Hikes in Joshua Tree | Hikespeak.com

Hikes in Joshua Tree National Park

Below is a list of trails and attractions in Joshua Tree National Park, listed from north to south and west to east. The outings may also be sorted alphabetically or by distance to help you plan a trip to Joshua Tree. Each trail and attraction links to its own report complete with photos, maps, directions, and everything else needed to explore Joshua Tree.

Joshua Tree National Park:
Joshua Tree protects over 1200 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, resulting in a diverse mixture of vegetation (in addition to the park’s namesake). For this reason, when conservationists first tried to protect the land in the 1930s the proposed name was Desert Plants National Park The current name is much better. 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.

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
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 visits a modest overlook at the site of an old mine.	2.5 miles 125 feet	34.017818, -116.082237
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 1600 feet	34.094833, -116.15747
Lost Horse Mine This out and back visits a well-preserved mine and mill.	4 miles	34.094833, -116.15747
Keys View to Inspiration Peak This out and back 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 visits an oasis nestled between mountains in the southeast corner of the park	7.2 miles	33.712768, -115.762737