Joshua Tree National Park: 16 best hikes and how to visit

Giant boulders, a hidden arch, a rock shaped like a skull and palm oases tucked into desert canyons: these are the best hikes in Joshua Tree National Park, with trail stats, current park rules and the tips you need to plan your visit.

It’s fair to say that I’m a hiking enthusiast. As in, I love nothing more than getting up at the crack of dawn and schlepping my way across the desert in search of an epic sunrise.

I tackled a fair few of the Joshua Tree hikes below on a November trip through Cali, and I come bearing gifts. Gifts being handy tips and epic hikes you NEED to add to your Joshua Tree itinerary.

Joshua Tree National Park covers almost 800,000 acres of Southern California where two deserts meet. In the higher, cooler west, the Mojave Desert is studded with the shaggy Joshua trees the park is named after and heaped with granite boulders; in the lower, hotter east, the Colorado Desert takes over with cholla, ocotillo and wide sandy basins. It became a national monument in 1936 and a national park in 1994, and it’s an International Dark Sky Park, so the stars after a day on the trails are a bonus.

The park also has a rich history dating back to the Gold Rush era, so history buffs and nature lovers alike will adore its charms: you’ll walk past old gold mills, cattle ranchers’ dams and Native American rock art as well as some of the strangest rock formations in the American Southwest.

Planning is easy. Most of the classic trails sit along Park Boulevard between the West Entrance, just outside the town of Joshua Tree, and the North Entrance at Twentynine Palms, about an hour’s drive from Palm Springs and two and a half hours from Los Angeles. Entry costs $30 per vehicle for seven days, there’s no timed-entry reservation, and October to May is hiking season. Two or three days lets you combine the short classics with a summit or an oasis hike.

Ready? Strap on your hiking boots, lather on the suncream, and let’s go.

The best Joshua Tree hikes

Scramble to Arch Rock and the secret Heart Rock

Distance: 1.4-mile lollipop loop

Elevation gain: 100 feet

Time: 1 hour

Difficulty: easy

Trailhead: Twin Tanks, Pinto Basin Road

If you’re feeling nostalgic for the red rock landscape of southern Utah with its graceful arches, there’s no doubt you’ll count the Arch Rock hike as the best hike in Joshua Tree.

It leads to the park’s most famous natural arch, a granite span about 30 feet wide, and makes for a stellar hike. In fact, it’s my favourite in the entire park.

The arch itself can be tricky to spot, so keep an eye on the signs. It’s a popular photo spot, so if in doubt, follow the other hikers. You’ll have to do a little rock climbing to get the best selfies with this magnificent piece of geography, but it’s worth it.

I’ll level with you: Arch Rock is cool, but for me, the surrounding maze of smooth boulders in all kinds of weird shapes was the real star of the show. The elevation gain is a mere 100 feet, and there are plenty of scrambling opportunities for adventure. But I’ll tell you about the secret detour you can’t miss.

Once only a whispered rumour passed on from hiker to hiker, there’s now a dedicated small trail next to the junction with the access trail.

After a short walk, you’ll find your prize: Heart Rock, named because of its almost perfect heart-shaped silhouette standing firmly on its pointed base. You don’t want to miss it if you’re in the area, and it makes for an ultra-sweet snapshot.

The trail starts from the Twin Tanks car park on Pinto Basin Road (use the pedestrian crossing to reach the trailhead), which fills up on busy days, so arrive early. Late afternoon is the best time to go, when the arch turns golden.

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Climb the quiet High View Nature Trail for huge views

Distance: 1.4-mile loop from its car park (2.1 miles from Black Rock Nature Center)

Elevation gain: 400 feet

Time: 45 minutes to 1.5 hours

Difficulty: moderate

Trailhead: north-west of Black Rock Campground, Yucca Valley

This one is in a completely different part of the park, in the less-visited Black Rock Canyon corner near Yucca Valley, well away from the crowds on Park Boulevard.

The High View Nature Trail was one of my favourite hikes in the park, not least because it was one of the quietest AND delivered hard on the views.

I’ll be honest here, the cost of those views is burning legs for the upward trajectory of this 1.4-mile schlepp… but then you reach the top and forget all the sweating and aches it took to get there because the panorama spread out before you is nothing short of incredible.

After that, it’s a hop, skip and a gambol back down to the car park.

From the top you look out over Yucca Valley to snow-capped San Gorgonio Mountain in winter, with Joshua trees dotted along the ridge. There are benches along the way if you need a breather, and the Black Rock Nature Center (open Thursday to Sunday in the hot months) has maps and water.

