Just 2.5 hours away from LA, Joshua Tree offers a peaceful desert retreat from the city. At least once a year, I try to spend a weekend in Joshua Tree. It’s sunsets & stargazing are unlike anything I’ve ever seen, and paired with the hikes & places to explore, just keep me coming back year after year.
I’ve pulled together my favorite way to spend a quick weekend in Joshua Tree, hitting all the must-see stops along the way. When leaving from LA, I like to get on the road as early as possible, around 7AM to arrive in the park at 9:30-ish.
The Joshua Tree entrance pass is $30, and will last you 7-days, so you can get in and out of the park multiple times on your trip. If you plan to visit other national parks within the year, I definitely recommend the America The Beautiful Pass. At $80, you get your money’s worth after 3x visits.
Plan your trip accordingly, because in the summer months, the heat in Joshua Tree is nearly unbearable – it can get well over 100 degrees. To enjoy the park (without feeling like you’re about to pass out), come between late Fall and Spring.
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Weekend in Joshua Tree Itinerary
DAY 1: Geting acquainted with Joshua Tree
Coming from LA, I like to start my trip coming in from the South Entrance. It’s a bit further of a drive, but you can knock out all of the goodies in the South part of the park without having to make a trek back to the North part at the end of the day (which is where 99% of the options to stay are).
You’ll get to see the true transition of the park from the Mojave & Colorado Deserts. Most visitors coming from the West or North entrances don’t make it far enough south to see!
Plus, the South Entrance is not as busy, so you get to explore and drive through without many others around.
Once you enter the park, you’ll come across Cottonwood Springs Visitor Center, where you can pick up your pass and head out onto your first trail!
Cottonwood Springs: 30-minutes – 1.5 hours
In the same turnoff for the visitor’s center, continue down towards the campground to reach the entrance for Cottonwood Springs. You’ll be welcomed with huge palm trees right at the entrance to the trail.
There are a few different hikes you can do here – an easy, quick 30-min walk, a 3-mile loop trail to Mastodon Peak, or even an 8-mile hike out to Lost Palms Oasis, which is home to the most fan palms in the Joshua Tree area.
Depending on your arrival time, you may want to just stay around for the quick walk. But if you get in early enough, the 3-mile hike offers gorgeous views and even up-close with the remains of an old mill – Moorten’s Mill. It’s a cool mix of history and desert landscapes, and you may even see some wildlife!
Cholla Cactus Gardens: 30-minutes
From there, the next stop will be another 30-minutes north, getting you closer to the central part of the park. As you continue driving, you’ll start to notice more and more of these bush-like cacti, until you reach a parking lot on the left of the road, home to the Cholla Cactus Gardens.
The hike itself is more of a walking path, but you’ll be surrounding by thousands of these Cholla Cacti and mountain views in the distance. Enjoy the walking path, and some spectacular photo ops along the trail!
If you ever manage to get here around sunrise & sunset, I hear the views are incredible with colors dancing across the cacti.
Arch Rock: 1-hour
Just 15-minutes further into the park, you’ll arrive in the central part of Joshua Tree. Most of the popular hikes are located all within a 5–10-minute drive from each other. Today, you won’t have time to hit everything, so I recommend spending time at Arch Rock.
You can find the trailhead at Twin Tanks parking lot, where you’ll park and follow the signs toward the trail. Just a bit ahead, you’ll come across the 0.2 mile Arch Rock Loop. I recommend starting counter-clockwise for a better view of the arch, but you can go either way!
Typically on a weekend you’ll find many people waiting to take a photo under the archway – which is just wild to see in person (how do these rocks get in these positions??). Get in line, and wait a few minutes to take the iconic shot!
Then, spend some time exploring all of the boulders – it’s my favorite place to climb around. Every time I make a stop here, I end up finding a new path through the countless boulders!
Lunch Stop
If you realize after this hike, you didn’t pack enough snacks to make it through the rest of the day, this is the perfect place for a break. Head out the North Entrance and grab a quick bite. There are a few options right outside the exit/entrance, which will take about 20-minutes to get to. Since this isn’t the main entrance either, you’ll be able to get easily back into the park.
Check out some of the options below:
- Grnd Sqrl (my top pick!)
- A casual gastropub with incredible burgers, as well as hotdogs, wings, salads, etc and good beer if that’s your vibe
- Taco Shops
- You’ll come across a few local taco spots like Mexican Street Tacos, Artega’s Mexican Food, Alamilla’s Taco Shop – all which have great reviews
- Takeaway Foods
- There’s a few fast-food options like Subway, Starbucks, McDonalds, etc., if you’re looking for a quicker stop, as well
Key’s View: 30-minutes
After you refuel, head back into the park for one of my favorite drives in Joshua Tree towards Key’s View. From this high-up viewpoint, you’ll be able to see the whole Coachella Valley, Palm Springs, the Salton Sea, and the San Andreas Fault.
The road to get to Key’s View, appropriately named Key’s View Road, takes you through some stunning scenery with flat plains filled with endless Joshua Trees in every which direction. Roll your windows down and enjoy the views!
It’ll take about 20-minutes to get out to Key’s View from the center of Joshua Tree, or about 40-minutes coming from lunch in 29 Palms. Make sure to account for the time it takes. You can spend about 30-minutes taking in the view, grabbing your pictures, and trying to line up what you’re seeing in the distance with the maps provided.
