. The trail is almost completely well marked. You can see in my Strava route I got lost before retracing 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. read more

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About a 10-minute drive from the entrance, and one of the most popular spots in the park. The loop is about one mile and takes you through incredible rock formations. There's a bit of climbing involved so definitely wear proper shoes. It took us around 30 minutes, but some people took closer to an hour, likely stopping for photos and to soak it all in. You'll also see rock climbers, which is fun to watch. read more

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Nice trail in Joshua tree NP. It was about 1.1 miles and took us 46 min to finish with time to take pictures during the hike. It was an easy hike with some stairs. There were lots of rocks and some Joshua trees. Highly recommended this hike! read more

Hidden Valley Loop Trail - Some stairs - Hiking Near Me

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A perfect example of a short hike that yields high reward! This is not a flat trail by any means, but it is classified as "easy" compared to other hikes around Joshua Tree National Park. There are areas with some short inclines, uneven sandy pathways and boulders to step over, but nothing super strenuous. I will note that some of the steps are on the taller side, so I could see it being considered closer to "moderate" difficulty for some. Once inside the valley, the views are especially stunning as you look up to the surrounding rock formations that have a "crumbly" appearance. I was captivated by the layers and how much they contrasted with the smoother type of rock from the other formations we saw (e.g. Cap Rock). This one-mile loop is estimated to take an hour to complete, but I stopped for photos along the way so it took me about 1.5 hours to walk through. Some of the trails are not marked super clearly, but with so many people hiking it around midday, we were able to find our way without issues. As for parking, there is a large lot, given that this is one of the most popular trails in the park. Plus, visitors were constantly coming and going, so there were spots available when we arrived and by the time we left. read more

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Hidden Valley is a one mile loop off Park Boulevard after entering the west entrance at Joshua Tree National Park. This area with rocks and enormous boulders was popular with cattle rustlers back in the day to hide their stolen livestock. It's still a very popular spot today. There is a 4 percent to 19 percent grade and climbing steps and over rocks. There are many unique rocks and formations. "It encapsulates what the park is all about," says the park's staff. Hidden Valley is no longer a secret but a nice intro to all that Joshua Tree National Park has to offer. read more

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After researching several trails to hike in Joshua Tree National Park, we landed on Hidden Valley Nature Trail and it ended up being the perfect sightseeing adventure for our amateur group. We're Floridians so we don't see many mountains/massive boulders like you find here. It was all very breathtaking for us. This trail is a 1-mile self-guided loop with lots of great places to stop and take photos along the way. Since I was with family, we definitely wanted to capture some memories together. My mother-in-law was with us and this trail was very doable for her and not too strenuous. The rocks were easy to climb and there was a clear cut path to follow. We spent about 1.5 hours on the trail which included frequent stops to take in the scenery. I highly recommend visiting just before golden hour to catch some incredible lighting. It's an easy drive and you can park directly in front of the trailhead which was very convenient. This trail is great for kids, the elderly, or any beginner hiker like myself. read more

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Hidden Valley Loop Trail is an easy to moderate mile hike. The trail itself took about 30 minutes to walk including the time it took to stop and take pictures. The views are amazing. If you go in the summer, hike early in the morning. It was already pretty hot at 9am. We appreciate the Search and Rescue volunteer at the beginning of the trail. He had a clicker to count people going in the trail and offered a spritz of water near the end of our hike. Loved seeing the chipmunks scurry along the path. Hidden Valley has an easy path to follow with arrows guiding you along the way. read more

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I mapped out several trails to do in Joshua Tree National Park and this might have been my favorite scenic hike. Hidden Valley Loop Trail is a self-guiding, one-mile loop trail through a rock-enclosed valley. It is popular for both scenic walks and for rock climbing. There are so many massive boulders along and a variety of plants in this area. The trail itself is relatively flat with little elevation gain unless you decide to climb some rocks. Nearby is a picnic area and a campground. Access through Hidden Valley's entry point is a result of a rancher blasting a notch through the rocks walls back in the 30's so he could have access for his cattle. read more

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This is my favorite trail in Joshua Tree National Park! Came here with my best friend, and we are both not very athletic types, but had no trouble hiking the whole course, while enjoying the great view along the way. I think it shows the desert scenery and landscape so well, the joshua tress with dry native plants, beige orange rock formations, and a clear blue sky to top it all off. There were some massive boulders that we could easily climb up and take pictures. I had so much fun, would love to come back again later with my special someone! read more

Hidden Valley Loop Trail - Hiking Near Me

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If you are going to visit Joshua Tree national park then you should plan a stop here. There is a large parking lot, but there are also plenty of people stopping here so you may have to park out on the street if overcrowded. There is an easy 1.1 mile hike through the amazing landscape, boulders, diverse desert terrain. Plenty of pics posted for you to see the amazing views and surrounding area. The trail is just 1 part of hidden valley and there is so much more to explore. Hidden Valley is a great place for easy hiking, nice views, photo opportunities. Definitely worth a stop here on you visit to the park. read more