Come face to face with Skull Rock

Distance: 1.7-mile loop

Elevation gain: modest, with rock steps

Time: 1 hour

Difficulty: easy

Trailhead: Jumbo Rocks Campground or the roadside parking on Park Boulevard

Newbie when it comes to trekking? All hiking skill levels are welcome on this next entry. Giant rock clusters scatter the area, but you won’t be able to miss the iconic Skull Rock.

It looks somewhat like an alien skull protruding from a jumble of boulders: elongated forehead, huge, empty eye sockets, and a misshapen nose that’s pretty prominent. In other words, he’s pretty uggerz. Sorry.

It’s creepy enough from ground level, but you can climb some adjacent rock piles for a different perspective of this rocky giant slowly emerging from its stone bed. The hollow “eyes” were carved out by rainwater collecting in the granite and slowly eroding it.

Apart from the namesake of the hike, the boulder formations are gorgeous to ogle as you walk by, and you can take a detour to climb them if the mood takes you. Otherwise, you’ll come across cacti, yucca, Joshua trees, and some native wildlife like the odd coyote and jackrabbit.

The rock itself sits right beside the road, so it’s always busy. Walking the loop from Jumbo Rocks (it crosses Park Boulevard and can be started on either side) makes the whole experience much more chilled, and the Discovery Trail branches off its northern side if you want to add more.

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Walk among teddy bear cholla at the Cholla Cactus Garden

Distance: 0.25-mile loop

Elevation gain: flat

Time: 30 minutes

Difficulty: easy, wheelchair accessible

Trailhead: Cholla Cactus Garden, Pinto Basin Road

Another one of the many easy hikes in Joshua Tree that oozes rewards, the Cholla Cactus Garden is a visual delight you won’t want to pass up. And it’s so short that there’s no excuse not to go on it.

It’s flat, so take a mellow walk amongst the cacti and bask in their eclectic ambience. The loop begins at the car park and runs along a boardwalk and gravel path through one of the densest stands of cholla in the desert. You’ll want to take some epic snapshots for your Instagram (and if you’re anything like me you will), but stay on the trail: it protects the garden and your ankles.

The cholla cacti, also known as teddy bear cholla because they look so darn fuzzy, are everywhere you turn, and it’s glorious. Though you’ll need to watch out for their spikes: they’re barbed on the ends, making them a pain to remove from clothing and, worse, from the skin. They’re nicknamed “jumping” cholla because segments break off at the lightest touch, so wear closed-toe shoes.

The golden orange rays of the evening bring out the best in the cacti, so it’s one of the best walks in the park at sunset (sunrise is just as good).

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Watch the sun rise over Keys View

Distance: a few hundred yards on a paved path

Elevation: 5,185 feet at the viewpoint

Time: 15 to 30 minutes

Difficulty: easy, wheelchair accessible

Trailhead: end of Keys View Road, 6 miles south of Cap Rock

This isn’t really a hike, but it’s the best viewpoint in the park and an easy add-on to any of the trails nearby. Long-time readers might know that I had long ached to spend time in Joshua Tree, and I’ll never forget watching the sun poking out from under the horizon, painting Keys View in a golden glow. Oh yes, getting up at 5am was certainly worth it.

From the edge of the Little San Bernardino Mountains you look down on the Coachella Valley, Palm Springs and, on clear days, the Salton Sea, with Mount San Jacinto and San Gorgonio, the highest peak in Southern California, framing the view. Look for the line of the San Andreas Fault cutting across the valley floor: signs at the viewpoint help you pick it out.

Sunset here is popular too, so arrive early for a parking space. Haze can soften the view in summer: winter mornings after rain are the clearest.

Loop through the boulders of Hidden Valley

Distance: 1-mile loop

Elevation gain: about 100 feet

Time: 1 hour

Difficulty: easy, with rock steps at the start and end

Trailhead: Hidden Valley picnic area, Park Boulevard

Let’s kick things off with a simpler hike, shall we? Nestled snugly in the embrace of lumpy hills on the valley floor, the Hidden Valley trail is a short but popular trek. It’s a pretty flat trail with very little climbing and gorgeous up-close-and-personal views of the surrounding Mojave Desert.

So you can see why it’s so popular, right?

You’ll see unique desert flora like the ubiquitous Joshua trees, California junipers, and beavertail cacti amongst the standard dry shrubs and lizards. While massive boulders lie scattered about, begging for climbers… So give in to their pleas and see how high up you can scramble. Signs along the way explain the plants and animals, and it’s worth looking up for Cow Rock, a formation on the valley wall that looks (with a little imagination) like a cow.

