The 47 best hiking trails in Joshua Tree National Park

Nice easy trail. Around 1.3 miles loop with only 100 feet elevation gain. You get to the dam around half a mile in, going clockwise. The dam would make for a good sunset spot, but I didn't stay that long. Easy to find parking when I got there around 4:40pm on a Saturday in February. Lots of people at the dam, so didn't wait around to get a good solo shot.

Beautiful hike at sunset! Ending up clocking just over a mile so it’s a short one but still highly recommended. It’s nearby some other good trails in Joshua Tree as well.

Great place to visit, lots of rocks, trees and nature. I always love coming to this place gives me peace and tranquility. I would highly recommend you visit this place.

Very impressive rock formations and a fun trail. It’s short tho only like 1 mile but worth it. It’s one of the prettiest spots unfortunately no water when I went but still impressive and beautiful with the exposed areas. A bit crowded since it’s one of the most popular hikes.

This is easy hike that goes in a loop. There isn't always water behind this damn but when we visited in May there was some water. It made the visit a little more picturesque.

Love the hiking trail around this beauty. Small but nice views. Must take Pictures here if u have kids take them very fun hike.

Sadly, there will be very little water at the dam, but the hike is wonderful. Lots of Joshua trees, boulders to climb and rock cliffs to admire. Be sure to go to the end to see the Native American pictographs. For a few minutes you'll be transported in time. After the initial light climb, the trail is gentle and good for all ages.

Joshua tree and all it has to offer is amazing. In this week's visit, we were planning for the new moon and astro photography. We parked in the lot and walked in to set up the tripod for some long exposure shots. Clear skies, perfect weather in July, summer breeze, and only one other photographer so no light noise! I couldn't have asked for a better set up!

This was our group's FAVORITE stop in all of Joshua Tree! We had an entire sunset photoshoot, met some Europeans flying a drone, built a rock tower, and loved walking around the cacti. Watch your feet so that you don't step on any of them! Come here during golden hour, you won't regret it! There is a nice 1/4 mile walking trail around the garden, with many chances to walk off the trail and approach cacti. Nice parking lot with no water for the public.

It was cool to visit there. There were bees that super bothered us, but other than that, it was cool to see the cacti and panoramic view. Even in 7 AM, the sun was unforgivingly hot.

Absolutely stunning spot! The Cholla Cactus Garden in Joshua Tree offers incredible nature and breathtaking views. The layout is perfect, you can easily capture beautiful photos without other tourists constantly in the frame. It wasn’t crowded at all during my visit (a Sunday afternoon in mid-May), which made it even more enjoyable. Definitely a must-see if you’re anywhere near Joshua Tree!

Beautiful garden especially at sunset. Be careful with the small cacti on the ground.

One of the most magical places on this planet. You see nature's magnificent work at its best. Hundreds and thousands of cholla cactus standing proudly in the windy air of Joshua Tree National Park. The best time to visit is during sunset or sunrise when the entire place is cast with the golden light of the desert sun. Now, be careful to keep a safe distance from these 'teddy bear' cacti and don't try to wander off the trail.

My favorite place in Joshua Tree NP. A beautiful garden where you can really spend some time. It's a bit tricky to find the walking paths in between the cacti, as the paths are not very clear/visible. After some time you just get that it's up to you to decide where you want to walk and how far inside of the garden do you want to get. No toilet around.

This is a beautiful view! Who would have thought a faut line could make such scenery. The distance you can see from here is amazing, wish it was a clearer day when I went. I would recommend adding time to stop by the abandoned gold mine on lost horse trail on the way also If you can.

Driving to Keys View from the Hidden Valley picnic area was wonderful! The Joshua trees seemed very dense along this scenic road, making for a beautiful journey. Keys View is a truly beautiful elevation, offering great views of the mountains, the tectonic plate fault line, and the riverbed. Be prepared for it to be very windy up there! You could quickly visit all the main points in about 15 minutes of walking/viewing time, plus the drive time. This is a must-visit place inside Joshua Tree National Park.

Be sure to catch a sunrise view, its spectacular at Keys view!! Their is a toilet up there, cell service at the top of the loop lookout point. Great view of the Salton Sea, San Jacinto and beyond. Parking can be full on the weekends, do not recommend if your pulling a trailer.

I definitely recommend visiting this spot before sunset. Don’t forget to bring a windbreaker or jacket - it can get windy and chilly even during summer evenings. The spot has its own designated parking area, so no need to worry about finding a place to park. The views are absolutely beautiful, as you can see in the photos! We visited in June. 2025 and arrived at Joshua Tree after 5 PM. Surprisingly, we didn’t have to pay an entry fee - there was no one at the checkpoint selling tickets. I’m not sure why, but just a quick tip in case you’re visiting around the same time!

The only thing better than Key's View is to hike the use trail to the north for the big epic overlook higher up. Follow the arrows. Incredible views of the Palm Springs desert and Coachella Valley across to the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains.

A beautiful place to visit. I was impressed by the beauty of the place. I will definitely come back.

Absolutely beautiful at sunset. You will not have cell service, so if you feel like you need a map, have it downloaded, but the route within the park was best well marked. I visited in the off season in July, so it wasn’t overly crowded, but I’m sure parking is at a premium in the busy season.

Highly recommend visiting Joshua Tree for 1 or 2 days. I was not a big fan of hiking, but my experience in Joshua Tree National Park changed my preference. I also recommend starting a hiking two hours before sunset. You may take a beautiful photo like me.

Fun hike! Lots of stairs. 1000 feet of elevation. 360 degree view from the top.

Walking up to the top is relatively easy. 360 view at the top will reward your effort. No vegetation taller than your knee along the track means there is no shade and you need to bring enough waters. A warning at the parking lot read " Don't die today"

Excellent and well maintained trail with great views the whole way up. There are a lot of stairs on this trail which was hard on my thighs coming down. 1100 ft. Of elevation gain so it's a workout. Really windy at the top in January. 30 to 40 mph which made it cold. Where layers.

You can see the whole of Joshua tree park on the top of the mountain. Moderate to hard level of hiking, might be windy and a little bit chilly on the top.

Awesome hike. 2 miles one side. Total 2 hrs to complete the loop.

Quick up and back trail to the highest point in Joshua Tree—about three miles roundtrip. Lots and lots of stonecut stairs. The final climb to the top is less strenuous and the breeze feels nice. The views from the top are amazing. My only criticism is with the other tourists who did not seem to understand trail etiquette. So: don't throw trash on the ground, let faster hikers pass you, and don't blare music on speakers while you hike.

Unique hiking route around boulders that have cracks that look like they’re filled with cement. We did a small portion of the 2.5 miles but you can start at this trailhead and make it out to skull rock and back if you’re up for a challenge.

Its a nice easy 2.5 mile loop not far off the main road with a couple of picnic tables by the trailhead. This is a geat trail to walk or run with good views throughout. If you have kids, there are some pretty cool rocks they can climb in or under for some good pics as well.

Some really great views and walks in this area, don't forget your water, also phone signal not good. 👍

I started a bit too late, around 4 p.m. At some point, the trail stopped feeling like a loop, and as the sun began fading and the wind picked up a cold breeze, I decided it was best to turn back. Thankfully, I had filled up my water beforehand and paused to grab my lightweight down jacket. I also use hiking poles, which I find really helpful in general—they’d definitely come in handy here for added stability. My gut told me to turn around, and I’m glad I listened—once the sun went down, it got cold fast. I saw a few ladies heading in as I was almost out and suggested they might want to rethink it. Fortunately, they turned around about 20 minutes later, so I didn’t have to worry. There was no GPS signal out there; otherwise, I might have kept going. I’m not a fan of hiking at dusk without a headlamp—I only brought an LED hand flashlight—I think about the animals that come out at night too. Luckily, I carry bear mace, which I’d recommend bringing too since the outdoors are unpredictable. As for the scenery—huge rocks, beautiful desert views—I’d highly recommend this hike. I’d love to go back, just earlier in the day and when there are more people around so I don’t have to second-guess myself. I was rushing and not thinking clearly this time.

