Just two hours in live from the coast, Joshua tree is a stargazing hotspot, particularly if you get there around the new moon. There are hikes for all. Ability levels can generally be satisfied from road tours of the varying sites, to expert technical rock, climbing for the hipsters in your crowd. Rangers are knowledgeable about weather and humidity so enlist one to go see whatever works for your logistics. I favor Mt Ryan at dawn or dusk, Split rock and Barker Dam although the oasis hikes are better for the intrepid souls. Water and a hat are de riguer and some of our crew liked their hiking boots and poles as much. With three significant access points, the surrounding areas offer ample old western vibes. But there are also excellent coffee shops, fancy bakeries, good local fare, and more varieties of dates than you can imagine. Try to hit the farmers market in twenty nine palms, where I purchased my winter hat and Pokémon masks. Campbell Hill bakery and La Copine up the road are well worth the wait. Tell Travis I say hello and thank his wife for the pea and potato curry which helped me get safely home. If you go to Pioneertown stop and have a stiff drink and tacos. Lovely humans can be desert rats, especially coastal elites looking for a new biome in the winter. But the desert is all bout the light so be outside as much as possible. The desolation and beauty will remind you we are not ever alone.

Totally awesome day, with spectacular, even other-worldly landscapes. We made it a day trip from our resort in Palm Desert, about a 45 minute drive, entering at the southern gate (Cottonwood). Drove the Pinto Basin Road, slowly, stopping frequently along the way, to the Cholla Cactus Garden. So cool. Then onto the incredible rock formations, including Arch Rock, Skull Rock, etc. did a short walk through Skull Rock area on both sides of the road. Then headed west to Cap Rock, again with stops along the way. Took the road south to Keys View, a short drive distance, and the views are spectacular and well worth the detour. Then headed back northwest towards to West entrance/exit. The roads are in excellent condition, the scenery just beautiful, the Joshua trees are a sight to see. Restrooms clean and plentiful at various picnic sites. Plenty of easy, short walking trails high suited our abilities. If in the area, this is a must. And since it is possible to drive the entire park in a day, kids,molder folks, and those with mobility limits can still enjoy the experience. Pack lunch and snacks.

Pristine nature could be in Dr Seuss’ land. Rock formations so unique, and a few folks were bouldering. Wildlife not so abundant but it could require sitting and waiting at different times to catch a glimpse especially of birds. Winter a good time to visit with daytime very comfortable. Of course the Disney crowds make it challenging to visit NPs these days unless getting off the beaten path. Maybe NPS to start a system requiring reservations booked years in advance good for a once a lifetime visit. These parks are too rare and fragile to let hordes of people come trampling thru everyday.

Unlike anything else I have ever seen! This California section of the Mojave desert is fascinating, with all sorts of plant life that are unique to the arid, hot, and dry climates of the desert. The Joshua Trees (yes there are actual Joshua Trees, it's not just a name) are so cool and served many purposes throughout history. I highly recommend you wear closed toed footwear, as being a wilderness area, you can encounter various bugs or snakes. Treat it as any other hiking destination even if the terrain seems less treacherous. Make sure you grab a map as you go through the entrance so you don't miss anything as there are many treasures to see here. I would highly recommend adding this to your itinerary and try to overnight so you have time to fully enjoy all it has to offer!

A lovely drive was had through this park. Lots of places to park and take in the views, or to use as a base for hiking. We just drove through for an hour on our way to Vegas. Buying a ticket for the car was simple, and you could show the ranger the ticket on your phone. The views are desolate but also green, which I did not expect. I recommend going here.

Very unique national park. Great rock formations and Joshua trees. This is also great for families. No real long hikes. But for people with high energy they can rock scramble around while grandma just walks the path. Would recommend skull rock. The rock is nothing, but the scrambling is great. Hidden valley is another great spot

We went to JYNP on Jan. 17, 2023. It was a nice, mostly sunny day, about 50 degrees. It was windy, so it felt a little cooler. We stopped at Crossroads Cafe in Joshua Tree for a hearty breakfast. Then we stopped at the JT Visitor and Cultural Center before driving to the North Entrance in 29 Palms. No traffic at all heading in to the park. Our first stop was the Cholla Gardens- very cool. Short path to take and spent less than 1/2 hour there. We then backtracked and drove to the Arch Rock and Heart Rock trail. We spent about 50 minutes there exploring on the trail and doing a little rock scrambling. Very fun area. Then we drove down the road to Split Rock. This was the only time in the day that we had any trouble with parking. Luckily a car pulled out after a while and we were able to get a spot. We had a snack in the car and used the bathroom. We decide not to walk the trail there and headed on to Skull Rock and the Discovery Trail. Skull rock and Jumbo Rocks were on one side of the road so we looked at those. Then we crossed the street to Discovery Trail. Things were not super well marked and it looked like there were multiple paths to follow- so I would definitely recommend the AllTrails app that keeps you on course. Lots of rocks and nooks and crannies to explore- we probably spent 45 minutes here. The next stop was Hall of Horrors. It is a short loop trail but we probably spent an hour there exploring the slot canyons and climbing the rocks. It was another fun area. By this time it was about 3:45 and we decided to head out. There were a lot of other areas we had wanted to explore, but maybe another time! Most of the major stops had bathrooms. This particular day was not crowded at all. With the exception of Split rock we were able to easily park at any stop we felt like. We found ourself doing less than we had planned, but spending more time at each trail than we thought we would. The rock climbing/scrambling was great! The trails were gravel which was easy to walk on. I think we saw quite a bit, but there is definitely more to explore. Fun day!

Second time to Joshua Tree wonderful park,get your map at visitor Center to decide which hicking trails are suited for you.Love that the park offers different geological marvels so intriguing.Scull rock,divided rock,king views…A must when in the region.we did it as a day trip from Palm Springs.

Enjoyed this unique National Park over 2 days in January. Weather was cool and sunny, allowing for comfortable hikes. Not too busy in winter. Favorite parts were cholla cactus garden and skull place.

We spent four days here in January. It was cold (40s and 50s). We also had full sunshine. We participated in one ranger led tour and did three hikes on our own. Despite the cold, our adventures were enjoyable. We had the proper clothing and equipment.