Legend has it that cattle rustlers once hid stolen herds in this enclosed valley. It has a calmer pace of life now, with a picnic area in the shade of some large boulders near the trailhead, perfect for lunch. The car park fills quickly, so get there by 9am on weekends and holidays.

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Look for bighorn sheep and petroglyphs at Barker Dam

Distance: 1.1-mile loop

Elevation gain: 50 feet

Time: 30 to 45 minutes

Difficulty: easy

Trailhead: Barker Dam car park, off Park Boulevard near Hidden Valley

When it comes to the best hikes Joshua Tree has to offer, the Barker Dam loop is one of them. It’s popular thanks to its incredible desert topography, with a seasonal pool of water glistening beneath the sun after a wet winter.

Cattle ranchers built the dam in the early 1900s to water their herds, and rancher Bill Keys later raised it, so it’s an excellent route for history buffs. For an ancient adventure, take the small spur near the end of the loop to see Native American petroglyphs on the walls of a small rock alcove. Some of the carvings look strangely bright because a Disney film crew painted over them for the 1961 film Chico, the Misunderstood Coyote. View them from the signs and don’t touch the rock.

It’s one of the best trails in the park for spotting wildlife, especially when there’s water behind the dam. You’re most likely to catch a glimpse of elusive desert bighorn sheep here, along with lizards and plenty of birds. Cholla cacti, Joshua trees, and granite mounds jutting from the earth are standard parts of the scenery along this trek.

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Step back into the gold rush at Wall Street Mill

Distance: about 2 miles out and back

Elevation gain: minimal

Time: 1 to 2 hours

Difficulty: moderate (exposed, little shade)

Trailhead: Barker Dam car park, or a dirt car park off Queen Valley Road

The Wall Street Mill trail offers scenic beauty and historical significance: I’d say that’s two birds with one stone. It’s one fascinating trek. You’ll find the rusty remains of old cars, trucks and mining equipment slowly decaying into the desert sands along the way, as well as Joshua trees and boulders.

The biggest pay-off for this hike is the mill itself. Rancher and miner Bill Keys built it in 1933 with equipment hauled from Pinon Wells, and used its two-stamp machinery to crush gold ore from local mines. It’s superbly well preserved, the only mill of its kind in the area that survives intact, and makes for the ultimate ghost town, gold rush statement. It’s even on the National Register of Historic Places.

Look out for a small stone marker along the way. It records a 1943 dispute over access to the mill in which Keys shot his neighbour Worth Bagley; Keys served five years in San Quentin before new evidence won his release and, later, a full pardon.

The trail is almost flat, so it isn’t too intense, but it’s exposed, so either attempt it early or late in the day to avoid the sweltering heat. Leave every artefact where you find it.

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Summit Ryan Mountain for 360-degree views

Distance: 3 miles out and back

Elevation gain: 1,050 feet

Time: 1.5 to 2.5 hours

Difficulty: strenuous

Trailhead: Ryan Mountain car park, between Sheep Pass and Ryan Campground

Fancy an aerial view of the park? The Ryan Mountain hike is one of the must-do trails here. Take note, though: hiking this baby is no joke. It’ll leave your thighs cramping and your calves crying. But that’s no reason to back down from a challenge.

Sure, it’s a steep, stepped climb with about 1,050 feet of elevation gain and no shade. But the 360-degree views from the 5,457-foot summit over the boulder formations, desert floor and Joshua trees below are astounding.

On a clear day, you can even see straight to the peaks of San Gorgonio and San Jacinto in the distance.

Maybe now you understand why I’m raving about this one. It’s worth it, even if you have to bring a ton of water and complete the hike earlier or later in the day when the sun isn’t at its most brutal. The park lists it as strenuous and advises against attempting it in summer heat.

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Squeeze through the slot canyon at the Hall of Horrors

Distance: 0.6-mile loop (about 0.8 miles with the slot canyons)

Elevation gain: about 100 feet

Time: 1 to 1.5 hours

Difficulty: easy walk, tricky scramble

Trailhead: Hall of Horrors car park, Park Boulevard, between Ryan Campground and Sheep Pass

Don’t worry, it’s not as terrifying as it sounds. But it is one of the most popular spots in the park for scrambling and climbing, thanks to its enormous boulder and rock piles. The walk around them is one of the easiest in the park, with about 100 feet of elevation gain.

But the real fun (for scramblers, anyway) is the boulder piles that the trail loops around, culminating in the famous Hall of Horrors area.

Here you’ll find giant stacks of boulders mashed together, hiding their treasure: the slot canyon. You’ll have to scramble up the jutting stones on the south-western side of the second boulder group to find the narrow crack, which can be pretty tricky. Of the two side-by-side openings, the left-hand one narrows to a few inches in places, so check you can climb back out before you commit. But once you do, it’s selfie-central for some incredible snapshots in this unique spot.