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Such a nice and easy one-mile hike! It's an easy loop with views of the various rock structures. Perfect for kids, elderly, and those who aren't looking for a strenuous outing. The views are simply beautiful, especially during golden hour. Definitely come during the winter to avoid high temperatures. Not too many Joshua trees on the hike, but tons in the parking lot. read more

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Great trail(s) that meanders in the desert and amongst the cliffs to get views. You can actually backpack here and campout ( guidelines are pretty rigid so check before you go). The views down are stunning. Great varied terrain. Highly recommended read more

Hidden Valley Loop Trail - Hiking Near Me

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Hiking through the Hidden Valley Trail loop was easily my favorite stop while visiting Joshua Tree National Park! To say that this hike was absolutely stunning would truly be an understatement. Who would have thought that rummaging through the desert could be so therapeutic?! The Hidden Valley Trail is a super short one mile hike through some of Joshua Tree's most gorgeous sights and prominent landmarks. Being from the Bay Area, I'm so used to hiking through Redwoods, hillsides, and along the coast. This was honestly my first real taste of hiking in the desert. One mile really wasn't enough for me, but I enjoyed every minute and second of it. The hike starts off on a flat sandy path that's surrounded by dessert vegetation and moderately stacked rocks formations. It meanders throw large boulders and gorgeous Joshua Trees. The rock formations are absolutely insane! There are several spots where you can essentially do some light rock climbing and exploring. You can walk in between a caverns that are located off trail. What I loved about hiking here is that you can veer off and explore and easily find your way back onto the trail because it's a shorter loop. I mean, the views are seriously priceless. It's crazy how you can see parts of the erosion of earth right before your eyes. And when the sun hits those rocks with that perfectly blue sky in the background. Damn. Just numbing. But, don't underestimate the sun one bit! This hike is short and easy but it gets HAWT!!! Bring lots of water and lather up on the sunscreen. It starts boiling mid to late morning during the summer and early fall, so be prepared. Along the trail you'll find informational placards detailing the different types of vegetation as well as information on the eroded rock formations and how they came to be. At some points during the hike, you'll be able to see the beautiful Coachella Valley in the background. Yes, the desert can be ravishingly and this Hidden Valley Trail proves that and then some. This trail is really close to the park entrance and should definitely be one of the first stops when visiting the park. read more

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Very popular 1 mile loop trail with a lot of families and kids. It may be hard to find parking since it's so popular. There's plenty of picnic tables that most likely already occupied when you arrive. It was a scenic view with different types of rocks plants. read more

Out of the five short distance hikes I got to do during my first visit to Joshua Tree, Hidden Valley had to be my favorite. Right from the beginning of the trail there are people rock climbing different sections of the trails. We came here near the end of the day so it was nice to see the sun starting to set over the rock formations that make the trail loop a miniature valley. A plus for this spot is there's a bathroom at the start of hike near the parking lot. read more

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HIDDEN VALLEY and the loop trail inside of this "valley" should be the first place to visit for neophytes to the desert. The reasons for this are: (1) Hidden Valley and the loop trail are located right next to a large parking lot; (2) It is impossible to get lost if you are wandering around inside of Hidden Valley; (3) It is also nearly impossible (unless you try really hard) to get lost if you are wandering around the outside circumference of Hidden Valley; (4) There is a genuine nature trail inside with signs that provide information about the plants inside; (5) The yucca plants inside and some of the boulder formations inside are photogenic. PHOTOS FROM HIDDEN VALLEY. A distinguished rock formation inside Hidden Valley is Cliff Man Rock (see my 1st photo). Cliff Man is best photographed in the last afternoon when the illumination is perfect, and is best photographed with a 300 mm lens. Strawberry Shortcake is shown posing on the nature trail near one of the pretty yucca plants inside Hidden Valley (see my 2nd photo). If you wander around the entire circumference just outside Hidden Valley, you will encounter three or four photogenic monoliths (see my 3rd photo). The photogenic monolith in my picture is on the west side of this circumference, and very easy to find from the parking lot. WHAT COMES AFTER HIDDEN VALLEY. After a a couple of visits to JTNP, visitors will have acquired the understanding that JTNP is not swarming with venomous snakes, gila monsters (a poisonous lizard), tarantulas, or mountain lions and, as a result, the tourist will have confidence enough to venture out alone, for example, into the back country of LOST HORSE VALLEY or into the back country to the east of LIVE OAK PICNIC AREA and to the east of JUMBO ROCKS. However, no matter how many times you've explored JTNP, one must not put one's hand inside the shaded area under any rocks (animals could be there). read more