A nice hike. Not too challenging. Lots to see on the trails. Saw lizards and a bunch of rock formation. Trail can get a little iffy at some spot. In the summer, bring some water. In the winter, you can hike it without water. There's about 20% shade in some area.

Best trail I’ve taken in Joshua tree and it’s my 5th time here! 1 h loop, and we did small shortcut at the end:)

It's definitely worth adding to the list of top things to do in the park. Incredible scenery. It's a great place to look for snakes and Tarantulas although very hard to see them. Unless you know where to look. It's just under 2.5 miles and a loop. We found it best in the early evening as it is very hot there during the day. Parking is also easier then.

It’s an interesting area of the park - the most fertile in terms of vegetation and someone used to support grazing at one point! The trail here is very poorly marked - only a mile loop that takes maybe 20-30 minutes. It’s pretty easy to walk through and there’s minimal elevation changes but there’s so many curves and turns that are not noted or lack signs.

Hidden Valley Trail is a 1-mile loop with about 100 feet of elevation gain. The path is clear and easy to follow. Super good way to knock out amazing views of the park in a shorter amount of time. You pass massive boulders, Joshua trees, and desert plants. Short side trails lead to rock formations. Signs share the history of cattle rustlers hiding herds here.

It is beautiful and easy to walk. We saw some people hiking up the hills. There are restrooms and also a camping ground. We had a great time and I would recommend stopping by, although it is not outstanding compared to the rest. Hope you will enjoy it! Lots of parking space available:)

This review is about stargazing at night at Hidden Valley. My go-to first stop for stargazing. Could have driven to Arch Rock but the rock and surrounding Joshua trees formed great backdrop when taking Milky Way photos! Can be a little crowded at night, so be prepared to have your photos tinted red from folks exiting the parking lot or from distant traffic along the main route.

Such a nice enjoyable hike! Easy loop with beautiful views of the rock.

Really loved this loop! First time experiencing JTNP and this was a fantastic hike. It’s easy and you really get to experience what JTNP is all about. We went in the evening and it wasn’t too hot and wasn’t crowded.

This trail is Majestic. If your schedule only permits a short hike, this is the one to take. It is wonderful that Joshua Tree National Park allows all type of rock climbing from repelling to free form. Be safe and have fun.

Lots of space for car camping and bringing trailers. The road goes into Joshua Tree. --- 5/5 Stars - A Must-See If You Love... Dirt? If you're looking for a place with absolutely breathtaking amounts of dirt, congratulations—you’ve found paradise. Cottonwood Springs is like nature’s minimalist art installation: dirt, more dirt, some suspiciously brown mountains, and the occasional lizard giving you side-eye like you’re the one out of place. No shade (literally, there’s no shade), just vibes—and by vibes I mean sunburn and a constant reminder that water is life. But hey, the night sky? UNREAL. Like, “is this a screensaver or am I having a spiritual awakening under the Milky Way?” kind of unreal. Bring a camera, leave your expectations, and prepare to be wowed by the cosmic display and humbled by the sheer amount of... you guessed it—dirt. #DesertVibes #LizardWatch2025 #JoshuaTreeAesthetic #DirtTok #SkyPorn Would I go again? Yes. Do I understand why the lizards run this place? Also yes. Follow me for more brutally honest travel reviews you didn’t know you needed! @YourFavoriteWanderer Final Rating: 5 lizards out of 5.

Did the Mastodon Peak hike starting from Cottonwood Spring Parking Lot on a Saturday afternoon in February. There was no room in the parking lot, and cars were parked along the road for a good ~500 feet leading up to it. The trail actually runs right along the road, so it didn't add any extra mileage to park a bit farther from the trailhead. Did the loop counter clockwise - came to around 500ft gain, all in the beginning, over 2.4 miles. You start with some good photo opportunities of the trees, and reach the mine at around the 1 mile mark. Good trail, easy to follow. I entered the Park from the south, and didn't have to wait or show my Annual Pass for this.

Beautiful spot with some beautiful trees and some great scenery. You don't need to go very far to enjoy the scenery. There's some rock stairs and then you can see pretty far away. Not the best compared to the other rock formations in the park but it's still worth a stop.

Visited Cottonwood Springs in early March 2024 on a weekday. Lots of parking available. There was also a fair sized visitors centre with washrooms and running water. I deecided to do the decided to do the Lost Palm Oasis hike, and on the way back, do the Mastadon loop back. The Lost Palm Oasis hike was about 1.5 hours each way. It wasn't a tough hike at all. It was very easy, but it seemed long because there were a lot of hills. The viewpoint wasn't the best in the end. But the hike was good and gave us. Nice workout. Definitely bring water and snacks with you.

Really cool starting trailhead for a great hike to the Lost Palms Oasis! Big grove of palm trees in the desert, with a well-maintained and well-paved trail. The parking lot has trash cans, but no water or restrooms. The hike was beautiful, with lots of boulders, Mountain View’s, and even a desert tortoise!

I love the southern portion(Colorado Desert) of Joshua Tree National Park. Though it is devoid of the Joshua Tree, its unique features more than compensate. I love this paradise and the creatures that abound here!!!

loved this hike! it can be as short as you want it to be, but it can be up to 8 miles or so. i recommend the Mastodon Loop! it’s a little confusing because the signage is a little vague, but you can’t really get lost! the first mile is full of wildflowers (early april) and when you turn left up into the rocks, the rock formations are truly so fascinating! i ended up doing the loop twice! i did walk a bit of the Lost Palms Oasis, but i ended up turning around before the end, it’s obviously still beautiful, but far less wildflowers and more vast views vs. close rock formations. sadly not pet friendly, but none of the trails in the park are :(

Unique shapes rock that is said to look like a skull - you be the judge! It’s a short walk from the roadside parallel parking and think it’s a worthwhile stop

Easy to find. Right off the road/parking spots. Might have to look harder to see the "skull" but it is there. Best lighting is at dusk.

Such a fun spot inside Joshua Tree NP, so much fun scrambling around unique and fun looking rock formations! Always have a blast when I go there. Even if I'm just passing by driving on the 10 between LA and Phoenix/Tucson, I always make it a point to stop even if just for a couple of hours!!!

Skull rock is very good. It is a fun of Boulder climbing. So much excitement for the kids too. These boulders are very easy to climb because they are very rough(sticky). The skull looks like a man's face with nostrils. Even anybody who has never climbed anything can climb these and have great fun. So, don’t stop to just get a picture of the skull, explore the area.

Beautiful place to climb/hike . Very clean and a fantastic place to hang around any day . The huge rocks are a challenge for beginners and expert climbers , it's a very hot place so keep in mind to have enough hydration beverages .

This rock looks like a skull. It lies directly on the road. Parking spaces are right next to it. It's just a two-minute walk to the rock. It's not enough to fill a day, but it's a little stopover on the way through the national park.

It’s iconic, but very crowded, didn’t have an adventurous vibe to complete the trail. Spent 20mins walking and climbing around.

Great hike, bring lots of water, 2 liters, saw a turtle, beautiful yellow ground cover flowers, climbed Mastadon peak and viewed Mastadon mine. On the south end of the park. Less people and about 1/2 hour from Indio.

Love this trail very peaceful. Beautiful rock formations. Easy hike some stair and hill. My 4 and 6 year old had no problem hiking it

A fun out & back trail that is a medium intensity desert hike. Round trip about 7 miles, 9 if you include Mastodon Peak.

Fun trail. Great place to visit at Joshua Tree

First and foremost, the hike posted length 4.4 miles round trip is far from reality. It’s really 6-7 miles. Our full trip was 8 miles, but we also went to Mastodon peak on the way back. The trail is not very well marked. Sometimes you wonder whether you should walk on the river bed or up the hill. Hint: always choose the way other than the river bed, if there is one. And have an offline trail map (downloaded google maps worked perfectly), it helped us a few times when we missed the trail. Another tricky thing is where the trail ends. We never understood if the trail actually goes down to the oasis or it ends at the overlook. We decided not to go down, and it was the right decision. Ok, now to the pros. This is the only trail in the park that feels truly “wild”. It’s quite long, and you’re going through the deep desert. There is a lot of various vegetation around. And almost no people. The other trails we hiked are either too short or too crowded (or both), even though they were beautiful. But this one gives you a special feeling. Tip: on the way back go to Mastodon peak and then follow the Mastodon loop trail back to the background. The added distance is negligible, but the peak and the view are worth it. Overall, great trail. Highly recommend if you want to experience some of the distant and non-touristic areas of the park.

