Guide to Joshua Tree National Park (in Fall)
Joshua Tree National Park is one of my favorite national parks in California. The vast desert landscapes are among the places where I feel small and insignificant as a human being—in a very satisfying way. It really makes me realize how powerful nature is and how fragile we are as humans in such a harsh environment. This inspires a strong sense of adventure in me and what it feels like to not just live, but to be alive. Besides that, the reason why I particularly love Joshua Tree National Park is that it is so diverse.
In this blog article, I will share my favorite things to do in the park during fall—though most of them apply to any season—offer insights into the history and geology, provide accommodation tips, and give guidance on park entrances.
In a Nutshell: Cultural History
While National Parks such as Joshua Tree are often perceived as pristine and “untouched” by humans, most (if not all) of these places had in fact been inhabited for thousands of years. Before national parks were established, they were spared though, from larger development. You can still see remnants of Native American culture as well white settlers’ acitivities in Joshua Tree National Park.
Native Americans
Between 8000 and 4000 BCE, Native Americans of the Pinto Culture inhabited the area that now constitutes Joshua Tree National Park. Subsequent residents included the Serrano, Cahuilla, and Chemehuevi peoples, who established small villages near water sources, with a notable presence at the Oasis of Mara, later referred to by non-natives as Twentynine Palms. Their sustenance relied heavily on plant-based foods, complemented by small animals, including amphibians and reptiles. Additionally, they utilized various plants for crafting medicines, bows, arrows, baskets, and other essentials. Another group, the Mojaves, made use of local resources while traversing trails between the Colorado River and the Pacific coast.
Arrival of White Settlers and Shifting Landscapes
The landscape underwent significant transformations with the arrival of white settlers introducing cattle grazing to the park in 1870, which continued until 1945. The ranchers dug wells and built rainwater catchments called "tanks", such as White Tank and Barker Dam. In addition, mining acitivities between the 1860s and 1940s impacted Joshua Tree's terrain. The Lost Horse Mine was the most successfull gold and silver mine within what is today Joshua Tree National Park.
Protection of Joshua Tree
In a historic turn of events on August 10, 1936, advocates, led by Minerva Hoyt, successfully lobbied for the protection of Joshua Tree. President Franklin D. Roosevelt utilized the 1906 Antiquities Act to establish Joshua Tree National Monument, marking a crucial step in preserving the area's cultural and natural heritage. When the U.S. Congress passed the California Desert Protection Act, Joshua Tree was then redesignated as a national park in 1994.
In a Nutshell: Geology
In Joshua Tree National Park, two deserts meet: the Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert.
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert encompasses the western and higher elevation part of Joshua Tree National Park, providing a habitat where Joshua Trees thrive. In some areas, Joshua Trees create rather dense forests, while in others, they are more spread out. The western part also features many hills of bare rock that, in some places, are eroded to odd shapes.
Colorado Desert
Below 3,000 feet (910 m), the Colorado Desert spreads out in the eastern part of Joshua Tree National Park. This area is different regarding vegetation from the more western parts encompassing the Mojave Desert. Here, you won’t find many Joshua Trees, and the vegetation appears much sparser. For example, you’ll find creosote bush scrub, ocotillo, or cholla cactus (including the Cholla Cactus Garden, which has — as the name suggests — a particularly dense population of these cacti). The Coachella Valley (famous for its Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival) is located within the Colorado Desert too (southeastern side of the park), encompassing desert dunes and sandy soil grasslands.
Palm Oases
There are only very few areas within the park where water occurs naturally year-round. In these areas, palm oases occur and provide a habitat for the only palm native to California, the California fan palm.
Joshua Trees threatened by Climate Change
Sadly, research suggests that by 2099, under the high emission scenario, the park will increase in temperature by 8 °F, which would make most of the national park unsuitable habitat for Joshua trees. Even under the low emission scenario, 80% of suitable Joshua tree habitat could be lost. Read more about this here.
Will these beautiful trees become a rarety or go extinct by the end of the century? Hopefully, there is still time to change this prognosis.
Where to Access the Park
Joshua Tree National Park has three main entrances.
West Entrance
This entrance is located near the town of Joshua Tree and is the most popular entrance for visitors coming from the west, including those traveling from the Los Angeles area. It provides access to the Joshua Tree Visitor Center.