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The Hidden Valley trail is like being transported straight to Bedrock. The beautiful rock formations feel other-worldly. There's truly something for everyone here. The trail is an easy 1 mile loop that takes you through these rock formations on a nature trail. There are plenty of opportunities for photos, rock climbing, scrambling, you name it. It's not like your traditional hike where you feel like you're stuck to the rigidity of a trail. There's plenty of room to explore here. In fact, it's kind of hard to know if you're still on the "trail" at some points. After the second half of the loop trail, we didn't see a single person, so I think most because just go in and back after they've accomplished whatever they came there for. There were some serious rock climbers there as well as children and people just wanting to take photos. This was our last hike of the day. We were dehydrated, out of water, and my legs had the shakes from doing some of the more strenuous hikes earlier in the day before the heat started kicking in. Otherwise, I would've loved to explore more and climb up some of the larger rock formations. Love love love this trail. Parking was pretty slammed so be prepared for that. read more

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Hidden Valley was an amazing easy loop hike. Took about 30 minutes to complete the entire hike. There are lots of signs that direct you to the parking lot. Decent sized lot at the trail head. Very clean. Bathroom at the beginning. Lots of amazing mountain rock shots here. Not much shade. Mostly flat easy hike. There is a small pretty easy rock step climb at the beginning. There are plenty of cool joshua tree shots. Be careful of the jumping cactus. Make sure you follow the info plaques to make sure you are following the trail. Some points you could go the wrong way and get completely lost. 0 reception here! Overall it was easy hike to complete. Sad I did not get any ranch at the end! read more

You cannot properly say that you have visited a National Park in the United States, especially ones accessible by car, without exiting your vehicle and hiking the trails to explore the surrounding landscape and features that define the park. Hiking on nature trails, such as the one at Hidden Valley, is a great way to enjoy the flora and fauna of the National Park. As you hike the easy one-mile loop trail, read the signs along the trail to get introduced to wildlife in the area, not to mention taking in the beautiful scenery around you. read more

easy, "naturally" paved mile-long trail. parking lot was empty around 8am, good amount of picnic tables available. trail had a few steep, rocky steps but overall very easy to get around. beautiful views. great for kids. bring the sunscreen as there is limited shade. water would be wise too! covid: they highly encourage one way around the loop due to social distancing. we didn't have any issues and everyone was respectful of the guidelines. read more

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This is an awesome short hike. As the name indicates it takes you on.a loop in a very small valley, surrounded by rocky slopes that seem like they are from the Flintstones cartoon. There is a wonderful mixture of plants and tree along the trail. It is such a striking experience during the wildflower bloom that it looks like the whole thing was professionally landscaped. Highly recommended. read more

Hidden Valley is part of Joshua Tree National Park and a must see if you are ever in California. If you love the desert, you will be in heaven. Hidden Valley is a pretty easy hike, and if you can't hike there is a lot to see from your car or a short walk. The summers are brutal so try for the Fall or Winter. The Joshua Tree is just beautiful. There are many to be seen along with other cactus and plants. The area is pristine. Please help keep it that way. Do not take anything from the park, please. If you are lucky you may see some jack rabbits or other cute creatures. The lizards are adorable and are so fast. You will love every minute at Hidden Valley. The silence will give you a break from the busy world and remind you to take a minute and just look at the beauty of nature. Have the best time. Always take in water with you. read more

This was my one must do for this trip based off of the descriptions that I read in a guidebook. 100% it was worth the time and I would happily do it again. Basically we take a trail through some boulders and on the other side you are in a valley of boulders on all sides that apparently guys hid cattle in a long time ago. It is very pretty and also, kind of surreal to be surrounded by boulders. The trail is not hard at all and my 4 year old had a lot of fun climbing on boulders and trying to explore. It is a very kid friendly hike even for younger ones. We were there in March and it got pretty sunny so be prepared. I heard this trail is really popular and parking can be an issue.We got here at around 3pm during high visit season and there was a lot of parking. The one thing I didn't like was the bathroom in the parking lot area was nasty. Everything else we experienced made it a must do at Joshua Tree. read more

Scenic short (one mile) moderate/easy hike, basically inside the circumference of a "bowl" made of walls of interesting sandstone boulders. It was used circa 1900 by two rustler brothers to hide stolen cattle, hence the name. Note it is very popular and we had to walk in an extra half mile from the campground across the main road. I updated (hopefully) the location to show where it is in Joshua Tree Park - rather than the hotel of original submitter. read more

Hidden Valley Distance: 1 mile Difficulty: Easy The Hidden Valley Trail is a short, flat, one-mile loop that's perfect for families with kids or those looking for something a little more relaxed. The valley itself features giant boulders and rock formations that are best experienced at dusk or dawn for full Martian effect. read more

this is an easy trail for everyone to hike at the joshua tree national park. prepare to dress warm if you're visiting during the winter months. the trail itself is a 1 mile loop with spectacular views of rock formations and joshua trees. it's a fun location for exploring, climbing and taking memorable instagram pictures. there's a picnic area with a grill, bathroom and ample parking. a perfect place to take in the Joshua Tree desert experience. unique, peaceful and darn spiritual. read more

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A great loop trail with informative signage helping you to identify different desert plants and animals. We saw lots of birds. The boulders were just big enough for our tween to jump and climb without us worrying that she was going to break her neck. read more