I could rave and rave about this hike. I almost didn't do it because it's a little out of the way -…read morethe trailhead entrance is off the main road past the first entrance if coming from Palm/desert hot springs. The hike itself probably only took me 45 mins or so to get to the oasis, and BOY was it worth it!! It's a shallow step/Rocky path most of the way, and right at the end you suddenly emerge over this hill and get an incredible view of a valley full of California fan palm trees! I came on a clear day with mild temps in the mid 70': and it was comfortable, and TOTALLY stunning. The volunteer @the welcome center said in summer they get some rain and it doesn't drain fast so water can pool and make it like a true oasis (don't swim in or drink that water). Overall, between Ryan mountain and this hike - it truly MADE my experience @J tree. Anybody going to visit the park I would recommend doing this trail :)

Frail is easy to follow. It isn't too steep and it's a solid 1.6 miles to the spot from the parking…read morelot. Once at the palms, the temperature cools out dramatically under the shade. Pretty neat!

Nice, easy trail with great desert scenery. It was extremely hot when we went, so definitely bring…read moreplenty of water and sun protection. Overall, we had a good experience and I'm glad we did it.

. The trail is almost completely well marked. You can see in my Strava route I got lost before…read moreretracing my steps. + Good family hike for novices and intermediate. + You'll likely see a lot of topropers who can't get enough adrenaline. xD + Plenty of parking along the trail entrance. - Wish there were signs or a mark on the map pointing to Cow Rock.

Happy new month, happy September! I killed 3 birds with one…read morestone during our visit to Palm Springs hehe and got to cross Joshua Tree National Park off my list. I always wanted to visit Joshua Tree National Park from seeing all the Instagram post, heard many things about the tree and the movies were filmed here. Yay, it finally happened during August, not a good time to visit but it was the only time we could make it. The weather was super HOT to be in the desert , 3 digit hot . Next time I have other plans Joshua Tree, I will be visiting in cooler times. I was so excited for Joshua Tree, finally happened hehe. We drive in to Joshua Tree twice, the first day we kind got lost looking for Joshua Tree and we started later in the day so we continued the next day. The drive in was nice, the roads were paved. We didn't hike it but just got to drive around the National Park, $30. per car, good for 7 days entrance. I asked the park guard where is the original Joshua Tree located, (hehe) but I learned that there isn't a specific or original. "Joshua" is named after a person. I loved seeing all the Joshua Trees, trying to find the perfect tree shape for our photos. I know how the Joshua Tree looks like, hehe. Joshua Tree is 130 miles east of LA, in southern dessert, we drove from LAX, it was perfect as one of the reason to visit Palm Springs was for JW, got info. that Joshua Tree was in the area, this was truly meant to be, Nearest towns are Twentynine Palms, Palm Desert and Palm Springs. What makes Joshua Tree special, this is where two deserts meet, The Mojave desert and lower Colorado desert, they have crazy rock formations, boulder piles and dark night skies, like International Dark Sky Park) The park is open 24 hours which I would be afraid to be at the park late at night. Don't forget to bring water, snacks, food, wear comfortable shoes, sunscreen, prepared for spotty cell service. All in all, Absolutely beautiful, I got to cross JTNP off my list, took in nature and family time, Carpe Diem, seize the moment, all we have is now. I can't wait to be back again for more Joshua Tree adventures!

As part of our quest to visit all 63 U.S. national parks, we set off on a six-week road trip. I…read morehave a personal rule: I only count a national park as "visited" if I actually spend time there, hike or walk through it, and truly experience it. On this trip, we visited 14 national parks, and Joshua Tree National Park was one of the most playful and surprising. My husband came up with what may be the park's most accurate unofficial name: "Amazing Boulders National Park... with a few Joshua trees." After spending a couple of days there, I had to admit he had a point. Yes, the Joshua trees are fascinating. These unusual plants are actually members of the yucca family rather than true trees, and they give the landscape a wonderfully whimsical character. But what completely captivated us were the enormous granite boulder formations scattered throughout the park. They seem to have been dropped from the sky by a giant child building a playground. Hiking here is simply fun. Around every corner, another incredible rock formation appears, and before long you find yourself spotting shapes in the rocks: an elephant, a skull, faces, animals, castles... your imagination takes over. Climbing on the boulders brought out our inner children. Unlike many hikes where you simply follow a trail, Joshua Tree encourages exploration and curiosity. One of the most fascinating aspects of the park is that it lies where two distinct deserts meet: the higher, cooler Mojave Desert, home to the Joshua trees, and the lower, hotter Colorado Desert, creating remarkable diversity in both plants and wildlife. We were fortunate to visit while many of the cacti were in bloom, adding splashes of color to the desert. We also enjoyed watching the abundant wildlife, including desert iguanas, ground squirrels, Gambel's quail, and countless birds that make this seemingly harsh environment feel surprisingly alive. The scenery constantly changes, from forests of Joshua trees to giant rock piles, hidden valleys, cholla gardens, and wide-open desert vistas. It is easy to understand why artists, photographers, climbers, and stargazers have been drawn here for generations. Joshua Tree National Park is one of those rare places that makes you smile while you're exploring it. It is beautiful, quirky, imaginative, and incredibly fun. Whether you come to hike, climb, photograph, or simply let your imagination run wild among the boulders, this park is unforgettable. Highly recommended, and if you find yourself calling it "Amazing Boulders National Park," don't worry... you're probably not the first.