What a nice hike! The trail was easier than we thought ,maybe the last .5mile was a little steeper but other than that was very fun. We didnt go down to see the palms, the trail ti the left seemed way too steep and a runner (very good shape,he was litterlally running and smiling ) guy came back after a few minutes saying there were lots of rattlesnakes lounging in a riverbed and he didnt want to deal with them,we didnt either xoxo :) it was the end of April and the flowers were everywhere, just amazing selection of all kind of flowers ,lizzards, little rabbits, it smelled like honey and there were bees doing their job .it was quite hot so bring lots of water .

Certainly a different of life on the planet. Survival counting on meeker resources. First be smart and take water and when half done, turn around. Hint: trial is a bit thin in areas, when in doubt take rout to the left - northeast on way out. When reaching the last marker on the bluff, recommend taking the trail down to your left to the Oasis since you can keep your eye on the ridge's top as you go around it and travel back up the gorge. There is not a sign of any type from marker on. It's about an 1/2 mile loop and eventually your cross the path you came out on. Good luck and enjoy.

Great short little walk. Nice to see at sunset as well for photos. Peaceful. Plenty of parking.

Great hike for the elderly and young kids. There are placards with info to can read. The are Great photo ops for the whole family.

Super quick and easy trail with great views of rock formations and stunning Joshua trees. And I mean it when I say easy. All flat, sometimes there’s benches, and the trail meanders around a few huge rock formations for your viewing pleasure. There’s a bathroom at the trailhead/parking lot. Great place to stop if you’ve already exerted most of your energy on other trails!

First got here around 3pm, but there was absolutely no space to park - the lot is small, and there isn't any space on the roadside for a while on either side. Came back around sunset and was able to get a spot. If you're not rock climbing, there isn't much to do here. Just walked around for a half mile. Easy trail.

Hard to find, we ended up going to a different but similar tunnel in the immediate surrounding area. Nonetheless we had a lot fun scrambling up and down the boulders and tight areas. Be careful with young kids as it’s harder for them to reach, better to do it in groups for first timers as it’s easy to get lost as well.

Cool trail that leads you to the Hall of horrors. You can actually enter from both side of the trails. The left side is the easiest and most popular. You will actually need to be able to climb in order to get into it. Once you are in, you will be rewarded with amazing views. Don't go if you are claustrophobic. At some point, it does get tight. You should also not go in all the way if you are scared of heights.

Such a cool stop in Joshua Tree National Park! The loop is a flat 0.6 miles and the actual Hall of Horrors is about halfway through the loop. Getting to the hall of horrors does require some boulder climbing (seen in video). MINIMAL parking! We tried to go day one around 12:30pm and there was ZERO parking even with people making their own parking spots. It was packed. Next day we went at 7:30am and there was only one other car in the lot. Pit toilet at the trailhead.

Very cool stop in Joshua Tree. Short flat hike around two piles of rocks or spend time climbing around squeezing through narrow passages. Pit toilet available in the parking lot.

Fun spot to see how far you can go in the narrow spaces!

We had here so much fun. We stopped at first rock formation and just found our way to the top. Be careful though !

Such a lovely sight when you get here. It’s especially nice when there are clouds in the background which make for awesome pictures. Definitely would be a good sight for sunset should you time it all right.

So different than what we see everyday. We enjoyed strolling through the place. Don’t touch them though, it’ll wreck your day.

Cool little hike right off the main road. Some of the neatest cacti I've ever seen.

Beautiful places ! a lot of cactus field... must see and u will be never bored here.

This was one of my favorite parts about JTNP. It was a short hike but offered great views and a unique experience.

Great, short little loop thru a cactus patch. Watch out for the bees.

A place you must stop by in the Joshua Tree National Park!

Gorgeous spot - boulders are huge, sun shines directly on you. Sat down and melted into it all. Parking is easy and all are just enjoying the desert - heals things you didn’t know were out of line. ❤️👁️

This was our favorite hike at JT. It’s a daily easy trail but it is really exposed most of the time so make sure to take adequate sun protection measures and lots of water. There wasn’t water when we went but the dam itself was really cool and we enjoyed reading all the trail plaques to learn more about the area and the native plants. It was fairly crowded but it didn’t feel overwhelming with everyone pretty spread out on the trail. Plenty of parking

Great hike. Pretty easy going. Really enjoyed hiking down to the dam and seeing the old wood trough and standing at the cement basin still there with William Keys "signature" still visable from what seemed to be June 1939. Also cool looking up at seeing the "Resting Guerilla" formation that... lies...above it. Really fun hike. Lot's to explore.

Pretty easy hike out to the dam. Lots of room to allow many hikers on the trail. If you are looking for wildlife, cacti, bugs...you can find them on tje trail or nearby. The dam itself was ok. I visited when it was dry.

Our first visit to Joshua Tree and we hiked the Barker Dam trail. It was a beautiful stretch and the terrain gorgeous! We didn’t get to see any water though- it was towards the end of summer. Will need to return post a heavy rainfall and see the water front attract all the wildlife.

The Trail offers a breathtaking journey through a vibrant desert landscape filled with towering cacti, unique rock formations, and stunning vistas. This trail is perfect for nature enthusiasts and photographers, showcasing the park's diverse flora and serene beauty. Whether you're hiking or simply exploring, the Amazing Cactus Trail promises an unforgettable experience in the heart of nature.

The dam is pretty anticlimactic if there’s absolutely no water. I did this easy hike in late January a day after rain and it was still totally dry when I got to it. Still a nice first walk upon entering the park, I suppose.

Great loop. About halfway through the trail there’s an option to take a short detour to see skull rock. About 2.5 miles. Very scenic, weather was perfect. Not super steep, but was uphill and had few stairs/step areas along the route. Rocky path.

The huge climbing rocks are super grippy here, which is great for kids or beginner hikers! I feel like there weren’t as many actual Joshua trees inside the park as there were while driving there, but that’s ok. You’ve seen one, you’ve seen ‘em all, am I right?

Skull Rock is a mist go to in Joshua Tree. I had the most peaceful time seeing the sunset and the emerging Milky Way! A beautiful place to see the stars!

Great and easy hike with beautiful views. The park is also a nice place for stargazing.

Skull rock as a located along the main east-west park road in Joshua Tree National Park. Skull Rock is a favorite stop for park visitors. So you’ll always meet people there. You can just park across the road from the rock to see it and take pictures or you can take a 1.7-mile hike. Nature trail begins either just across from the entrance to Jumbo Rocks Campground or inside the campground, across from the amphitheater. One side is rocky the other side is full of desert plants. You can learn a lot about all the plants alongside the trail.

This rock formation is literally about 20 feet from the road. You can stay in your vehicle and take pictures but that's not fun. It truly does look like a skull. As always during hot/warm weather reminder to have water no matter what!

The skull rock formation is right by road. No hike necessary. We did the trail loop, which part of it is paved through the campground area. Once you cross the road you’re back on sandy ground. Lots of places to rock scramble if you want too. Easy hike for all levels. Parking can be full by 10am..even on the side of the road. Potties can be found going through camp ground.

Beautiful place for a short hike. Had a great walk and talk with a ranger.

Camp Rock Trail is a beautiful and easy hike with amazing desert views and unique rock formations. Perfect for a short adventure where you still feel immersed in the beauty of Joshua Tree. Plenty of spots for photos and peaceful moments. Highly recommend if you want a scenic, manageable trail

This review is for stargazing at Cap Rock at night. Really like this location with less crowded than the ever-so-noisy and Hidden Valley stargazing site. Cap Rock forms a great anchor for some of my Milky Way photos (when it's still slow rising near the horizon). It may be a bit too bright for some as you can see some light pollution from the direction of Palm Spring...

