Boulder gardens and desert horizons
Joshua Tree
Mojave high desert, exposed summits, and ancient rock with almost no margin for heat mistakes.
Photo: Alison Taggart-Barone / NPS · NPS imageREGIONAL FIELD NOTE
Know the landscape
Joshua Tree's trail system crosses two deserts and a huge elevation range. The most rewarding days pair a focused hike with time to read the landscape: Pinto gneiss, monzogranite, Joshua tree woodland, washes, and distant mountain silhouettes.
Fall through spring is the main hiking season. Parking can fill during holidays, pets are not allowed on hiking trails, and summer heat makes even short objectives hazardous.
TRAILS IN THIS HUB