Easy and idea spot for light hiking just after you park your car. Trail leads to some key spots in…read morethe park including the the remnants of the Barker Dam that once served the area. Surrounding area are steep cliffs and bluffs offering some really epic views. Be sure to keep an close eye out for infamous Big Horn Sheep that often adorn the sides of the canyons on top of rocks and steep terrain.

Hiked Barker Dam Trail in January 2026 and it ended up being one of my favorite spots in Joshua…read moreTree National Park. The dam was filled with water (which apparently isn't always the case), and I had most of the trail completely to myself. Peaceful, scenic, and classic Joshua Tree views the entire way. Easy hike, big payoff, and felt like discovering a hidden gem. Loved it.

Located inside Joshua Tree National Park off the Pinto Basin Road. You have to hike a little from…read morethe parking lot to get to the road crossing. Luckily there were plenty of signs. The trail was pretty flat until you to get closer to the split between the Arch Rock and Heart Rock. There's a lot of cool boulders and rocks to climb on. Arch Rock was definitely more popular than Heart Rock. Did take us almost an hour and a half to do both the Arch Rock and Heart Rock. Hiked during a weekday morning and saw only a few groups.

Seemingly short but a pretty far walk from the parking lot. Once you get to the Arch rock trail…read moreit's 1.4 miles and winds through some great rock formations, all of which you can scramble on. Our favorite parts were all the "off-trail" moments where you could get up and close with the desert. In summer it's recommended to do this trail before 10 am, it gets hot even in Spring! It was by far the hottest we were because of the long walk from parking with no shade at all. I believe the elevation is lower here so it felt warmer than the other Joshua Tree hikes. The iconic stops are whale rock, heart rock, and the large arch near the beginning of the trail. I'm not sure what it was but there is also a cliff you can walk to the edge of and there is some great rock formations in a canyon. It is popular also if you come too late there will be no parking, when we left we saw people walking from pretty far to get here since the parking lot was full.

Drivers, please drive below the 45-mph recommended speed because there are pedestrians. Visitors:…read morethe Preserve is only open some days per week. The parking area is closed. Park across along the road, look before opening a door on the left side of your vehicle, and cross the road carefully. As you enter the parking area, a trail to the left leads to a hill overlooking the Preserve. The entrance area has two toilets, two picnic tables, information signs, and a helpful docent. The McCallum Trail and San Andreas Trail are open for a short way. Some trails are partly closed and as a result you cannot reach some of the informational signs. I have read those signs in the past when those trails were still open. FYI, the Mission Strand of the San Andreas Fault blocks the flow of underground water. The water rises to the surface creating a small oasis with native California fan palm trees and bird life.

About 20 minutes away from Desert Hot Springs. My mother in law and I were awake way before the…read morerest of the family and both of us like exploring and nature so I asked her if she wanted to go hiking with me at 6:30 am. Both of us got ready in 10 minutes and were out the door. The gate is closed and there is even a sign that says "parking lot closed" but we saw other people parking on the street and walking over so we did the same. The RV/campsite you can see from a distance is for the staff that works there, don't be alarmed by it! If you head on the trails toward the RV its very short but brings you into the giant palms and a wooden staircase that goes down to water and palms growing out of it. You can finish this very quickly. When you head out and head to the right there are branching paths here that lead to more hikes in palms, along the river oasis, and more into the mountains. The visitor center looked excellent and had a home made log cabin vibe, we could see some interesting artifacts inside but because the entrance was chained we didn't want to go in without permission even though it would have been easy to just duck under the chains.

At the north edge of Joshua Tree National Park, the Oasis of Mara doesn't try to impress you. It…read morejust is. And somehow, that lands deeper. What makes it special isn't just the pocket of life in the middle of all that desert, it's how thoughtfully it's been preserved and shared. The paved loop trail is an open invitation, designed so almost anyone can experience it, which matters. Beauty shouldn't be gatekept by steep inclines and perfect knees. When we visited, most of the loop was closed for repairs. The kind of moment where you think, "well, that's that." But then, plot twist, kindness showed up. A staff member took the time to talk with my husband and, seeing his mobility challenges, gave him permission to walk the full trail. That small act? It meant everything. We didn't just see the oasis, we experienced it. And what an experience it was. A slow, easy walk, the kind your body thanks you for. Quiet learning along the way. A desert iguana making a cameo like it had somewhere important to be. The soft, unmistakable call of a quail echoing through the stillness. No big show, just little moments stacking up into something meaningful. It's peaceful, beautiful, and layered with history you can feel even if you don't read a single sign. The kind of place that doesn't demand your attention but earns it anyway. Go. Walk it slowly. Let it sink in. It's one of those places that leaves a quiet mark and somehow stays with you longer than the louder stops.

