Adventuring Across Joshua Tree National Park
We love National Parks, because in most cases they represent the best sides of nature. But if you ask us to name one single national park that is not just unique, but quirky as well, Joshua Tree National Park is definitely on the top of our list.
This was actually our second time visiting the park. Our first visit was through a local Hummer Day Tour, we had an amazing tour guide who ensured us a fun yet educational time there. But it is one of these places that visiting once is simply not enough, so we decided to go back for a road trip by ourselves and adventure across the park.
Day 1 - Entering & Exiting from the West Entrance
This is the main entrance of Joshua Tree NP and it leads to the area where Joshua Trees are most centralized at. The views on both sides of the road are just so captivating that we couldn’t help but to make constant stops to capture the scenes.
Joshua Tree, or Yucca brevifolia, is a type of plant that grows in the high elevation area of the Mojave Desert. Unlike many other plants that eventually grow into similar shapes, Joshua Trees seem to seek more freedom in their growth and very often end up in quirky figures, and this is the exact reason why we are so fond of them! But the sad news is that we’ve heard several studies indicating Joshua Tree is now a slowly disappearing species and the population of it will continue to reduce in the next century, and the recent government shutdown has also caused severe damages to the park which could take more than 200 years to recover.
Some of the hiking trails we went have bonus findings along the way, definitely interesting to check out. But hiking in the desert needs to be well prepared in advance, because weather can get extremely hot so plenty of water and sunscreen is needed to prevent dehydration and sunburn.
Stargazing at night is simply dreamy here. The entire park is completely dark at night which minimizes light pollution, but make sure to bring powerful flashlights so you don’t trip and fall.
Day 2 - Entering from the North Entrance & Exiting from the South Entrance
The North and South Entrances of Joshua Tree NP are definitely less popular compared to the West Entrance, but this route allowed us to drive across the entire park and see many of the places that are otherwise difficult to access.
The rock formations at Joshua Tree NP is another bold attraction of the place. These sand colored rocks are formed in various styles and shapes, all completely different but equally impressive. The geology of the entire park is so unique that even a slightly different angle will give you a brand new scene.
The hikes were a lot more difficult compared to trails near the West Entrance and you will likely need to use both hands to assist. A few times our paths were blocked by fallen rocks, so we had to climb over the gigantic stones. We actually had to be very careful not to get hurt during the hikes as in order to continue we were forced to climb up and jump down high many times, but we’ve come across some of the most fascinating views along our way that it was just so rewarding at the end.
Driving down south we also stopped at Cholla Cactus Garden, there is a short round trail that will let you walk among thousands of teddy bear cactus. Because there are so many of them, make sure to be extra cautious and watch every step if you plan to go off trail, just remember that they are called “jumping cactus” for a reason.
Driving across Joshua Tree National Park is an item that can finally be checked off from our list, but will we be back again? Pretty sure yes. Taking home some wonderful memories and leaving behind our best wishes for this plant and the recovery of the whole park.
If you’re interested in visiting destinations near Joshua Tree National Park, here are a few recommendations:
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
To view all California road trip destinations, click here.