Cap Rock at Joshua Tree is very good sight. The top boulder looks like a hat so it's named cap Rock. Nice rock formation with clearly marked trails around it. Short distance, and pretty flat. You can also climb some of the boulders. There were benches to sit and enjoy the view along the trail. Also some ground posted signs to tell about the plant life in the area. They also had a park information board here with whole park map and lots of other useful information.

Joshua tree National Park: a must see if you are nearby. We did the auto trail with audio. Absolutely brilliant

Nice spot in Joshua Tree National Park for a short, easy, flat walk with views of rock formations, Joshua Trees, and desert plants. I'm a photographer and love this location for photoshoots since there aren't usually too many people around and the rocks here are fun to climb and make great photos. Sunset timing is absolutely beautiful! This is also a pre-approved ceremony spot so if you want to get married in Joshua Tree this is a good option (permit is only $120). Bathroom and a few picnic tables available near the parking lot.

This is a must stop in the whole park. Close to the driveway. A short loop of 10 minutes walk. Really weird but beautiful rocks.

Beautiful hike May 29 2020

One of the more energetic short walks in the park. Really nice walk with great views at the top. You do not need to be super fit to do this walk, just take it steady, it's only a 1.5 mile there and back trail. Have fun and enjoy and good for all ages.

Decently challenging trail especially with the uphill ascent. It’s pretty steep but the path is well made. Gets windy at the top so do pack well, and bring sufficient water. Docked a star because the view at the top wasn’t as great as described, there are some good vistas along the way but the top felt like a bit of a letdown…

Nice hike up the mountain, a bit rough but most should make it if ya take it slow and smart. Views get better as you work way up.

Nice little trail. Well marked, very steady incline to the summit. Great view at the top... Very exposed all the way up. Did this one before sunrise to avoid baking in the sun

Wonderful hike, not too long and not too short, just right. Easy to do in time for sunset and with fantastic views at the top. I also saw a couple coyotes along the way.

Those rocky mountains over the heating sand are an amazing contrast. It was so cool to hike to the top to see a 360° view. I wish I had a wider lens to cover more, but these are awesome results with this natural place 👌🏾

Reached the trailhead at around 10am on a Sunday in Feburary. Had to wait 10-15 minutes at the park entrance. Parking lot was full when I got there but luckily, I circled around couple of times and within that time, someone got out, so I got a spot. I was planning to do the 4.5 mile hike called "Boy Scout and Willow Hole to Outer Magnolia Climbing Area" on allTrails, but realized at the turnaround point that I was only a mile away from Willow Hole, so kept going. It wasn't worth it. As you get closer to Willow Hole, the trail becomes a dry river bed, so it gets tougher to move fast, and you're always dragging your feet, trying not to sink much. Willow Hole itself is just an empty area surrounded by giant rocks, so if you've seen enough of those elsewhere in Joshua Tree, I would recommend against this hike. Total out-and-back was around 7 miles with 300 feet elevation gain, and took me 2h10m.

This is a really nice 7.5 mile trail for all skill levels. We take a scout troop here every year and camp overnight a little more than halfway in. It loses one star because it's not a loop (although you can make it a loop by connecting to other trails). From the main road in the park, the first 3 miles are a gentle elevation gain with the last mile being through a sandy wash and some rock areas to get to a nice stopping point in a natural bowl. The next day involves switchbacks on a relatively steep downhill with a lot of scree and some short jumps until you get to the bottom and more sandy wash. The last 2 miles or so are relatively flat through the washes and regular trail which spits you out at the Indian Cove road and trailhead. Unless you have a ride back to the parking lot, you will have to do the trail again in reverse to get back to your car. This trail can easily be done round-trip (15 miles) in one day with nothing more than a day pack and enough water provided you are in good shape and get started early enough but I would consider this to be reserved for advanced/expert hikers. From the highest points you get good views of the towns and the lower Mojave.

I'm no boy scout but I did eat a brownie once so I believe that qualifies me to rate this trail. The first 3 hours and 8 miles were a breeze with good, diverse landscape. From switchback mountains to slightly elevated desert landscape with a little bit of bouldering thrown in for good measure. Once I reached Indian cove campground I took Indian cove trail over to rattlesnake canyon trail which had primo bouldering, great views and no one else on it. It looped me back to the boy scout trail but beware rattlesnake canyon is not a marked trail and you could easily get lost. If you're up for an adventure hit up the incredibly knowledgeable people at the visitors center for some direction on how to traverse the trail. Definitely recommend these trails but give yourself all day to do them, you're gonna need it. Like I said the first 8 miles and 3 hours were a breeze but the last 10 miles and 5 hours will put you to the test. And when in doubt look for the stacked rocks!!!

Rock formations are fun. Most of the Joshua Trees are on the South side of the trail. Trail is well marked. Night time is quiet and, when skies are clear, the stars are spectacular. From the South: A great 3ish mile intro to backpacking trail. Parking lot is bigger on this side, but this side is also busier. From the North: A more difficult 6ish mile, Fellowship of the Ring type backpacking adventure. Much less parking at this side... maybe room for about 5 cars at the registration board.

Amazing easy hike!! Best start before sunrise!!! (if you have headlamps, get to it even before first light, trail is simple to follow) Don't miss out on Willow Hole!! Especially if you like bouldering. But walking among those crazy rock formations is magical too!!

Beautiful trail for backpacking. Not crowded late in the day or once you get into the wilderness, even during peak season.

A great place for hiking and being a part of JTNP... Large parking area and a bathroom at the trailhead. Multiple paths to take an be there with nature. REMEMBER TO BE CAREFUL AND CARRY WATER AND SUPPLIES and DON'T LEAVE YOUR TRASH. Keep Joshua Tree and all of nature clean.

Difficult hike as it's up hill both ways, but not technically difficult. Very well maintained national Park asset!

Great hike. It’s not long but the heat and terrain give it some spice.

Great trail, be ready to work a little, though. As you get closer to the oasis, the terrain does get much more rocky. Very little shade.

Reached the trailhead at 8am on a Sunday in February. Easy to find parking. The trailhead is only a 7-minute drive from the town of Twentynine Palms, and you don't need to show the Parks Pass or pay a fee for this. From the trailhead, you first climb 350 feet, then do down to the palms, then come all the way back - total 3.2 miles out and back with around 750 feet elevation gain. Well marked trail, easy to follow, and the palms are really beautiful - definitely worth the hour or so it takes to do this hike. It's a popular hike, there were already quite a few people on the trail even at 8-9am.

I would call it an easy-moderate hike. The trail is short (5k), but you have to go up and down hills several times. Some parts are rocky but manageable. We visited on Jan 14th, and the weather was very nice (15-20 degree Celsius). The oasis has a fair amount of water, and the sunset was a blast.

Awesome hike. Not too long but a lot of up and down. Many steps that are pretty big but it made it fun! The oasis was really cool and gave a great shade break before heading back up the trail.

Very nice 3-mile (round trip) trail away from the rest of the Joshua Tree traffic. We hiked it on a cool Sunday morning in early March. The trail is steep in places but not bad imo. We carried ample water for the season which would definitely not be enough in the Spring and Summer. Great views of the desert. The Oasis is amazing because it’s beautiful and so strikingly out of place.

Very cool rocks

Did this as my first hike at JT NP. Overall it was okay. Went at the end of April, it was a hot day but not too hot (80s). The hike was not too difficult you do have to do quite a bit of elevation though and in direct sun. The Oasis was a little underwhelming from what I was expecting. Not a bad hike I just wouldn’t do it again and I wish I would have used that time for other stops in the park. We didn’t go very fast and we did rest at the oasis, took us under 2 hours to hike.

Beautiful Evening Hike at 29 Palms Oasis Trail! We started our hike around 3:30 PM, and the timing was perfect. The day was hot, so I wore shorts, thinking it would stay warm, but as we got to the trail, the temperature started dropping. Luckily, with all the hiking and movement, I worked up a little sweat, so it stayed comfortable—neither too hot nor too cold. The higher we climbed, the more breathtaking the views became, revealing more of the surrounding desert landscape. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it all the way to the palms since we were with a large group and didn’t want to be up there at sundown. However, I definitely want to go back and complete the full hike. As for difficulty, I’d say it’s moderate—some rock steps, but very manageable. Compared to Red Rocks, this one was a bit easier. If you’re looking for a scenic and rewarding hike, I highly recommend it!

