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Cyclops and Potato Head rock formations in Joshua Tree at sunrise

360 · Further Horizons

Joshua Tree National Park

Desert plants and sculptural granite create an extraordinary landscape at both the scale of a horizon and a single boulder.

PhotographJarek Tuszyński · CC BY-SA 3.0

Summary

Joshua Tree National Park protects desert country in California, United States. Distinctive Joshua trees, other desert plants and sculptural granite boulders occupy a landscape where different desert environments meet.

Its appeal works at several scales. A branching tree or weathered boulder is as compelling as the horizon, revealing an intricate desert world beneath the impression of open space.

301–400 · Further Horizons

The essentials

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Allow time

2 days as an initial allowance, excluding approach travel

Choose a base

Joshua Tree or Twentynine Palms

Getting there

Drive into the park from Joshua Tree, Twentynine Palms or the southern entrance near Interstate 10. Choose your entrance around the part of the park you plan to visit.

Plan ahead

Reserve camping ahead and check road and trail conditions. Book climbing instruction separately if climbing is part of your visit.

Practical notes updated 30 September 2026. Visitor information and sources

United States · Nature
Country guidesUnited States
Open my 100Record a visit

The essential experience.

A detail that changes the visit

Choose walking time around heat and daylight; shade and reliable water are limited.

A Joshua tree among desert rocks
Joshua tree landscapePhoto: Joshua Tree National Park · Public domain

For the curious reader

History, landscape and context.

Joshua Tree National Park is a US National Park located in southeastern California, straddling north-central Riverside County and part of southern San Bernardino County. Named after the endemic Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia), found in the park and surrounding areas, Joshua Tree is situated some 130 miles (211 km) east of the city of Los Angeles and roughly 78 mi (125 km) east of the city of San Bernardino. Among some of the closest cities to the park are Indio, Palm Desert, and Palm Springs.

Abridged background from Joshua Tree National Park, by Wikipedia contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Paragraphs have been selected and shortened; this adapted background remains under the same licence. Retrieved 23 September 2026. Source revision.

Joshua trees and rock formations near Banana Cracks
Joshua trees and rock formations near Banana CracksPhoto: Tuxyso · CC BY-SA 3.0
The rock formations of Hidden Valley in Joshua Tree National Park
Hidden Valley, Joshua Tree National ParkPhoto: Joseph from Cabin On The Road, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0

From inspiration to a practical plan

Plan your visit.

Physical demands
Easy viewpoints contrast with rocky, exposed desert hikes. Walking distance, heat and the water you carry determine the day’s demands.
The consequential detail
Choose walking time around heat and daylight; shade and reliable water are limited.
Add to my travel workbenchResearch access requirements

Through the seasons

A place in the world.

United States.

A place in the world
Joshua Tree National Park location mapJoshua Tree National Park location map

Select the pin to open a detailed map. Use Closer look to see the surrounding region. Drag to move a zoomed map.

Map: Natural Earth
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In pictures.

Look between Joshua Tree’s sculptural granite boulders and distinctive desert plants.

Cyclops and Potato Head rock formations in Joshua Tree at sunrisePhoto: Jarek Tuszyński, CC BY-SA 3.0
Joshua trees and rock formations near Banana CracksPhoto: Tuxyso, CC BY-SA 3.0
A Joshua tree among desert rocksPhoto: Joshua Tree National Park, Public domain
The rock formations of Hidden Valley in Joshua Tree National ParkPhoto: Joseph from Cabin On The Road, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
Rock formation in Joshua Tree National Park, Southern California. The rocks that look as balls are called giant marblesPhoto: Brocken Inaglory, CC BY-SA 3.0
NPS / Renata HarrisonPhoto: Joshua Tree National Park, Public domain
The desert landscape of Hidden Valley in Joshua Tree National ParkPhoto: Domenico Convertini from Zurich, Schweiz, CC BY-SA 2.0
The desert scenery of Joshua Tree National ParkPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0
Open the complete galleryDiscover the world in photographs

Follow the connection

Keep exploring.

Explore more places in the same country.

The Grand Canyon’s layered cliffs and wooded rim

17 · United States

Grand Canyon

A vast cross-section of the Earth, changing with every hour of light.

Useful links and further reading.

Choose a source for the job: official visitor information for access, the UNESCO record for the named property’s designation, and background or library resources for deeper reading.

Visit · US National Park Service

Joshua Tree National Park: Plan your visit

Official park visitor information: use this for access, permits, operating seasons and facilities.

External resource. Check the provider for access and current arrangements.

Read · Wikipedia

Joshua Tree National Park: background reading

Encyclopaedic context and its bibliography. Follow the cited research for a deeper examination of particular claims.

External resource. Check the provider for access and current arrangements.

Books · WorldCat

Find books about Joshua Tree National Park

Search library holdings and editions, useful for finding specialist histories, field guides and works beyond a general travel guide.

External resource. Check the provider for access and current arrangements.

Maps · OpenStreetMap

Explore the local map

Inspect the surrounding area.

External resource. Check the provider for access and current arrangements.
Visitor information behind these practical notes