North Entrance
The north entrance is situated near the town of Twentynine Palms. It is convenient for visitors coming from the direction of Interstate 40 and is the entrance closest to the Oasis Visitor Center.
South Entrance
The south entrance is located near the Cottonwood Visitor Center and is accessed from the Interstate 10 side of the park. This entrance is convenient for visitors coming from the south or southeast.
Entrance at the Town of Yucca Valley
This entrance provided acccess to the Black Rock Campground and surrounding area, but has no direct connection to the other parts of Joshua Tree NP. If you’re a first time visitor with limited time, I’d suggest to check out the bigger, connected parts of the national park first. However, if you’re visiting at a busy time and prefer more solitude, this is the place to be as it offers great hiking trails with lots of Joshua Trees.
My Favorite Things to Do
Watching the Sunrise (For example at Jumbo Rocks Campground)
Desert sunrises are simply magical.
Located in the middle of the Mojave Desert, Jumbo Rocks Campground provides the perfect backdrop for watching the sunrise. Just pick a nice, smooth rock that sits a little higher above the landscape, preferably with a hot cup of coffee or tea in your hand, and enjoy as the tranquil desert landscape turns into a vibrant display of reddish color.
Even if waking up early isn't your favorite thing usually, catching the sunrise at Jumbo Rocks Campground is absolutely worth it.
I took this picture almost directly from our campsite - it only took me two minutes to quickly climb a little higher and I had the perfect motif in the perfect setting.
The rocks seem like burning when the rising sun hits them.
Going on a Hike
There are numerous hiking options in Joshua Tree, offering breathtaking views, uniquely shaped rocks, ancient rock carvings, and even palm oases (the latter is still on my list though!).
You really can't go wrong with any choice, but here are a few suggestions that I personally enjoyed a lot:
Panorama Loop (moderate)
I love hiking in the area around the Blackrock Campground, where there are far fewer people than in the 'main' parts of the park. One amazing trail here is the Panaroma Loop, a 6.3 miles (10.1 km) route that begins by taking you through loose sand, surrounded by a plethora of Joshua Trees and other vegetation. The trail then ascends the hill and provides a fantastic views of the valley below. With plenty of birds around, it's also an excellent spot for bird watching if that's your thing.
Barker Dam (easy)
Barker Dam is a nice 1.1 mile (1.8 km) short hike/ walk with very little elevation gain (50 ft or 15.2 m), where you will see many Joshua Trees, Native American rock carvings and the historic dam is also a good spot for bird watching (in particular if it has water at your time of visit). Beware though that it gets crowded quickly during the cooler peak season, so I’d recommend going there early.
This picture was taken directly behind the Barker Dam. I believe that the round rock structure is a cistern. (If anyone knows better, please let me know :))
Rock carvings are relicts of Native American activities, some of which date back thousands of years.
Skull Rock Nature Trail & Split Rock Loop (easy)
If you’re staying at the Jumbo Rocks Campground, there are amazing trails that you can start right off the spot. This area, which is part of the Colorado Desert, has fewer Joshua Trees, but instead you can admire oddly shaped gigantic rocks that dominate the landscape.
I recommend starting early in the morning, as the area can get crowded later in the day. Begin with a walk to Skull Rock on the Skull Rock Nature Trail (10-15 minutes from the campground). Cross the street and continue on the Face Rock Trail until you reach the Split Rock Trail. Follow this trail to complete a loop around the namesake split rock. Eventually, you'll return to the Face Rock Trail, from where you can hike back using the same trails you came in on. In total, this small adventure is about 4.1 miles (6.5 km) long and will take approximately 1.5 hours. There is very little elevation gain.
You’ll find more info on the Split Rock Loop here.
Interesting rock shapes: Do you spot the human face in this rock formation?
Only a short walk from the Jumbo Rocks Campground: the so-called Skull Rock.
Exploring the Cholla Cactus Garden
This is related to the former point, though not really a hike and definitely earns its own spot on this list as I find the Cholla Cacti so fascinating! Their spiny segments easily break off during a storm, or when disturbed by animals. This is also why one needs to pay close attention when coming close to the cactus. As easy as the spines detach from the cactus, they attach to a person. Even if they do not touch your skin, you may have to put in a lot of tedious work to remove each single spike from your shoes, clothes or whatever it attached to. These guys are really clingy, so be careful. Other than that, they are so pretty and I particularly love when the sun illuminates them perfectly.
