Hikes in Joshua Tree National Park

The hikes below are listed from north to south and west to east. The table can be sorted alphabetically or by distance to help you plan a trip to Joshua Tree National Park. Each trail links to its own report complete with photos, maps, directions, and everything else needed to explore the park. An interactive map is also provided.

Highlights of Joshua Tree National Park

Hiking Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree protects over 1,200 square miles northeast of Palm Springs. The park contains a meeting of the higher Mojave Desert to the west and the lower Colorado Desert to the east. The result is a diverse mixture of vegetation that includes the park’s namesake tree. When conservationists first tried to protect the land in the 1930s, they proposed the name Desert Plants National Park, which doesn’t quite have the same ring to it.
The Joshua trees themselves are a strange and beautiful tree that enhance any desert landscape.

Summer temperatures in Joshua Tree can reach the triple digits. The best time to visit the park is early spring and late fall. A spring visit has the added potential for wildflower viewing. On Thanksgiving weekend and New Years weekend (the Memorial Day and Labor Day of the desert), expect the park to be crowded and the campgrounds to be full. Most other weekends, visitors should not have a problem driving in and setting up camp at one of the park’s 500 sites. Joshua Tree empties on weekdays to offer a great feeling of seclusion. Joshua Tree is the closest National Park to Los Angeles. The roughly two and a half hour drive makes for an easy weekend getaway.

Trail or Attraction	Description	Distance	Latitude, Longitude
	Fortynine Palms Oasis The 3-mile round trip hike visits a cool desert oasis.	3 miles	34.105651, -116.10479
	Indian Cove The 101-site campground is home to a 0.6-mile interpretive trail and endless bouldering and rock climbing opportunities.	0.6 - 2 miles (or more)	34.094833, -116.15747
	Contact Mine This out and back hike travels up a wash, a canyon, and an old road to a mountainside mine site.	3.9 miles 700 feet	34.069024, -116.055543
	Warren Peak This out and back hike summits a peak with impressive views over the west side of Joshua Tree.	5.5 miles 1,000 feet	34.055136, -116.407381
	Desert Queen Mine This 1.6-mile hike follows a level desert trail to an overlook before crossing a canyon to visits the ruins of an old gold mine.	1.6 miles	34.025433, -116.078167
	Lucky Boy Vista This level out and back hike visits a modest overlook at the site of an old mine.	2.5 miles 125 feet	34.017818, -116.082237
	Wall Street Mill This level out and back hike visits a well-reserved gold mill, exploring the mining history of Joshua Tree National Park.	1.55 - 2.15 115 feet	34.036453, -116.133863
	Wonderland Wash This level out and back hike travels past the ruins of Wonderland Ranch up a use trail into the Wonderland of Rocks.	2.1 miles (or more) 75 feet	34.030444, -116.139357
	Barker Dam This level loop visits a small foreign-looking reservoir within the Wonderland of Rocks	1.5 miles	34.024896, -116.142061
	Hidden Valley This loop circles the interior of a small valley surrounded by tall rocks that serves as an excellent bouldering arena.	1 mile (or more)	34.012743, -116.168729
	Ryan Mountain This out and back hike offers summit views from the center of Joshua Tree National Park.	3 miles 1,075 feet	34.094833, -116.15747
	Arch Rock This easy loop visits a natural arch in the granite formations around White Tank Campground.	0.3 miles 30 feet	33.985241, -116.016487
	Lost Horse Mine This out and back hike visits a well-preserved mine and mill.	4 miles	34.094833, -116.15747
	Keys View to Inspiration Peak This out and back hike leaves the crowds at Keys View for even grander views from a 5,550-foot summit.	1.2 miles 425 feet	33.931799, -116.192701
	Cholla Cactus Garden This loop offers a stroll through an intense concentration of Cholla cacti.	0.25 miles	33.925302, -115.928777
	Mastodon Peak This 2.6-mile loop visits a 3,400-foot summit with panoramic views of southeastern Joshua Tree.	2.6 miles 440 feet	33.735165, -115.799682
	Lost Palms Oasis This out and back hike visits an oasis nestled between mountains in the southeast corner of the park	7.2 miles	33.712768, -115.762737