This was our favorite hike from our recent first time visit to Joshua Tree NP. The hike down to the oasis is enjoyable with changes in elevation and great views along the way. The highlight is most certainly reaching the end Oasis and relaxing in the area. We setup and had a snack among the palm trees. It’s a cool experience to go from the quiet dry desert and then reach the oasis and hear birds chirping and wildlife throughout. We went about 10am on a weekday and there were about 15 parking spots remaining of the maybe 40 or so. We saw plenty of hikers but it was not over crowded at all. The entrance is outside the official park entrance but ideally you have your park pass handy if needed. We started our visit to the park with this hike and then head to the north park entrance for avoid the traffic at the more popular west entrance.

One of the best HARD hiking trails in JT national park/forest. This hidden gem is worth the hike that takes you winding up, down, side-to-side into the rocky terrain and desert wilderness. This trail offers no shade and yet so much warmth on cool winter morning in December. Recommend starting the trail walk around 9am to get the max. out of mood, atmosphere, temperate weather and scarceness of other hikers around. One of the best hikes I have been on.

My favorite hike we did in our 2 days in the park. Great views, great workout, great opportunities to explore at the oasis. All around just great!

Good hike but not recommended during a hot day. Bring water and expect to negotiate some rocky inclines on your way up to the Oasis. The Oasis is nice with a cool breeze coming off the trees but it can also be a letdown when there are a lot of other hikes because the tranquility of the spot is ruined by loud voices having conversations in a fairly small and crowded space.

This was a beautiful hike. Bring plenty of water, the temperature was in the low 90s, but the sun is harsh. I had three children, ages 8-14, so it took a little longer to do. Be aware and respectful of wildlife. There is a restroom at the beginning of the hike, it is very smelly. 🤢

It was fun place to take pic but hard to locate. The split trial has even more variety rock shapes and styles that I would recommend more than here. It was Saturday noon in Feb and was a little busy you need to wait in line to take pics lol. I also added some pics from around the Rock site hope it’s easy to locate. If you need pic for the rock itself it might be even more wait.

This was one of my favorite places at Joshua tree national park. It was a drive maybe about an hour from the north entrance. The drive was amazing and full of different places to hike and stop by. When you get there there’s a parking lot and you will have to cross the road to start the hike. The trail is well marked and as you get closer to the end of the trail you will keep walking and find some steps that lead to the arch. It does get a little crowded and you might have to wait a bit to get a good picture of the arch but it’s so well worth the wait. The climb to the arch is a little steep so be careful walking up the rocks. When we headed back there were rangers a couple of rangers offering cold water refills and that made our hike because it was pretty hot out.

Okay, it’s not clearly marked. I am not inclined to complain but my sister and I walked around for a solid hour thinking we would find it easily. It’s smaller than you think. Is it worth it? Yes. And walking around was fun and cool until we felt a bit lost among really big boulders. Amazing boulders but that creeping feeling of being lost was a bit unnerving. Use caution, take water, keep other people in sight.

Got engaged here at sunrise! It was absolutely beautiful — I’ll never forget it. Truly feels like you’re in a different world. Highly recommend sitting at Arch Rock or a neighboring boulder to watch the sun come up.

The Arch Rock is s beautiful rock formation which you can reach after an easy 10 min hike starting at the campground. The trail is marked very well and does not require any hiking skills or equipment. I recommend to also go to the Heart Rock formation which is just 5 mins further from the Arch Rock. The whole area around the Arch Rock and Heart Rock is interesting for further short hikes and peeks.

Arch Rock in Joshua Tree National Park is a breathtaking natural wonder that exemplifies the park's unique beauty. This stunning geological formation, sculpted by nature, offers a picturesque setting for exploration and appreciation. The short trail leading to Arch Rock presents a serene journey through the desert landscape, providing an up-close encounter with this magnificent sandstone arch. The captivating beauty and tranquility of Arch Rock make it a must-visit spot within Joshua Tree National Park. Whether you're a photographer capturing the shifting hues of the desert sun or simply a nature enthusiast seeking awe-inspiring vistas, this iconic landmark offers a delightful experience for visitors of all ages. Make sure to visit during sunrise or sunset for an extra touch of magic, as the sun's rays dance upon the rocky landscape. Arch Rock truly encapsulates the raw and captivating essence of Joshua Tree's natural splendor.

Easy trail and well marked. Frequently traversed paths. Ease of access and degree of difficulty made the trail too crowded for my liking. The rock formations themselves were awesome however. As you make your way to the boulder field, large rock formations quickly engulf you. Arch Rock (looked more like an elephant to me 😆) was cool. Made my way over to Heart Rock which was far more impressive in person. The glow of the sunset may have helped a bit.

Very cool hike. We went around Nov so it was nice. There is no shades on the entire trail so it will be really hot in the summer. The lost horse mine is fence up so you can't go inside of the mine. Since this is one of the longer trail in the park so there aren't too many people. Parking is very limited and a restroom(no water) is available at the trailhead.

I lived close to Joshua Tree so I'm a little biased 😂! There is not a hike in the park that you would be disappointed with. Go in September when it starts to cool down, because it gets HOT! All three hikes that lead to old mines are really fun with a lot to see. The rock formations throughout the park are so unique that you might think you are on a different planet! Even if you don't like the desert, it's still worth the trip.

Beautiful, historical mine. It's quite a long hike until there (I would say a bit less than 2 miles), on a well-marked trail. Bring enough water and suncream. The mine itself was operated until 1936, and is a landmark-ed example of small-scale western mining technology. It is hazardous and thus closed to the public, but the view on the mine is unaltered by the fence

One heck of a hike. The loop trail is great but the last couple of miles (going clockwise) is kind of boring but a nice feat from the long climb. Great views!

Remarkably underwhelming. There is very little that makes up this abandoned mine, and the one building that might be considered interesting is behind a chain link fence. We were very disappointed after hiking two miles to get there. The hike out here is equally underwhelming. Not much to see on the hike in except a vast empty expanse full with low shrubs. Very few Joshua Trees on the way. It was nice to take a long hike, but I’m sure if we had looked a bit harder we would have found something much more interesting.

Nice little hike. Kids could do this as well as it isn't too strenuous, depending on the heat of the day. We did the 4 mile out and back vs the 6 mile loop. Lots of nice scenery along the way. The mine is pretty cool to see. Just watch for bees. There was an active swarm when we were there. Parking area is very small and the drive to it is a dirt road and very narrow so you will have to move over to allow a car to pass by.

Pretty cool place to visit. Pretty long trail. 6.2 mile loop when you get to it. Definitely a beautiful hike.

One of my favorite places to hike and climb, and I am neither a hiker or climber! Just have some sturdy shoes and be fit enough to walk around and you will have a blast. Parking is limited like all of JTNP, but visiting the Hall of Horrors I always find new places to explore.

Nice easy hike with easily accessible rock features and plant life. Be sure to explore the slot canyon features. If you just follow the path you might miss them.

Really cool outcrops of huge boulders in which you can carefully climb same squeeze through. There's another larger outcrop behind the first you see as you enter from the parking lot. I climbed the first outcrop.

great easy hiking and scramble spot. after reaching the top I couldn’t help but imagine the surrounding environment as an underwater ecosystem with the joshua trees being pieces of kelp along the sea floor. it was very unique how sound was thrown through the slots as well.

Parking is limited, so I had trouble getting into this one for the first couple days. When I finally did get in, I was a little bummed. This place is okay, but there are much better places to hike and scramble in the park. I did find an arch behind some rocks I was scrambling on,so that was cool.

Despite the name, this was actually very nice to walk through. A couple of tight spaces throughout which give fame to its name. Recommend to stop by and walk around if you have a chance

We were lucky to be here during sunset. It was so magical experience and view. Highly recommend to passing by.

Nice walk. Not the most exiting one, but gave us an idea how they was digging for gold and in 1943 and the greed between to neighbour's in a vast land.

Easy hike. Had a baby chest carrier and was able to do the entire hike. The loose sand was more noticeable in the hike back out, but definitely neat to see the mill and Bagly stone. Stayed out for a nice sunset view with the mountains.