Speaking of selfies, it’s also one of the best places in the park to take pictures of the Joshua trees: they’re just ultra-photogenic along this trail.

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Find Face Rock on the Split Rock Loop

Distance: 2.5-mile loop

Elevation gain: 150 feet

Time: 1.5 to 2.5 hours

Difficulty: moderate

Trailhead: Split Rock picnic area, off Park Boulevard near Live Oak

If you’ve done the big names and want boulders without the crowds, the Split Rock Loop is a great next step. It starts at Split Rock itself, a huge boulder cleaved neatly in two, then winds through washes, Joshua trees and piles of granite that are far quieter than Skull Rock just down the road.

A short spur takes you to Face Rock, a weathered granite outcrop with an uncanny human profile. It’s a gentle loop with only a little climbing, so it’s a good choice for a longer walk with children, and the picnic tables at the trailhead make it an easy lunch stop.

Hike to the Lost Horse Mine

Distance: 4 miles out and back (or a 6.5-mile loop)

Elevation gain: 550 feet

Time: 2 to 3 hours (3 to 4 hours for the loop)

Difficulty: moderate (the loop is strenuous)

Trailhead: Lost Horse Mine trailhead, off Keys View Road

For a dose of gold rush drama, follow the old ore-hauling road to the Lost Horse Mine, one of the most successful mines in the area. Between 1894 and 1931 it produced more than 10,000 ounces of gold and 16,000 ounces of silver, crushed around the clock by a steam-powered ten-stamp mill that still stands on the hillside. The park describes it as one of the best preserved mills of its kind in the National Park Service.

The mine’s story is a good one, too: prospector Johnny Lang bought the claim in 1890, was later caught skimming gold from the mill and forced out, and died of exposure in 1925 near what is now Keys View Road.

The mine shafts are dangerous, so view everything from outside the fence. If you have more time, carry on round the 6.5-mile Lost Horse Loop for wide views over the park, and combine it with sunset at Keys View, just up the road.

Scramble up Mastodon Peak from Cottonwood Spring

Distance: 3-mile loop

Elevation gain: 375 feet

Time: 1.5 to 2.5 hours

Difficulty: moderate

Trailhead: Cottonwood Spring car park, south end of the park

If you’re expecting mastodon fossils while hiking here, you might leave disappointed: the peak is named for its shape, which looks a little like the head of the prehistoric elephant. But once you reach the viewpoint, all fossil fancies will slip away in the face of the incredible vistas below.

You won’t see many Joshua trees when you start the Mastodon Peak hike from Cottonwood Spring. This is the Colorado Desert, so odd-looking ocotillo and the fan palms of the spring dominate the scene instead. Near the top, you’ll hit a stage where some easy-to-moderate rock scrambling is necessary to reach the granite summit, so tighten those glutes and push those calves!

Once you reach the top, you’ll find the park laid out below you: scattered clumps of boulders and desert brush pockmark the landscape for miles, with purple hills in the distance and, on clear days, the Salton Sea. What a view.

On the way round, you’ll pass a surprise: the Mastodon Mine, an abandoned gold mine in pretty good preservation, so get your camera ready for some historical snapshots.

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Trek to the hidden palms of Lost Palms Oasis

Distance: 7.5 miles out and back

Elevation gain: 500 feet

Time: 5 to 6 hours

Difficulty: strenuous

Trailhead: Cottonwood Spring car park

The longest day hike in the south of the park shares its trailhead with Mastodon Peak, so you can combine the two. The trail rolls across sandy washes and low ridges of the Colorado Desert, then drops steeply into a remote canyon filled with California fan palms, one of only a handful of natural palm oases in the park.

It’s an isolated, quiet place where you may spot bighorn sheep coming down to drink. The descent into the canyon is the easy part: the climb back out comes when you’re tired, so save some energy and water for it. There’s no shade for most of the way, so only attempt it in the cooler months and start early.

Descend to the palm canyon at Fortynine Palms Oasis

Distance: 3 miles out and back

Elevation gain: 300 feet each way

Time: 2 to 3 hours

Difficulty: strenuous in heat

Trailhead: Fortynine Palms car park, Canyon Road, off Highway 62 near Twentynine Palms

Prepare yourself: rocky terrain and some scrambling are the name of the game on the Fortynine Palms Oasis hike. You immediately head uphill with barrel cacti to keep you company and a splendid view over Twentynine Palms below.

You’ll encounter plenty of rocks and boulders on this trail, which climbs over a ridge and back again, so good hiking shoes and poles are a must.

