entering. Do not follow an unofficial app route into rock scrambling or remote terrain without the skills it requires.

Protect desert plants and wildlife

Leave plants, rocks, and cultural objects in place. Secure food and trash, and keep your distance from animals. Do not attach ropes or hammocks to Joshua trees or other vegetation.

Most trails exclude pets; the paved Oasis of Mara Trail is an exception for leashed pets. Backcountry campers must pack out human waste and toilet paper using an approved disposal system. Burying waste is not permitted.

Entry, campsites, and overnight permits

No reservation is required for ordinary park entry. Most campsites require a reservation, available up to six months ahead. Use the campground guide to select and book a site before losing cell service.

Hidden Valley, Belle, and White Tank use first-come sites. Occupying a site does not complete registration: complete registration and pay at an entrance station within one hour of setting up. Sleeping in a vehicle at a roadside pullout is not an alternative to a campground.

A backcountry overnight permit costs USD 6 for a party of one to twelve people and allows a trip of up to fourteen nights, subject to zone limits. Backpacking requires preparation and your own water; it is not a fallback when developed campsites are full.

Maps and the three park entrances

Approach from California Highway 62 or Interstate 10. The West Entrance is south of Joshua Tree village along Park Boulevard. The North Entrance is south of Twentynine Palms along Utah Trail. The South Entrance serves the Cottonwood area from Interstate 10.

Download the official park and campground maps before driving. Navigation software can send vehicles onto sandy or rutted backcountry roads. Choose the named entrance that fits your itinerary and use paved approaches unless you have checked an unpaved route with the park.

Nearby parks for a longer road trip

• Mount San Jacinto State Park: A regional stop west of Joshua Tree, with road access to its Idyllwild facilities on Highway 243. High-country access has separate arrangements.
• Anza-Borrego Desert State Park: A further stop to the south. For the visitor center, approach Borrego Springs on S-22 and continue along Palm Canyon Drive.

Choose a short walk or a desert hike

Match the walk to the temperature and your group's abilities. A short desert route still requires preparation. At Keys View, the upper paved path is steep; the lower viewpoint is a better option to investigate if that slope is a barrier.

Rock climbing and stargazing offer other ways to experience the park. For an evening visit, decide on your return route before dark and bring a light. Keep a night visit separate from plans to camp, which have their own rules.

Water, toilets, lodging, and accessibility

There are no hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, or gas stations inside the park. Obtain food and fuel in the surrounding communities. Picnic areas include Hidden Valley, Cap Rock, and Cottonwood.

Black Rock and Cottonwood campgrounds have water and flush toilets. Several interior campgrounds have pit toilets but no water. Choose a campsite for its facilities as well as its location.

The mobility guide describes surfaces and barriers. Cap Rock's packed-sand path can have loose sections and overhanging rocks. Oasis of Mara has a paved, half-mile loop with little elevation change, nearby restrooms, and a water-filling station. Conditions can change, so check the specific route before your visit.

About Joshua Tree National Park

From plant protection to national park

People have lived in this region for thousands of years. In the twentieth century, Minerva Hoyt campaigned to protect desert plants from removal and development. Joshua Tree became a national monument in 1936 and a national park in 1994. Its protected landscape also preserves evidence of ranching and other human uses of the desert.

Life across desert habitats

Oases, valleys, and mountains support animals with different ways of coping with heat and scarce water. Coyotes and kangaroo rats live here, while bighorn sheep are less often seen. Reptiles include lizards, snakes, and desert tortoises. Bats are among the mammals active after dark. Observe wildlife without feeding it or blocking its movement.

Contact Joshua Tree National Park

Call 760-367-5500 for visitor information or 760-367-5554 for campground and backpacking permit questions. The mailing address is 74485 National Park Drive, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277-3597. The official contact page provides inquiry forms.