America The Beautiful: Joshua Tree

Mar 19, 2025 | 0 comments

Known for its famous namesake trees, as well as its seemingly barren landscape, Joshua Tree National Park draws everyone from photographers to hikers to rock climbers to its fascinating desert terrain. The 800,000-acre park near Palm Springs, California, contains two distinct desert ecosystems: the Mojave and the Colorado. One of the most magical experiences at the park is undoubtedly stargazing. This is due to the lack of light pollution in the area, which is why camping at the park should be on every camper’s wish list.

ABOUT THE PARK

If you visit during business hours, start out at one of the three visitor centers. You can pick up maps, get advice on where to go, and stock up on water. In the park, there are 93 miles of paved roads and 106 miles of unpaved roads. If hiking is your thing, there are 191 miles of hiking trails. Climbers enjoy 8,000 established climbing routes. If trail riding is your thing, there are 253 miles of horseback riding trails. Finally, there are nine campgrounds. While the desert may seem desolate at first glance, it teems with plants and animals. Bighorn sheep, coyotes and jackrabbits are among its residents, and in the spring, huge areas of wildflowers bring photographers galore.And of course, the iconic, twisty Joshua Trees fill the landscape.

HISTORY

Thanks to the relentless efforts of Pasadena resident Minerva Hoyt, officials created Joshua Tree National Monument in 1936, protecting 825,000 acres. Ms. Hoyt was alarmed at the increasing removal of cacti and other plants from the desert to decorate gardens in Los Angeles. In 1950, the eastern portion of the historic Oasis of Mara was deeded to the National Park Service. That same year the monument’s size was reduced by 265,000 acres to exclude various mining properties. In 1994, as part of the Desert Protection Bill, the monument was elevated to park status. It gained another 234,000 acres. Of course, long before anyone was designating names and parks, the Joshua Tree area had been inhabited by people for at least 5,000 years.

ACTIVITIES

People are drawn to Joshua Tree for a variety of reasons. It’s a veritable playground for rock climbers! There are an almost inexhaustible amount of routes to climb Photographers can find endless sources of inspiration around every bend. Birders and hikers also love to explore the park, but among its most beloved activities, stargazing is at the top. The park boasts some of the darkest nights in southern California. Park rangers offer a series of night sky programs throughout the year, but you can also simply come with a chair and gaze upwards to see the stars easily, especially on clear nights.

That was my first experience at the Joshua Tree and it was almost dizzying to see some many stars at once. In mid-August, people flock to see the Perseid Meteor Shower, while in the fall, the park’s Night Sky Festival brings crowds to enjoy ranger tours, lectures and more.

WHERE TO STAY

Inside the park, there are a little over 500 campsites, most of which are available by reservation up to six months in advance (recreation.gov). You have to book your site before getting to the park because cell service is, at best, unreliable, and at worst, nonexistent. All campgrounds that can be reserved are open year-round, but there are some sections that close in the summer.

Three first-come, first-served campgrounds, Hidden Valley, White Tank and Belle, are hard to get. If you snag one, a ranger will come by with a portable register to collect your payment throughout the day.

GETTING THERE

Joshua Tree is about 50 miles east of Palm Springs and about 150 miles east of Los Angeles. It is open year-round, 24 hours a day. GPS is unreliable in the park (and may route you to unsafe roads), so get a map from one of the visitors centers or print one out in advance. Park Boulevard and Pinto Basin Road are the two main roads through the park. Park Boulevard runs through the northern section between the North Entrance in Twentynine Palms and the West Entrance in Joshua Tree. Pinto Basin Road crosses the park from top to bottom. Visit nps.gov/jotr for more information.

This article on Joshua Tree by Kim Foley Mackinnon was originally published in Girl Camper Magazine.