Bring sunscreen, too, because the trail is mostly smack-bang in the sun. And I promise, no matter how hardy you are, you’ll fry in the heat (been there, done that).

There is a portion towards the end of the trail that provides some rest, though. The next step is to descend into a cool, shaded canyon bursting with giant palm trees. This idyllic desert oasis is the perfect setting to enjoy a peaceful lunch, so make sure you bring one.

From there, you can scramble up the rocks at the trail’s end for a glimpse of the small oasis and a great view of the larger oasis next to it.

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Take on the Boy Scout Trail through the Wonderland of Rocks

Distance: 8 miles one way

Elevation gain: 1,190 feet

Time: about 6 hours

Difficulty: strenuous

Trailhead: Boy Scout trailhead on Park Boulevard (south end) or the Indian Cove backcountry board (north end)

Fair warning: you might need to organise a shuttle for the Boy Scout Trail unless you’re confident enough to do an out-and-back of 16 miles. Sure you can turn back at any point, but where’s the fun in that?

This is one of the best day hikes in the park, but starting as early as possible is best. The trail skirts the western edge of the Wonderland of Rocks, a maze of granite domes and boulders: tempting though it might be to explore them, stick to the marked path, as it’s easy to get lost.

Most of the 1,190 feet of elevation change is downhill if you start at the southern trailhead and finish at Indian Cove, which is why the park strongly recommends leaving a second car at the end. If you do it as an out-and-back instead, you’ll feel the climb on the way back, so save some energy for the return journey, especially as stretches of the trail are loose sand.

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Tips for hiking in Joshua Tree

• Entry and fees: the park charges $30 per vehicle, $25 per motorbike or $15 per person on foot or by bike, valid for seven days, with no timed-entry reservation. The America the Beautiful pass costs $80 for US residents and $250 for non-residents, and Joshua Tree isn’t one of the 11 parks that added a $100 surcharge for international visitors in 2026. The entrance stations take cards only. The West Entrance is closest to the most famous trails, with the Joshua Tree Visitor Center just outside it in town; pick up the free park map and newspaper there, or download the NPS app for offline maps, as there’s no phone signal on most trails.
• Beat the heat: October to May is the best time to hit the trails without working up too much of a sweat. Summer days pass 100°F (38°C), the park advises avoiding hikes between 10am and 5pm, and it says strenuous trails such as Ryan Mountain shouldn’t be attempted in the heat. Winter nights drop below freezing, so pack layers.
• Water and snacks: there are no shops or restaurants inside the park and only a few places to fill up, so fill your water bottles before you arrive (don’t forget them in the car), carry at least a litre each even for short walks, and pack all the trail treats you need for your day of exploration. Fill up with fuel too: there are no petrol stations inside the park.
• Kit: the terrain is pretty spiky, so toss those open-toed sandals and bring out the proper footwear and maybe some hiking poles. If you’re just planning on doing easier hikes or nature trails, you can get away with tennis shoes. But for any hike over 2 miles, I wouldn’t recommend anything less than an uber-comfy pair of hiking shoes. Don’t forget to protect that lovely skin, either: bring high-SPF sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses to protect your delicate eyes.
• Wildlife and rules: rattlesnakes are the creatures to watch for in warm months, so look where you put your hands when scrambling. Black bears are very rarely seen, but if you’re one of the unlucky few to run into one, back away slowly, make yourself look bigger by waving your arms and make a noise to scare it off. Whatever you do, don’t run. Dogs aren’t allowed on any trail except the paved Oasis of Mara path, and you should tell someone your route before you set off.

Where to stay

The town of Joshua Tree, next to the West Entrance, is the best base for these hikes, with Yucca Valley, Pioneertown and Twentynine Palms close by and Palm Springs about an hour away.

• AutoCamp Joshua Tree (Joshua Tree): Airstream trailers and cabins on the edge of town, a short drive from the West Entrance.
• Sacred Sands (Joshua Tree): a guest house with just two rooms, each with a private patio, hot tub and outdoor shower, just outside the West Entrance.
• Pioneertown Motel (Pioneertown): a laid-back motel in a former Old West film set, a short walk from Pappy and Harriet’s.

Prefer to sleep in the park? My guide to the best things to do in Joshua Tree covers the campgrounds and how to book them.

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Read next

• Brilliant things to do in Joshua Tree National Park
• 3 days in Joshua Tree: the perfect Joshua Tree itinerary
• The best time to visit Joshua Tree National Park
• Where to go glamping in Joshua Tree National Park
• Stunning hikes in Palm Springs
• The ultimate California road trip
• The best national parks in California, the only state with nine of them

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