Sunset at Airbnb or Sunset at Barker’s Dam
Depending on the time of year, you may have time to squeeze in one more hike before sunset. But with the view at our Airbnb, we wanted to head back to watch the sunset at our place. We stopped by the Walmart outside of the park to big up all the fixings for a burger night, and booked it back to the house for golden hour.
If you want to stay in the park, I’d suggest heading to Barker’s Dam for sunset – at the end of the trail, you’ll find a ton of big rocks that are worth the climb up to get a beautiful view of the entire valley. Be careful of the quickly approaching darkness, though. When staying in the park for sunset, you should have a headlamp with you.
Truthfully, anywhere you end up for golden hour & sunset in this area is going to be breathtaking. There’s something about the hazy glow against the rocks that makes this place so special.
Stargaze
Since Joshua Tree is an international dark sky park, it’s one of the best places to see the night sky. Being in the High Desert, at 3000-6000 feet above sky level, you’re in the perfect viewing place. Plus, you’re far far away from the bright lights of major cities.
Anywhere in the park, and even outside of the park, will have great star visibility, and you likely will be able to see the Milky Way! It’s so dreamy to be able to see everything in the sky, especially coming from LA where the stars aren’t very visible. Download the app Night Sky, one of my go-to’s on my phone, for insights on what stars and constellations you’re seeing.
Day 2: More Hikes & scenic Adventures
If you’re feeling adventurous, a little morning drive through the park at sunrise is quite the way to start the morning. But, if you’d prefer to get a bit more R&R, you can start the morning with a coffee from Joshua Tree Coffee, or hit up Crossroads Café for a quick breakfast before heading into the park. Both options are right across the street from each other on the main highway, 29 Palms.
49 Palms Oasis: 2-hours
Head over to 49 Palms Oasis for one of my favorite hikes in the entire park. The 3-mile trail hikes up over & down a large mountain, as you ascend towards a hidden oasis filled with, you guessed it, 49 palms. From the top of the mountain, you’ll have a nice view of the city, as well!
The trail is located at its own entrance off 29 Palms Highway, as a standalone part of the park. Since it’s one of the highest elevation hikes in the park, I always try to knock this out in the morning, before the sun gets too strong. Even in the winter months, that heat can take a toll.
Depending on your morning start time, you’ll be entering the park after 49 Palms Trail around 11:30/12, which is prime time for the main entrance…especially during the weekends. Since you’re just in between the West (main) and North Entrance at this point, take the route into the North entrance to save time and avoid some backup. This is also a better entrance to get you to your next destination – Skull Rock & Split Rock.
Skull Rock / Split Rock: 1-Hour
Skull Rock is one of the most iconic photo ops in all of Joshua Tree. You’ve probably seen this before on social media! The way the rock is formed, looks exactly like a huge skull. Located just off the road, you’ll notice tons of cars pulled over on the side to pop over to the location.
There is a bit of a hike, as well, but I’d just pop over to see the rock, and then head to Split Rock for a the trail walk. At just under 2-miles, you’ll do a loop around huge boulder formations.
Hall of Horrors: 30-Minutes
Another short walking trail, Hall of Horrors may seem like just any other trail in the park. But, if you explore deeper into the boulders, you’ll be able to find a few slot canyons for scrambling. They are definitely narrow, so if you choose to go all the way through, make sure you feel comfortable with the climbing needed. Or, if you’re like me, you can go check them out and then continue back on the loop :).
Ryan Ranch: 45-minutes
Just down the street from Hall of Horrors, you’ll find the trailhead for one of the more unique trails in the park. As you head down Park Blvd, you’ll see a few parking spots on your left-side, followed by a bathroom. There’s limited parking here, but I’ve always lucked out with a spot!
It’s an easy 1.2 mile hike out to the old adobe house of the Ryan Family, build back in 1898. Surprisingly, the structure is still well intact! It’s a cool glimpse into history as you trek across the relics of their old ranch.
Cap Rock Nature Trail: 30-minutes
Get back on Park Road heading west, and then just a minute or two up the road turn left onto Keys Road to find the Cap Rock Nature Trail.
It’s just a quick half-mile dirt trail, but it packs a lot of beauty. Perfect for a little afternoon casual stroll after a lot of running around.
Barker Dam: 1-hour
After Cap Rock, head over to Barker Dam, which is one of my favorite places to spend time in the park. As mentioned, this as a great place to enjoy the sunset, but you’ll enjoy the views no matter the time.
It’s a 1.1 mile single loop trail that’s quite flat, and will bring you out to Barker Dam. If you’re in town during a rainy period, you’ll be able to see water. Past the dam, you’ll also come across some ancient hieroglyphics carved onto the side of a boulder.
Hidden Valley: 45-minutes
For the last hike of the day, hit up Hidden Valley for a 1-mile loop that’s perfect at golden hour. With massive boulders, and a ton of greenery due to the valley collecting rain water, it’s the more lush part of this desert area.
Grab Dinner Before the Drive Home
After enjoying golden hour in the park, make the drive back out through the West Entrance as you catch the sun fading into the distance. Joshua Tree Saloon is located just to your right as you turn onto 29 Palms Hwy from Park Blvd. Grab some delish BBQ and wind down before you head back to LA!
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