Joshua Tree: California’s Desert Gem

Living in California for the past 3 years has opened my eyes to how much the state has to offer. One of my favorite places so far is definitely Joshua Tree National Park–California’s desert gem. I recently visited for a second time after falling in love on my first trip back in 2016. And I already have another weekend booked in March. I seriously can’t get enough of Joshua Tree!

Why I love Joshua Tree

To me, it’s a great place to escape–especially if you are already in LA or San Diego. It’s also close enough to Palm Springs, Pioneertown, and Salvation Mountain if you wanted to do a road trip around the area. See my Palm Springs blog here. I love escaping to the desert for many reasons: quiet that truly gives you a chance to unwind, dark skies perfect for stargazing, and beautiful, other-worldly landscapes.

There’s something about being in the desert that makes you feel like you’re on another planet, and in Joshua Tree National Park, you’ll encounter trees that are found nowhere else on this planet. The yucca tree is only found in the Southwestern United States (mostly in Joshua Tree and the Mojave Desert). Driving through succulent-spotted, boulder-filled terrain, you’ll see these trees everywhere. Spend your time appreciating their unique, strange beauty.

Practical Info for visiting Joshua Tree National Park

• Entry as of Nov 2018 costs $30 per day for a private vehicle. Sometimes there is free entry…we went during a promotion for National Parks Month in April 2016, and the fee was waived.
• Go earlier in the day to avoid waiting in a line of cars to enter. Also realize there are multiple entry points for getting into the park.
• Temperature can get really hot even in the winter, so have lots of sunscreen and water no matter when you visit. Be extra cautious in the summer.

Top Things to Do when visiting Joshua Tree

• Spend as much time as possible exploring the park. Even just driving around is incredible. Some of my favorite spots are Keys Lookout, Cholla Cactus Garden, and Skull Rock.
• Hiking in the park: I’ve only done the Ryan Mountain hike but absolutely loved it. Most of the photos below are from that hike, which takes you to the highest point in the park. There are many hikes you can choose from.
• Joshua Tree is a popular spot to do rock climbing. It’s something I’d love to do on a future visit. You can take a lesson or even book a yoga/rock climbing multi-day retreat.
• Take a sound bath: this is one of the top rated activities on Trip Advisor for the area. We’re doing this on our next visit, and I’m so excited! It’s described as “kindergarten nap time for grown ups in a sound sphere.” Check out the website for more details.
• Day use and overnight camping inside the park is also an option.
• Outside the park: I can personally recommend Joshua Tree Coffee Co. and this gift shop where I spent too much money. There’s a cool bar next to the gift shop which is meant to be good, but we didn’t have time to stop in. In that same area there are some popular food options as well.

Where to stay when visiting Joshua Tree

AirBnB seems to reign king when it comes to finding cool accommodation in Joshua Tree. On this trip we stayed here. One of the most popular places to stay is Joshua Tree Acres, but it books up months in advance.