Nothing very pretty. Plants looked burnt and neglected! One area was closed off for repair…read more Random info with history signs but not with cohesive storytelling. So sad that the Maaryam and other tribes were driven off this land. And worse that the water was depleted by 1940 so it had to be pumped in mechanically. Yuck- all around. The brush in the park looked much healthier than this. The only thing nice was that I could walk my dog in.

Ramona & Conan made our experience unforgettable. The walk/hike portion was very educational about…read morethe land we were on, its history, etc. The sound bath was in a special cave with immense energy. It opened our minds & hearts in an unexplainable way. A true off the grid experience. This is not for everyone but if you feel called, do it! A very worthwhile experience. The land is precious and full of wonderful energy.

I recently went here to get away from everything, it turned out to be just what i needed. The…read moregrounds here are beautiful, they gave us a tour and really explained in detail the history of the place from the petroglyphs, to the plants, and wildlife. The sound bath with Ramona was other worldly, it was held in a Cave made from an ancient rock structure, it was very powerful. It feel like a prehistoric wonderland. I was able to camp in my truck tent, but there are super cool tents and structures you can rent. I highly recommend to going here to detach from the normal fast paced life, its an enchanting experience.

Returned to Joshua Tree for a second stargazing trip, and despite unpredictable cloud cover, the…read morenight sky delivered an incredible show. Sunset at Keys View: The view was great, but parking is extremely limited and poorly managed. Someone parked directly in the middle of the roadway, blocking traffic and leaving everyone else stranded. Camping & Stargazing: Set up camp at Ryan Campground, had dinner, and spent the night stargazing right from the picnic table. The Milky Way was directly overhead, and we caught numerous meteors and shooting stars throughout the night. Drawbacks: The main issue was a total lack of etiquette from other visitors. People were driving around late at night and shining bright white flashlights everywhere past 10 PM, completely disregarding designated quiet hours and ruining dark-sky adaptation. Overall, it is a phenomenal spot for astronomy, but fellow visitors lacking basic night-sky common sense can dampen the experience. Note: On the way back home morning, the park rangers check the annual pass / ticket as they are not when we went around 6.3O PM

Behold, the ominous Coffin! Not for the faint of heart. And certainly don't go alone like I did ;P…read more+ Fun nature scrambling. And it's free (if you're taking advantage of the national parks pass)! + Good amount of parking & restrooms. - But restrooms have no hand sanitizer. + Pleasant ambience. Tranquil, besides the families. . Dry climate. Keep a pack of H2O bottles in your car throughout your JTNP adventure. - The roads throughout JTNP are mostly one lane per way, with few passing sections. You could get stuck behind a slow driver for 5-15min. . At times there is mobile service throughout the park, closer to the outskirts. + Y'know, many moons ago when I first learned of the Coffin, I dreaded ever actually doing it. Had the same scary intrusive thoughts as you. Fast-forward to the moments leading up to the hike, I wasn't scared anymore. Just went for it. Found the crevice. Climbed into it. Not much fear. Just fun & exploration. Now I'm just glad I did it. No regrets. Here's how I found the Coffin. There're various paths leading to it. Please come and create your own adventure ;D I included 12 photos documenting from start (from the parking lot, start at this bench: 34°00'42.4"N 116°10'06.3"W) to finish (Coffin located within 30' of this pin: 34°00'43.6"N 116°10'07.7"W). Thank you Kwan & gang for guiding me! Coffin tips: . Wear long sleeves (down to your wrists & ankles), a headlamp, and durable gloves. You'll be close quarters with abrasive rock having so much fun for about an hour xP . Go with people, both before and after you, jic. . And begrudgingly admitted, pack enough food and H2O for your own 127-Hr contingency experience xP

Split Rock was a really cool stop and definitely worth checking out. The rock formations were…read moreinteresting, the scenery was beautiful, and it was a great place to walk around and take some photos.

Split Rock Trail is a 2.5 mile loop hike in Joshua Tree National Park. It's a relatively easy hike…read morewith no much elevation. You start off with a bumpy road driving in and end at a parking lot with restrooms at the trailhead. We did the hike in the counter clockwise direction which was a little confusing at first because there weren't a lot of obvious markers leading you along the trail so we almost gave up. Eventually we followed other people and figured it out but I wonder if it would've been a little more clear had we gone clockwise instead. It was a pretty easy hike other than some incline. Of course, there's not much shade here so bring plenty of water and take breaks if needed.