Beautiful Cholla Cactus Garden: A walk that you should not miss out on!
Removing this spiny segment from the shoe required a lot of patience.
Have a campfire and/or sleep under the stars (with a tent)
That is probably on my list for most national parks, but the campgrounds at Joshua Tree are particularly magical in my opinion. The scenery is just incredible and the desert quietness appears so peaceful. Fall and Winter are great seasons to actually have a campfire that allows you to enjoy the warmths of the flame (in summer, you’d already feel like burning without the heat of the fire). Also, this is just the perfect way to be up early for a hike or to watch the sunset.
All campgrounds within Joshua Tree National Park are rather primitive. Therefore, at most of them, there is no access to any water resources, cell phone reception, and there will be only a pit toilet available. Therefore, there are also no showers within the park. Read more about the campgrounds here.
Otherwise, you have also plenty of options to have a campfire at an Airbnb, that is cozy too.
Wildlife Watching
This is about my experience from visits to Joshua Tree in the months of September, October and late November.
Basic Guidelines for Respecting Wildlife
Maintain a safe distance for both you and the animal: While observing wildlife, please keep a respectful distance. This ensures both your safety and the natural behavior of the park's inhabitants. Ideally, the animal does not even notice you!
Do not feed any wildlife: Resist any potential urge you may feel to feed animals you encounter. Feeding disrupts their natural diet and can lead to unhealthy dependencies on human-provided food.
Bring your binoculars and if you like photography a zoom lens! There are compact and lightweight binoculars as well as zoom lenses available, perfect for hiking, that provide an excellent zoom and broad field of view.
Joshua Tree is home to 57 species of mammals, 46 species of reptiles, and over 250 species of migrant and resident birds. The sightings depend on luck, time of day, season, and weather conditions.
Definetely my highlight so far was spotting a desert tortoise when driving along a park road that was traversing a wide-open space with minimal vegetation. With its prominent shell, it stood out. Desert tortoises are categorized as a threatened species on both the California and Federal Endangered Species Lists. Seeing a desert tortoise is quite rare, so always stay vigilant and drive carefully in case one crosses the street—they're not that fast.
In late October, we even spotted a tarantula right in the campground. As I headed to the ‘bathroom’ in the morning, the not-so-tiny creature crossed the street. I couldn't overlook the hairy dark brown legs moving over the light-grey ground. The tarantula vanished into the bushes, where I managed to snap a photo with my zoom lens. Despite being arachnophobic, I found it fascinating to watch the tarantula for a while!
I've encountered Jackrabbits several times during the early morning hours, typically around sunrise.
There are also plenty of commonly seen birds, such as the cactus wren, greater roadrunner or phainopepla, as well as lizards.
I'm still hoping to spot a big horn sheep in the future!
Admire the Diversity of Vegetation in the Desert
At first glance, Joshua Tree National Park may appear as a landscape dominated by vast stretches of sand, punctuated by rugged, sandy rock formations, and adorned by the iconic Joshua Trees. However, behind the apparent simplicity lies an unexpected richness of vegetation. What additionally makes the plant life so diverse is that Joshua Tree National Park inhabits two different deserts that both provide different habitats.
And while the desert seems to be carpeted in nude nuances, there are small bursts of color in between. Wildflowers and other colorful vegetation, adapted to the arid climate, offer vibrant shades that contrast with the muted backdrop if you just look closely enough.
Joshua Tree NP invites visitors to sharpen their senses and embrace the beauty of the small details. Amidst the seemingly arid terrain, a closer look reveals a thriving ecosystem, resilient and adapted to the harsh desert conditions. It is a place where every plant, no matter how diminutive, plays a vital role in the delicate balance of the ecosystem.
Where to Stay
Camping
There are several amazing campgrounds in the park itself. I’ve personally stayed at the Jumbo Rocks Campground and hiked by the others.
Jumbo Rocks
This is is the biggest campground (124 sites) and it is absolutely beautiful to set up your tent between those large rocks! It is the one with the least density of Joshua trees compared to the others, but the incredible rock formations totally make up for this. There is enough space between campsites so that most of them feel private and secluded. I’d book a campsite there again and again. The campground has no water. It has pit toilets. Each campsite is equipped with tables, and fire grates.