Do not miss this walk if you're at Joshua Tree! I found it spellbinding and really enjoyed the ruins along the way to the impressive Wall Street Mill. It's worth doing some reading beforehand to fully appreciate the history of this spot.

You can start this trail from the Barker Dam parking lot or drive up a dirt road and save a good 10 min of walking. This trail wasn’t crowded like the rest of the park, which was nice. Took us 50 min round trip and we took some time to admire the ruins of the old mill and the Wonderland Ranch. Would love to find a photo of what it looked like in its glory days, but haven’t been able to yet. Good hike!

Very cool little hike. I highly recommend checking out the other ruins along the trail, "Wonderland Ruins". So many cool spots to clamber onto some rocks for some epic views. Highly recommend checking it out. The dirt road is maintained so it's a very easy in and out.

It's a nice easy out and back hike with very little elevation change. A challenging aspect is that much of it is over loose sand. It's not particularly well marked, but when you find the sign about the Worth Bagley rock, you're on the right trail. If you end up in the ruined remains of an old brick house with a visible chimney and fireplace remaining, you made it to the Wonderland Ranch. You're in the wrong spot. The old cars are cool, and the mill is interesting as well. Definitely worth the side trip from the Barker Dam area. If you're there for hiking, I wouldn't bother moving your car to the other parking lot closer to the mill trailhead. Parking can be a challenge.

• 5-star hike | 2.4 mile out-and-back | Easy difficulty | Gain 95 feet We'd recommend the trail to Wall Street Mill as the best short trail in the park. Take a picturesque stroll between rocky outcroppings along the flat desert floor, passing historic ruins of mans' attempts to live in and off this arid landscape. The one mile out-and-back trail leads you past a windpump, an argument leading to a shoot-out, and ultimately to a small preserved depression-era stamp mill. Local prospectors would commission Bill Keys' stamp mill to crush and grind their rocks into a slurry using a two-step process, so it can be separated into gold and mine tailings. On the route you'll happen across a modern metal replacement for a stone monument that was originally placed here and is now in the Joshua Tree park museum. The monument was placed in this location by the mill owner Bill Keys as a warning, after an altercation and shooting over a property dispute. The law sentenced Keys to five years imprisonment but later received a full pardon. At the mill site you can also check out other historic equipment and a motor vehicle rotting away in the desert sun. More derelicts can be found on your return trip just to the north of the main trail - we've included a detour to these in our trail map. While you're out here in the desert, keep an eye out for wild bighorn sheep that roam the area. This is a very popular hike, so we'd suggest making it a first priority in the park. We'd also recommend combining this with the Barker Dam Nature Trail hike that leads off from the same parking lot.

Great hike. About a 7 mile round trip from Keys West Backcountry Board in Joshua Tree National Park. There is a bathroom at the parking lot. The hike in does follow a sandy wash for a long ways, so bring your gaiters. Anyone used to hiking in the park won't be bothered. There are a number of marked side trails to rock climbing spots along the way. Willow Hole is a nice, shady spot with many Willow trees and ponds. There is a sign that says the trail stops there, but there are trails that continue East for at least another mile. Some of that gets slow going with a fun boulder scramble. No dogs allowed. :(

Like the Boy scout trail, very nice views. Early April didn't have the flooding issue and everything was in bloom. Moderate in difficulty because of large patches of sand you need to walk across. Some greenery at the very end but it's not worth the track, would strongly recommend taking this trail if your happy with what you see along the way and not the reward at the end.

Awesome hike. Tons of joshua trees until you enter the river bed, then you're surrounded by rock walls until Willow Hole. Very lush and green area in the middle of the desert. Super exposed the whole way, bring lots of water and sunscreen.

Nice hike! Ends up in a shady spot with trees and more rocks to climb just past them. Trail gets a bit sandy at points so it’s a little more challenging than the mileage would suggest. Best in the morning or evening.

Ca 7 mile / 12km hike. First half on desert like terrain between Joshua trees, last 2 miles between rocks. Nice to climb rocks, but generally bit boring.

Hot, but an amazing hike. .ay 29 2020

Willow Hole is an awesome, moderate hike. It's mostly flat but the last mile is through sandy substrate so it get a little tiresome. There's also not much shade until the end, when you reach the willow trees! Bring lots of water and snacks

Nice little hike with a great view.

Fairly easy hike, nice 360 view! As recommended, we followed the trail anti clockwise. Suitable for beginners!

The peak has cellphone signal!! Usually, you won't find any signal inside Joshua tree park. But when we climbed to this peak, we could use our phone 😂. Come to this place send your email and posts out. Plus, it's a nice hike.

Amazing view. You can see the Salton Sea from the top. If you are visiting Joshua Tree NP it is worth climbing at least one of the peaks to get an idea for the vastness of the landscape.

Really decent view in 360 degrees. The hike is NOT that difficult. Just take your time.

Sorry but it's not a peak

Great hike

Went here last Friday night on a full moon. This is my third trip to joshuatree and it Was great seeing a part of this park I've Never seen before. So beautiful and Awesome rock formations

Essential destination if you enjoy rock climbing/scrambling.

This place rocks.

This campground was spectacular. We were in Joshua Tree for three days, and the highlights were all experiences we had at the campground - climbing the jumbo rocks behind our site, stargazing, and watching the sunset at the end of the day. I got chills seeing the silhouettes of solo travelers or small families on top of the larger than life rocks, watching the sun come up each day. It was a quiet but connected, spiritual experience. Lots of coyotes howling at night, bats swooping over as we watched the night sky. We were in site 83 and would recommend for families - toddlers loved scrambling up the paths and rocks right behind our site.

The campground was amazing! It was clean & well maintained, even during the shutdown. No one bothered our campsite and were polite. There is not complete privacy, but our site was sort of out of the way. I enjoyed the trip so much, we will do it again next year!

Great campsite. The most amazing stargazing i have ever done. No cel service but that's okay. Very nice view on the drive over there too. I recommend either to see the sunset or the sunrise. It's both amazing!

This campground was really great. The location was nice too, since it is in the middle of the park. You are close to everything. I recommend this campground, it is nice for tents as well if you bring a mallet or rock to place the stakes.

November 2025. This reservation ONLY campground has VERY tiny sites. Most are car sized. But its a gorgeous area. Inside the grounds and outside for sure. There are trails right there to walk. Including the trail to Skull Rock. Joshua Tree Park truly is an amazing place. And Jumbo Rock Campground is right on the middle of it. They do have pit toilets. And they are clean. Plenty of paper too. And they have sorted trash bins. BUT no water. At all. No stores in the park. And no gas. NO CELL SERVICE! So come prepared or go without. It was reasonably quiet once the tenters stopped slamming car doors. Not many people were burning either. I gave this campground 4 stars instead of 5 for 2 reasons. One is theres no lights in the bathrooms. There should at least be a solar powered nightlight that comes on inside at night. Public restrooms are often gross and I want to see what Im touching! Secondly, these parkinglot style walk-in camp sites are pooey. People park in them at will during the day for hikes and whatnot. And they're pretty unattractive. The tenters that do legitimately rent them walk back and forth for hours getting their stuff and slamming car doors each time - no matter the hour. Very disruptive to those with pull in sites. They should be all in their own loop away from the entrance. You'll get a laught at the bus sized trailers trying to stuff themselves into these tiny sites. They really shouldn't be allowed. Id stay there again, but I'd be way more choosy about which site I rented.

Awesome campsite! I love the fact all/if not most campsites come with a grill, table, and fire pit. The campsite is less than 5 minutes from Skull rock and easy to find. Only critique is campsite size, they are pretty small but I can only judge from my campsite (96) 👍

First time there. One of the best camp spots I've ever been to. Just stayed 1 weekend But I'm definitely going back every year. Or a couple times a yr 🍺😎👍

Easy hike to this rock from the parking lot. I still recommend having water and some sort of head/face protection from the Sun during hot/warm days. A reminder to people with pets that the sand does get hot. Make sure you also have water for your pets. Although it says NO PETS people still take them and if you are then have water for them and monitor the temperature of the sand.

