For an introduction to plant and wildlife in Joshua Tree National Park, visit Hidden Valley. This one-mile loop circles a small valley that is surrounded by tall boulders. Hidden Valley Trail shows off Joshua Tree’s rocky landscapes and is a great place to climb around.
Take the path from the parking lot between rock walls into Hidden Valley. After climbing over and through this gap in the rocks enclosing hidden valley, you will reach the sandy desert floor and come to a T-junction. Pick a direction and start along the loop. There’s no wrong way to explore Hidden Valley.
Signs along the nature walk help visitors identify the park’s plants and animals. The trail is mostly level, crossing through hard-packed sand, but does venture through some of the valley’s interesting rock formations.
More Hidden Valley fun is found off the trail. When the temptation to climb gets too great, start scrambling up the rocks. The valley has some steep sections for climbers, but most of the walls are perfect for bouldering. Scramble up rocks for as long as you like, gaining nice overviews, and then return to the loop.
A picnic area by the parking lot is wrapped by tall rocks capable of providing welcome mid-day shade. The nearby Hidden Valley Campground has 39 sites and is a popular base for climbers who spend their days scaling the surrounding rocks.
To get to the trailhead: From Park Boulevard turn south into the parking area for the Hidden Valley picnic area, campground, and trailhead. The turnout is located 1.7 miles northeast of the junction with Keys View Road.
Trailhead address: Park Boulevard (Loop Road), Joshua Tree National Park, CA 92277
Trailhead coordinates: 34.01237, -116.1680 (34° 00′ 44.5″N 116° 10′ 04.8″W)
View Joshua Tree National Park in a larger map
Or view a regional map of surrounding California Desert trails and campgrounds.
 | Barker Dam This level 1.5-mile loop visits a small foreign-looking reservoir within the Wonderland of Rocks. |
 | Wonderland Wash This level 2.1-mile hike travels past the ruins of Wonderland Ranch up a use trail into the Wonderland of Rocks. |
 | Wall Street Mill This level 1.55 to 2.15-mile hike visits a well-reserved gold mill, exploring the mining history of Joshua Tree National Park. |
 | Ryan Mountain This 3-mile hike offers summit views from the center of Joshua Tree National Park. |
 | Ryan Ranch This 0.8 or 1.2-mile round trip hike visits the ruins of an old adobe homestead beneath Ryan Mountain. |
 | Inspiration Peak This 1.2-mile hike leaves the crowds at Keys View for even grander views at a 5,550-foot summit that looks out on the Coachella Valley, the Salton Sea, Mount San Jacinto, and much of Joshua Tree National Park. |
 | Lost Horse Mine This 4-mile hike visits a well-preserved mine and mill. |
 | Lucky Boy Vista This level 2.5-mile hike visits a modest overlook at the site of an old mine. |
 | Desert Queen Mine This 1.6-mile hike follows a level trail to an overlook before crossing a canyon to visits the ruins of one the most profitable gold mines in the California desert. |
 | Fortynine Palms Oasis The 3-mile round trip hike visits a cool desert oasis. |
 | Indian Cove The 101-site campground is home to a 0.6-mile interpretive trail and endless bouldering and rock climbing opportunities. |
 | Warren Peak This 5.5-mile hike summits a peak with impressive views over the west side of Joshua Tree. |
 | High View Nature Trail This 1 1/3-mile loop climbs a ridge on the west side of the park that offers views of San Gorgonio Mountain and Yucca Valley, along with an introduction to desert plants. |
 | Cholla Cactus Garden This quarter-mile loop allows visitors to stroll through an intense concentration of cholla cacti. |
 | Mastodon Peak This 2.6-mile loop visits a 3,400-foot summit with panoramic views of southeastern Joshua Tree. |
 | Lost Palms Oasis This 7.2-mile hike visits a desert oasis nestled between mountains in the southeast corner of the park. |
 | Hikes in the California Desert Explore more trails in Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, and Mojave National Preserve. |
 | Red Rock Canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains The trails in this beautifully sculpted canyon are 2.5 and 5.2 miles in length. |
 | Joshua Tree Campgrounds Nine campgrounds with 500 total sites are spread throughout the park to facilitate your visit. |
 | Joshua Tree Wildflowers The desert in bloom is something any outdoor enthusiast in California should see. |
[…] did the excellent Hidden Valley hike – http://www.hikespeak.com/trails/hidden-valley-in-joshua-tree/ (many climbers), followed by the Keys view overlook […]
[…] Hidden Valley showcases some of the park’s best features, thus tends to be one of the busiest spots in the park. We have arrived relatively early, so hope to beat most of the crowds.The valley has only one narrow entrance (enlarged by a local resident by blasting just prior to the property’s becoming a park), making it the reported hide-out of cattle rustlers. […]
[…] Hidden Valley Trail is a highlight of the park, but I read that many visitors miss this rock-ringed enclave. “It encapsulates what the park is all about,” says the park’s chief of interpretation. Take a short side road off the park’s main artery, and you come to the trailhead. Unfortunately, those same gray skies followed us here too. […]
[…] explored the Hidden Valley Trail. That dot on top of the rock is a climber taking advantage of one of the park’s […]
[…] Hidden Valley showcases some of the Joshua Tree National Park’s best features, thus tends to be one of the busiest spots in the park. We have arrived relatively early, so hope to beat most of the crowds. […]
[…] Hidden Valley showcases some of the Joshua Tree National Park’s best features, thus tends to be one of the busiest spots in the park. We have arrived relatively early, so hope to beat most of the crowds. […]
[…] to be had just scrambling around on the boulders. When it comes to exhilarating hikes on the rocks, Hidden Valley is one you definitely need to hit. While there are many approaches to tackle this 1-mile trek, […]
[…] Our final destination was the infamous Joshua Tree National Park. I could look at those strange shaped trees all day and would love to camp by them in the near future, but that weekend we just did a quick drive around to the Hidden Valley Trail. […]
[…] Valley: We made it back in to the Park at about noon and headed straight for the Hidden Valley Trail. This one mile loop was an easy hike with just a few steep climbs to get down into the valley. Once […]
Full virtual hike of the Hidden Valley Trail in 4K UHD:
https://youtu.be/AoMos7byfN8
Perfect for trip planning!
[…] Named for the region’s twisted, bristled trees, Joshua Tree National Park is a unique site in the Mojave Desert. From Sky Valley RV Resort in Hot Springs, CA, we drove north to access the park, closer to the Hidden Valley trailhead. […]