"By the mid-19th century, Mormon immigrants had made their way across the Colorado River. Legend has it that these pioneers named the tree after the biblical figure, Joshua, seeing the limbs of the tree as outstretched in supplication, guiding the travelers westward." -National Park Service
Joshua Tree National Park is iconically known for the trees that are all throughout the park. It is also where the Mojave and Colorado Deserts meet. As you drive throughout the Park, you can see the clear line where the wildlife shifts from one desert to the next. There are so many incredible views, scenic picture spots and places to explore in the Park. It is also a Park that can definitely be done in one day, but we spent two days and wish we had spent even more. Here is some insight to my amazing trip through Joshua Tree National Park.
How to get to Joshua Tree:
There are two airport options: Palm Springs International Airport (43 miles) or Los Angeles International Airport (146 miles). Once you arrive at either airport, there are buses that will take you to Joshua Tree; however, I highly recommend renting a car. The Park is quite large and there is a bit of a drive between each spot you want to see. If you plan to drive the entire loop, plan for about 3-4 hours plus however much time you want to spend in each spot.
Where to Stay:
Around the National Park and in the Park are some really cool Airbnbs as well as hotels. With that being said, Palm Desert and Palm Springs are only about 45 minutes from the entrance of the park and great places to stay. We stayed at Marriott's Shadow Ridge Villages in Palm Desert. For us it was the perfect location. We could explore the National Park but also the surrounding areas around as well.
Hike in Joshua Tree:
There are a few great hikes in Joshua Tree NP. I highly recommend looking at the Trail Map and using the AllTrails app. I heavily rely on both whenever looking for a good hike in a National Park. Both of these, as well as a couple recommendations from a friend, led us to Ryan Mountain. Ryan Mountain is a 3 mile out and back trail with an elevation gain of 1,062 ft. It is mostly a vertical hike with a lot of rock staircases along the trail. While it may be challenging on the way up, the view is totally worth it. It can be a bit windy at the top so make sure to pack a jacket along with lots of water and your favorite trail snack to enjoy the view.
Best picture spots:
The major landmarks are a short walk from the parking lot. The Park is full of really cool wildlife but also has some vert different rock formations as well. Below are the top 3 from our trip but also some of the most famous in the Park.
An important thing to note: there is not much phone service, if any at all. So make sure to get a park trail map at the visitors' center when entering the park and map out your route before you begin your adventure.
While the rock formations are incredible, our absolute favorite part of the park was sunset at the Cholla Cactus Garden. We had mapped out our route to originally watch sunset from Keys View, but the night before, a group at our hotel convinced us that we actually needed to go to Cholla Cactus Garden and boy it did not disappoint. The views were absolutely stunning with the cacti all throughout the garden and the mountains in the distance. If you choose to go to the garden for sunset, make sure to go at least 30 minutes before so that you can see the entire show.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a sucker for a beautiful sunset. I especially love catching a sunset when traveling. No sunset is the same. They are all so different, with different landscapes and colors that capture a setting sun . It's hard for me to pick my favorite sunset but Joshua Tree National Park is definitely one of the top of the list! I hope that you get the chance to visit Joshua Tree National Park and get to see why!
"It is almost impossible to watch a sunset and not dream." - Bern Williams
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