Short walk to both the heart rock and arch rock. I personally don’t feel like it resembles a heart - maybe from certain angles.

Confusing trail but completely worth it... way better than the arch Rock ... one of a kind scenery

AMAZING ROCK, TRAIL SO BEAUTIFUL AND THERE IS CAMPING PLACE, VERY CLOSE TO THE PARKING SPOT

The heart rock is a cool rock to check out and take a pick with. It's about 12 ft high and 10 feet wide or so. The hike there is relatively easy and short. About 1 mile or so from the parking lot. Although the rocks around it are even more fun to scramble on and jump around. Lots of cool rocks to climb. This is very close to arch rock, which is a little closer and a bit to the right from the trail. Definitely recommend the hike and the general area.

Needed a $30 park pass to get in, but was very worth it. The plant life was other worldly, and heart rock itself was adorable. It was an easy hike, though not wheelchair accessible.

Took the Arch Rock Nature Trail to go check out Arch Rock and also check out Heart Rock. There were constantly people on the Arch when I was there and was more underwhelmed when I saw it. Took the extra little hike up to Heart Rock and that was super cool. A random heart rock in the middle of the desert.

Great trail, a little off the beaten path. We went on a Sunday and only ran into a handful of other hikers. It was easy to follow and it was cool to see the kind equipment. Pit latrine at the trail head.

My wife and I hiked up to Lost Horse Mine (in Joshua Tree National Park) on a fairly cool day. The trail, which is somewhat rocky, starts climbing immediately, undulating up and down over ridges. About 1.25 miles in you can see the mine’s stamp mill ahead. It took us - we’re not fast hikers - about an hour to get to the mine. We spotted two mountain sheep shortly on our climb to the top of the ridge. The view at the crest of the ridge is worth the extra distance! When we turned back, we saw even more mountain sheep. (Seven at least!) We had considered doing the entire loop, but since the trail dropped way down and disappeared around the corner, we decided we didn't know enough to continue that way. We walked back the way we came. I would recommend wearing good shoes with rock plates will help keep the bruising to a minimum. If you download the NPS app and save the park for offline use, you can see where you are on the map even when cell service cuts out. (You access the trailhead down a dusty and bumpy dirt road.)

Well preserved mine site, with a stunning scenic trail! Chose a poor time to hike as it started snowing but that was our choice, still ontop of it all amazing hike!

Nice trail to the lost horse mine. Not to difficult about 1000 feet elevation climb from trail head to the mine. Great views of Joshua Tree (the trail is in Joshua Tree). There a very interesting tree along the hike by the size of the tree it must have been there for 30 years. Hard to tell but it does not look native to the area.

Lost Horse Mine Trail is at this pin drop. Fantastic trail beautiful and extremely quiet. Wonderful upkept mine. Really cool hike.

Awesome trail! Pretty well marked, with some inclines and declines. I was alone, at a fairly steady pace, add a few quick stops for water and pics, and it was right at two hours.

Great extended hike. 3 to 4 hours for the whole loop or just a couple hours if you head straight to the mine and back. Excellent views of the surrounding area.

Really cool short trail. Fun artifacts to look at toward the end of the trail. Loose gravel pathway so if you don't want small pebbles in your shoe, wear hiking boots. Easy flat hike. One of my favorite hikes of the park. Highly recommended!

Easy two mile round trip. Sligh grade and dusty. Cool old ruins to explore.

Lovely spot of mountainous desert. This trail is a bit like walking through history. There's the ancient geological formations, the site of lethal gunfight, and the abandoned mine and mill systems with rusted hulks of hundred year old cars and trucks.

One of my favorite hikes in all of Joshua Tree, with mostly level ground and some loose soft sand with a really awesome gold mill at the end with three different cars from the 30s and 40s strown about and plenty of old artifacts that we found everywhere along the Trail including an old windmill and water tank and an old building, this is highly recommended and thoroughly enjoyed!

Nice little out and back trail. Kids would love it.

Easy 2 plus miles out and back. Kid friendly. Wide trail. Old cars, windmill, and mill to discover.

If your in Joshua tree national park this hike is a must see. It is not well signed so do your research on the hike. It I sell worth it though as there are many abandoned cars a mill a house and even a grave marker for a desert shootout. Make sure to bring water and follow the wash as that is how you’ll most easily get to the mill. You can’t go in the mill but it’s still fun to see this piece of history.

Great hike with sweeping views of the park. We did the panorama loop in addition and enjoyed that portion as well. It was VERY WINDY at the top, but that did not take away from its beauty.

Mostly flat and sandy trail but it gets steeper and more of a rock scramble at the last stretch. Have shoes that have good grip but you will likely get sand in them.

This was a beautiful hike. I would definitely recommend it to anyone visiting our living in the area. It's 5k feet high, which as you can imagine, is a 'leg day' challenge on the way up and a fun, skipping, faster downhill walk down (after the more cautious 'peak' is over). Once you brave the top part, you'll have 360° views of the most beautiful mountains. Must try! It's worth it.

gradual ascent until the very end which was steep. but views from top worth it.

Easy until the base of the mountain. Gorgeous views!

Sand for 2 straight miles was too much in the heat. Was incredible boring and strenuous for what felt like forever walking in sand. It looks in photos like the hike could be worth it but it was not enjoyable for us

First part of the trail was ok. Last 1/4 mile steep up. Beautiful view from the top.

Some trails are closed for rehabilitation (fire damage?) The largest grove of palms is still mostly accessible.

Currently closed due to recent flooding. The recent storms did a lot of damage. The trail is covered with sand/mud & there are a lot of dangerous washed out areas

A beautiful place to take a walk. The informational/educational signage helped me understand the name of the city of Twenty-Nine Palms. The trail is located behind the Joshua Tree National Park visitors center in the edge of town.

We went to Oasis of Mara in Nov. It has not been raining so there is no water around the Oasis. Compared to the rest the national park this is less interesting part to visit. However, if you would like to skip the line at the West entrance you can enter here with almost no wait at all (20 miles drive from the Western entrance).

We really enjoyed our morning visit. The legend told along the pretty trail, the geocache explaining the geology, the hummingbird The gift shop! Friendly staff too.

The Oasis of Molag Bal was better

Nice place

It is an amazing spot for night photography and astrology. In my opinion, if you book it for weekdays, then you'll get more chances to shoot. It is a busy spot for the weekend, and many people drive around in the middle of the night. Therefore, light pollution will hurt your time and photos. Go there and take amazing photos.

Wonderful place to camp. I have been here 5-6 times over 30 years and still find it to be one of the best places in CA. Take the geology drive.

Very tall rocks very cool also good

Great short hikes nearby

Very clean and wonderful place to hike and get great views anywhere you decide to hike

You will need good shoes and gloves if you want to agressively attack climbing these rocks otherwise a nice walk with picture opportunities all around

it rocks jumbo

Nice small visitor center. We dis not need to show anything driving in on this side but when we drove out the west center we dis need to show our national park pass. Do not know if this is always the vase. Friendly people go in if you want a map of Joshua Tree park.

The visitor center was staffed with friendly volunteers and they are able to help you map out your hikes and sites. We hiked about a half mile behind the center up to see the rock formations and huge tall palm trees. As soon as we reached the trees the temperature dropped about 20 degrees it was amazing. They have a nice rest room area and souvenirs.

Passport stamps were visibly available when you enter the visitor center : a turtle stamp / palm tree stamp/ Joshua tree stamp / kid rangers stamp available. I was told they don’t have a secret stamp as of July 2025. But they are planning to have it. Can someone let me know if/when have it. Thanks. *Photos show more stamps that I collected at other visitors center. (Yucca valley / 29 palms/ Joshua tree national park visitor center as well as black rock nature center)

Always consider buying the lifetime national parks pass if you go at least once a year. Our pass got us into the park for free... The Cottonwood visitor center was clean, organized and well laid out. There's a great notice on hiking- what to take, what to do, and warnings about hydrating, since it's a dry heat and teaches 100° frequently. Nice bathrooms, a really well equipped gift shop, and personnel who know their craft. We got a nap of the whole park, and were able to navigate easily. The roads were in good condition, so no worry there. Austere, but still beautiful...

