| Joshua Tree National Park | |
Things to Do:
The desert ecosystems at Joshua Tree National Park hold much more than what is readily apparent to the casual observer. A closer examination reveals a fascinating variety of plants and animals, surreal geological features, and a rich cultural history. The park is open year-round and offers opportunities for a variety of activities depending on your personal interests. The visitor centers, ranger stations, and outdoor exhibits are located along the main roads leading into and through the park. These provide information on what the park has to offer, as do publications sold by the Joshua Tree National Park Association at the visitor centers and at Black Rock Canyon.
Hiking and Auto Touring
With limited time you may want to confine your sightseeing to the main park roads, which include a number of pullouts and wayside exhibits. With more time, you can embark on an 18-mile motor tour leads through one of Joshua Tree National Park’s most fascinating landscapes. There are 16 stops along a dirt road and it takes approximately two hours to make the round trip.
The park's mild winter climate and interesting rock formations, plants, and wildlife make it well suited for hiking. The park includes 12 self-guiding nature trails as well as 35 miles of the California Riding and Hiking Trail. Two to three days are required to hike the entire length of the trail but shorter hikes of 4, 6.7, or 11 miles are possible. Additional information on hikes is available at park visitor centers. Walks, hikes, and campfire talks are conducted chiefly in the spring and fall. These include guided walking tours of the history Desert Queen Ranch, slide presentations illustrating Joshua Tree’s natural resources and colorful history, astronomy and artist programs, and various other activities.
Horseback Riding and Mountain Biking
Horseback riding is a popular way to experience Joshua Tree National Park. Because of the special requirements for horses and other stock in this environment, care should be taken in planning your trip. The Backcountry and Wilderness Management Plan designates more than 200 miles of equestrian trails. Many riding trails are already open, clearly marked, and ready to be enjoyed. Other trails are in various states of development.
For visitors who want to experience the desert on a mountain bike, the park offers an extensive network of dirt roads that make for less crowded and safer cycling than the paved main roads.
Rock and Mountain Climbing
Joshua Tree has gained international attention as a superb rock-climbing area. More than 4,500 established routes offering a wide range of difficulty are concentrated within about 100,000 acres of park land. For “peak baggers,” the park has ten mountains greater than 5,000 feet in elevation.
