Joshua Tree has been sitting on my bucket list for about eight years now, and I finally had the opportunity to visit this spring. Its strange, prickly plants, jumbled boulders and beautiful basins make it a must-see for anyone touring southern California, and after visiting, I can safely say it’s my favorite park in SoCal (the honor of my favorite park in California still goes to Lava Beds National Monument up north). This land is breathtaking, rejuvenating, and I firmly believe everyone should have the opportunity to experience it as I did--as a place to recenter yourself, forget your worries, and get back in touch with nature. Ready? Here’s what you need to do to have an incredible time in Joshua Tree: Day OneHike Skull Rock, Discovery, and Split Rock Trails | 4.9 miles | Easy to Moderate These three trails can be combined into a sort of triple loop. Start at Skull Rock, then hike around the loop through Jumbo Rocks campground to Discovery Trail, which leads you to Split Rock loop. Meet up at Discovery trail again, which will connect to the rest of Skull Rock loop, taking you back to where you parked. Visit the Oasis of Mara | .5 miles | Easy The Oasis of Mara is a short trail just behind the Oasis Visitor Center. Walk the short paved trail surrounding the oasis and learn about a local legend. Hike Hidden Valley Trail at Sunset | 1 mile | Easy We visited Hidden Valley during the golden hour, the hour before sunset (alternatively, the hour after sunrise) where the light is simply stunning. Wander the short trail that weaves through joshua trees and some of the park’s iconic boulder formations. Day TwoVisit the Cholla Cactus Garden | .25 miles | Easy Bright and early, drive down to the Cholla Cactus Garden before the crowds arrive. The garden is one of the most popular places to visit in Joshua Tree, featuring hundreds of gorgeous teddybear cholla cacti in the Pinto Basin. Check out Cottonwood Spring | .1 miles | Easy Cottonwood Spring is essentially a side-of-the-road viewpoint, featuring a short walk down to a miniature desert oasis. Small but beautiful, it’s the perfect place to experience the diversity of life here in the desert. Visit the flowers along Pinto Basin Road Oh, the flowers. Springtime brings the superbloom to California, where our hills and valleys explode into color. Follow the trails alongside the road to wander among the flowers safely, and be sure not to step on any--not just for the sake of the flowers, but to preserve this place for future visitors and the creatures that make this place their home. Explore the city of Joshua Tree The city of Joshua Tree may be small, but it’s fun to explore! Natural Sisters Cafe is the perfect place to stop for lunch or an afternoon snack--my personal fave is the Killer Bee smoothie. Next, check out the art shops. Art Queen is fantastically whimsical, and features the World Famous Crochet Museum. Keys View at Sunset | .25 miles | Easy Round out your visit to Joshua Tree by visiting Keys View at sunset. Drive up to the top of the viewpoint to reach a small, wheelchair-accessible trail overlooking the Coachella Valley. On a good day, you can see everything from Palm Springs to the Salton Sea, down to mountains as far away as Mexico. Lastly, a few quick tips! During holidays and weekends, the Joshua Tree Visitor Center entrance can get very crowded--to avoid the long line to enter the park, drive 15 miles East to Twentynine Palms and enter the park there. Be prepared before you enter the park. Don’t forget to pack lots of water, and some food to keep your energy up, too. Don’t plan to depend on your phone in the park; there’s almost no service, although you can usually get bars close to the park entrances or standing on top of one of the hills or rock piles. Finally, have fun! Joshua Tree is such a stunning place with unique wildlife. Allow yourself to let go of your worries and give into the wonder that is this park. Like this post? Pin it!See more adventures!If you liked this post, you may also like:
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Hi, there! Call me Kris. I’m a world traveler, author and artist working to showcase the world's beauty and inspire you to find your confidence to see the world!
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