Black Rock Campground
This one is another beautiful campground, located at 4,000 feet in elevation and a great option if you would like to camp between Joshua Trees while being in the most secluded area of the park. This area has no direct road connection to the other ones where the main entrances are located. The campground has 99 sites. It offers water, flush toilets, tables, fire grates, and a dump station.
Indian Cove Campground
Indian Cove Campground is situated in the park's most popular area and is surrounded by the beauty of amazing rock formations and located in an area with numerous Joshua Trees. Being in close proximity to some highly sought-after hikes like the Hidden Valley Nature Trail and Barker Dam, it stands out as an excellent choice for accessing these popular trails early in the morning before they get crowded. The campground has 101 campsites. There is no water. It has pit toilets. As usual, each campsite is equipped with tables, and fire grates.
These are the three largest campgrounds within the park limits. There are also two smaller ones. For more information, check here.
Camping in the middle of the desert: The Jumbo Rocks Campground is one of the prettiest locations to camp in the park.
Airbnb’s & Hotels
There are plenty of Airbnbs in the surrounding area. If you choose that option, you won't be directly in the park. However, the towns of Twentynine Palms, Joshua Tree, or Yucca Valley are still very close to the respective park entrances. There are numerous excellent choices available, ranging from glamping experiences with RV trailers to secluded, fully equipped cabins in the desert with fire pits or even whirlpools. Of course, you also have the option to stay in a hotel, which may be more budget-friendly than an Airbnb.
An cabin just outside the town of Joshua Tree provides a very secluded and special experience.
Leave No Trace
As always when it comes to exploring the outdoors, the principles of Leave No Trace are so important in preserving this unique place as a healthy and pristine habitat. By adhering to these principles, we ensure that animals and plants can thrive undisturbed while also allowing future generations to enjoy the beauty of Joshua Tree National Park. The park has a fragile ecosystem and unique features that I would like to draw attention to:
Stay on Trail to Protect Fragile Ground
The desert flora in Joshua Tree is resilient but slow to regenerate. Please stay on designated trails to prevent trampling on delicate vegetation, ensuring the undisturbed thriving of the desert's sometimes hidden yet vibrant life.
Respect the Rock Formations
The iconic rock formations that adorn the landscape are geological masterpieces shaped by time. Refrain from climbing on or disturbing these natural sculptures to preserve their beauty and prevent accelerated erosion.
Mindful Water Usage
In a desert environment, water is a precious resource. Conserve water and pack out all waste, ensuring that the limited water sources remain untainted and sustaining the delicate balance of the ecosystem.
Pack It In, Pack It Out
Ensure you pack out all trash, including biodegradable food scraps, to preserve the pristine beauty of Joshua Tree National Park. Even though some items are generally biodegradable, the decomposition time can be surprisingly long (for instance, banana peels can take up to two years to break down!). Additionally, the unique climate and vegetation of Joshua Tree National Park can further slow down the decomposition process. Even biodegradable food scraps can cause harm when introduced to an environment where they don't naturally belong. Proper waste disposal is essential to maintain the delicate balance of this ecosystem.
Minimize human impact (Respecting Wildlife and Flora)
Minimize human impact by avoiding unnecessary noise, respecting wildlife from a distance, and refraining from collecting plants, rocks, or interfering with cultural artifacts—all of which are also illegal in national parks.
No Pets on Trails
In Joshua Tree NP, pets are not allowed on trails. In addition, they must always be on a leash and can't be more than 100 feet from a road.
Please let us stick to these principles to ensure that the magic of this beautiful place remains unspoiled for generations to come!
More Tips
Especially when you're visiting toward or in winter, check the sunset times. The sun sets quite early then, so keep that in mind for your plans.
In contrast to the brutally hot summers, nights (and even days) in late fall and winter can be pretty cold. If you are planning to camp, make sure to bring sleeping bags that provide sufficient warmth. Additionally, be mindful of the temperatures and consider layering up to stay comfortable throughout your visit.
Bring your own water, food and supplies — there are no resources inside the park.
For more information on the park, visit the website of the national park service.
I’d love to hear from you
What is your favorite season for visiting Joshua Tree National Park? What are your favorite hikes and activities within the park and around?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!