There are a few places on earth which are simply stunning. Joshua Tree is one of them and rightfully hailed as an exceptional experience. The sweetest thing about my visit back some time ago, that one gets easily in to a conversation over the sheer awe inspiring scenic views and nature itself with co visitors/strangers. The rangers at the visitor center were super friendly and sent me on my way with a smile. I'll definitely need to return, rather sooner than later. What an experience! Well worth the price of the admission.

From the south entrance, the Joshua Tree National Park sign appears quickly after leaving I-10. A few miles later is the Cottonwood Visitor Center. It’s nice, stocked with maps and information. We encountered a very nice helpful young lady. But now that we’ve driven all the roads in the park, it’s clear that the best route for the tourist just passing through to see the best sights is north entrance to west or vice versa. The highest concentration of stops is clearly between these two points. There are many restrooms in these areas but only one towards the south end before the visitors center. Toward the south entrance is the Cholla Cactus Garden which is a small area loaded with Cholla. Also on that end we found the Ocotillo Patch to be more sparse and with many dead ones. We spent about 4 hours driving the routes and stopping often for photographs. We did not see a single animal in the midday heat. It is just beautiful to see all the Joshua trees and experience the place where the Mojave and Colorado deserts meet.

Beautiful National Park - quite busy on the weekend in the high traffic areas closest to Palm Springs. Rangers were super friendly and helpful. Plenty of easy to moderate trails that are available for hiking.

Joshua Tree is fantastic and a place of unlimited exploration of natural desert beauty = thousands of acres! Trail types vary. Beautiful boulder & rock formations. Pets are not allowed in the park.

I would say the labeled plants and rocks in front of the building here were more valuable than the trail itself. Section of the trail around the palm trees were closed but still the trees were visible. Nothing exceptional but yes easy paved path, wheelchair and stroller friendly walk.

Nice easy trail explaining the history of the oasis and surrounding countryside. Look out for wildlife. There are lizards, quail and plenty of other birds.

Very nice area. A lot of light pollution from the near by homes. But I still managed to take some decent photos. Can't wait to upgrade to a better lense.

This is a significant location where you can connect with and learn more about Native American history, their resettlement, and their rich cultural beliefs. It’s also an ideal spot for a short, peaceful walk.

Easy morning walk at a nice location. It was quiet when I visited. The loop is paved with plenty of benches available to take a break and soak in the scenery. The entrance area is pretty cool too!

Update: currently closed due to recent flooding. The recent storms did a lot of damage. The trail is covered with sand/mud & there are a lot of dangerous washed out areas Nice loop walk. Got to see a lot of different lizards, bugs, birds (like quails, doves), & rabbits before 11am (specially during spring). Love that the restroom is so accessible.

Absolutely WORTH checking out. Make sure to wear shoes appropriate for a small hike if you want a pic under the arch. Joshua Tree National park is my favorite

Arch rock and Heart Rock are on the same trail within Joshua Tree National Park. Some parking available close by. Bring water and good grippy shoes to climb rocks. Less than 1.5miles to walk trail to see main interest points, however, best to enjoy walking around the wash, trails and climbing rocks. Soak up the sun, get out and enjoy nature!

This is a great trail of Heart rock and Arch rock. It was too hot when I went there so I recommend going before 9 am or after 6 pm. Fantastic views and not too crowded. Parking is limited so you may want to go early in the morning.

A little hard to find at the end, but the "All Trails" app helped us find it. You download the trail map ahead of time because you don't get service there. It was a cool rock formation. You have to climb up some rocks to get there though so I couldn't take one of our son's in his all terrain stroller up there. My 7 and 10 year old sons climbed up it just fine though.

Bring ur sunglasses and water cause this trail in the summer heat no joke haha learned that the hard way ... great trail.. a little confusing to reach the heart rock though so pay attention to prior tracks and those small markers

This is the trailhead and parking lot for the arch and heart trail, don’t park in the campground. Surprisingly it was not too hard to get a space before sunset. Easy and mostly flat trail to both famous rock formations, 1.6mi round trip I believe. The golden light made everything pretty and mythical. I think we spotted a coyote in the parking lot, not sure though. Great family-friendly trail.

We met with our family to take our niece and nephew for a quick hike. The trail was easy except for climbing up to the arch and around the arch. You can get as adventurous as you'd like around the arch. The trail leads directly up to arch but you have to scramble up on the rough rock to be under the arch. The rock you have to climb on is sharp and can cut your hands if you're not careful. The parking lot is nice but limited. I would recommend getting to the park early to avoid the crowds.

Gorgeous conservation area with lots of trails and views for miles. Apparently you should be able to see wild tortoises out here but unfortunately didn’t see any when we visited. Nonetheless, it’s worth the trip and is off the beaten path!

For us, this is a nice area with trails to walk and hike lightly. We haven't seen it all, we can't do hikes anymore, so some areas may not be explored by us. There is an outhouse/ restroom didn't need it but, it's there. Kits of boulders and lovely landscape.

a lovely place to explore without the crowds of the park. saw tons of wildflowers, quail, and even a desert horned lizard! beautiful views of the snow capped mountains, with many cacti and joshua trees. had some informative signs about the plants and animals in the area! as well as a clean pit toilet. dog friendly! open 7am-7pm on the dot! only complaint: the two trails are not marked well at all and are very difficult to follow. so just be open minded as you explore and make it an adventure for yourself, as opposed to following a specific trail!

Wonderful cycling and walking area for all the family. Enjoy the desert... but sometimes it can get crowded!

Excellent mountain biking. Get trail forks. Ride Luge in, explore and ride Haggis and Scout out. It's a grind in sand to get in but totally worth it.

Quiet place to hike without the crowds. Plenty to explore and experience.

Closest hike in Joshua tree that I’ve found so far. Neat rocky path down through the mountains with some Joshua trees here and there.

Such a cool place. Easy/flat hike from the road and beautiful scenery along the way. Lots of old engines, tanks, and a couple structures to explore. What others may see as old debris is fascinating to me. Hard to imagine what the ranch founder's life was like working that land so long ago. Any history lovers should definitely see this while in Joshua Tree.

A very flat and easy hike, very doable with people of all ages. And the scenes and views are worth the short hike!

Great short trail in the park. Perfect for kids since the grade is mellow and the length is short. More experience hikers will want to check out longer options.

Great short hike that's easy for kids too. The ruins of the home were interesting. It's amazing how people settled in these remote areas.

Nice and easy trail from road side to the remnants of the ranch. Children can do this walk with you.

Not much too see anymore but you can certainly see why they chose the location. Both a natural spring and great view are present. The hike is very easy only rising about 80ft in total.

Loved this little trail. I accidentally parked in the camping section, when there was more ideal parking along the main road! Don’t make my mistake!

In the Joshua tree, not just the hidden valley. It was a great day

Gorgeous area in Joshua Tree N.P.! Shoot pics of the comet, and they came out great!

A beautiful stop!

One of the best part at Joshua Tree .

Very beautiful sights, there was so much to see! Many rock formations to see, and you can also climb them! It has a wonderful desert atmosphere as it is in the desert. You can see many nearby desert mountains from here. There is also a great hiking trail you can go in here! Stargazing is another fun thing you can do here, here is one of the best places in the area to stargaze! You get to see many Joshua trees which is what makes the park famous! If you happen to be in the park, I highly recommend checking out the Hidden Valley ravine!

Great place, I entered one of the bunkers and a group of people in power armors greeted me and told me to deal with an NCR ranger. I think they called themselves Brotherhood of Steel... Hold on, why do I hear combat music? [Fallout New Vegas reference]

It’s a cool place, has a lot of bunkers. A bunker I went into had individuals in power armor. 10/10

It's a nice trail with a cool main attraction with two options for distance. A 4 mile to the mine and back or just over a 6 mile loop that also has some really nice scenery. I will say it's mostly uphill until you hit the mine. The extra distance in the loop was worth it especially if you are a trail runner or just enjoying walking trails. Only down fall is limited parking and for the 6 mile loop there is a long area that seems like you maybe off course with not alot to see but you will start seeing big Joshua Trees and trail signs again.