If you are on a mission to Visit All 63 National Parks, Joshua Tree is likely high on your list. Its “Dr. Seuss-esque” trees and massive boulder piles make it unlike any other park in the system. On my recent visit, I discovered that you don’t need a week to fall in love with the Mojave—you just need a solid plan.
Home Base: Why I Chose 29 Palms, CA
For this trip, I stayed in Twentynine Palms. While most people crowd into the town of Joshua Tree, staying in 29 Palms gives you a “back-door” advantage. You’re minutes away from the North Entrance, meaning less time in line and more time on the trails.
Plan Like a Pro: To keep my goal of 63 parks on track, I rely on my National Park Downloadable Planner. It’s designed to help you plan your trip and document every stamp!
Start your morning at the Oasis Visitor Center in 29 Palms to get the latest trail conditions. From there, head into the park for two of its most photogenic spots:
📍Arch Rock Hike: This is a quick, 1.4-mile loop. The rock formations here are incredible, and the Arch itself is a must-see for any National Park enthusiast.
🌵 Cholla Cactus Garden: As you drive south, the landscape transforms into a dense forest of “Teddy Bear” Chollas. In the morning light, these cacti seem to glow. Just don’t touch—they’re stickier than they look!
Cholla Cactus Garden
Afternoon: Boulders, Skulls, and San Andreas
After lunch, head back toward the main park road to see the icons that made this park famous.
💀 Skull Rock: You’ll see this right off the road. It’s a perfect example of the desert’s power of erosion.
Skull Rock
🌳The Joshua Tree Forest: Driving through the main heart of the park is surreal. Thousands of twisted trees stretch as far as the eye can see.
Joshua Trees with a snow capped mountain in the background!
The Grand Finale: ⛰️Keys View To end your day, drive up to Keys View, the highest viewpoint in the park. On a clear day, you can look down across the Coachella Valley, see the shimmering lights of Palm Springs, and trace the line of the San Andreas Fault. Watching the sunset here, with Mount San Jacinto in the distance, is the perfect way to wrap up your desert adventure.
Keys View
Quick Tips for Your Visit
Connectivity: Expect zero cell service once you pass the entrance gates. Download your offline maps ahead of time!
Water: There is no water available inside the park. Bring at least one gallon per person.
