Joshua Tree National Park

Days are typically clear with less than 25% humidity. Temperatures are most comfortable in the spring and fall, with an average high/low of 85° and 50°F (29° and 10°C) respectively. Winter brings cooler days, around 60°F (15°C), and freezing nights. It occasionally snows at higher elevations. Summers are hot, over 100°F (38°C) during the day and not cooling much below 85°F (29°C) until the early hours of the morning.

The park is always open and may be visited anytime of year. Visitation increases as temperatures moderate in the fall, peaks during spring wildflower season, and diminishes during the heat of summer.

Weather and Climate
Days are typically clear with less than 25 precent humidity. Temperatures are most comfortable in the spring and fall, with an average high/low of 85 and 50°F (29 and 10°C) respectively. Winter brings cooler days, around 60°F (15°C), and freezing nights. It occasionally snows at higher elevations. Summers are hot, over 100°F (38°C) during the day and not cooling much below 75°F (24°C) until the early hours of the morning.

Vehicle Permit: $15
7-Day Single Entry Permit: $5

Joshua Tree National Park offers visitors endless opportunities for exploration and discovery. Depending on the number of hours you have to spend, your interests and energy, here are some ideas to consider:

If you have four hours or less, begin your tour at a visitor center where park staff will be happy to help you plan your visit. With limited time you may want to confine your sightseeing to the main park roads. Many pullouts with wayside exhibits dot these roads. There are 12 self-guiding nature trails. Consider experiencing at least one of these walks during a short park visit. On clear days the vista from Keys View extends beyond Salton Sea to Mexico and is well worth the additional 20-minute drive.

If you plan to spend an entire day there will be time to sample one or more hiking trails. A ranger program will add enjoyment and understanding to your visit. Or, October through May, call ahead and reserve a spot on the popular Keys Ranch guided walking tour. If solitude is what you are after, plan an all-day hike into the backcountry. If you would like to experience the desert from the seat of a mountain bike, the park offers an extensive network of dirt roads that make for less crowded and safer cycling than the paved main roads. Joshua Tree is a popular rock-climbing area. Many visitors enjoy just watching the climbers in action.

With more than one day in the park your options increase. There are nine campgrounds and backcountry camping is permitted. For “peak baggers,” the park has ten mountains greater than 5,000 feet (1,524 m) in elevation. Or make it your goal to hike to all five of the park's fan palm oases. Other trails lead you to remnants of the gold mining era, a colorful part of the park’s cultural history. Whatever you choose, your time will be rewarding. The desert holds much more than what is readily apparent to the casual observer.

A note of caution: The desert, fascinating as it is, can be life-threatening for those unfamiliar with its potential dangers. It is essential that you carry water with you—even if you are only driving through. Cars break down; keys get locked inside; accidents happen.

Campsites are limited to six people, three tents, and two cars. Group sites accommodate 10 to 60 people. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire grate. Water and flush toilets are available in Black Rock and Cottonwood campgrounds. Showers are not available.

Water is available at the Oasis Visitor Center, Indian Cove Ranger Station, West Entrance, and Black Rock and Cottonwood campgrounds.

Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Generator use is limited to six hours a day: 7 to 9 a.m., noon to 2 p.m., and 5 to 7 p.m.

Food-storage containers capable of preventing access by wildlife are required. Any scented or odorous items must be similarly stored.

Campfires: All vegetation in the park is protected. If you want to make a campfire, bring your own firewood. Fire grates are provided.

Reservations may be made online for sites at Black Rock, Indian Cove, and all group sites, or you may call 1-877-444-6777.

Other campgrounds are first-come, first-served and fill quickly on weekends and during spring break. The park also offers backcountry camping.

RVs: There are no hookups for recreational vehicles. Black Rock and Cottonwood have dump stations. At Hidden Valley and all group sites, motorhomes and trailers cannot exceed 25 feet. At White Tank Campground the 25-foot limitation includes the towing vehicle.

Camping Limits: There is a 30-day camping limit each year. However, only 14 nights total may occur from October through May.

Overflow Camping: There is no overflow camping in the park, however there are some BLM areas nearby.

Joshua Tree offers an extensive network of trails of varying length and difficulty.

The Boy Scout Hiking and Equestrian Trail extends eight miles from the Indian Cove backcountry registration board through a sandy wash, climbing through steep mountains and rocky canyons as it winds around the western edge of the Wonderland of Rocks to the Keys West backcountry registration board. You must park and register at a backcountry registration board if you will be out overnight.

Joshua Tree welcomes climbers and bouldering enthusiasts from around the world. This high desert monzogranite climbing mecca is famous for its traditional-style crack, slab, and steep-face climbing. With more than 400 climbing formations and 8,000 climbing routes, Joshua Tree offers challenging climbs for all levels of climbing ability. It is truly a world-class climbing destination.

If you are new to rock climbing and bouldering, please be sure that you are properly trained and equipped before you engage in these activities. You may wish to purchase a climbing guide or hiking map if you are unfamiliar with the park. They are available at park visitor centers and at outdoor shops in the surrounding communities. Information about commercial guide services can be found on the Internet and at local climbing stores.

Tread Lightly Fifty years ago, the impact of rock climbers at Joshua Tree was minimal, but today the park hosts hundreds of climbers and boulderers on a busy weekend. We must all do our part to protect this fragile desert environment, or it will cease to be a viable habitat for plants and animals, a valuable research area for scientisits, and a welcoming place for climbers to enjoy. Treading lightly is everyone’s responsibility.

Be considerate—ask permission if you wish to climb in a campsite that is occupied.

Pack out your trash—all of it: tape, chalk pieces, cigarette butts, micro-food articles and wrappers, and fruit peels and cores (they don’t decompose in this arid environment). Please don’t create a mess by dumping your trash into a pit toilet or leaving it next to a full dumpster or recycle bin. Pit toilets have to be pumped and filling them with trash makes the job (aren’t you glad it’s not yours?) difficult, to say the least. Trash left outside dumpsters attracts ravens; ravens eat baby tortoises, and the desert tortoise is already on the edge of extinction. Leave your campsite and your climbing area cleaner than when you found it. Better yet, leave no trace!

Plants and Soils Multiple approach paths, called “social trails,” to the same cliff or boulder damage fragile desert plants and soils. Cryptobiotic soils that contain micro-organisms help to keep the sand in place and provide nutrients and moisture so plants can grow. When you walk on cryptobiotic soil, the micro-organisms die, so don’t create a new path—even if it is the shortest distance to your climb—when a well-worn approach already exists. Walk on rock surfaces and in washes rather than trampling undisturbed soil.

Use your crash pad carefully to prevent damage to plants near the base of climbs. Carry it rather than dragging it across the ground. Place it so that plants are not broken or crushed when a boulderer lands on it.

Don’t be guilty of “large group sprawl.” Limit the number of bodies around the boulder and you will limit the damage to the area surrounding the boulder. If several people are already bouldering in the area of your choice, look for someplace better.

Cultural Artifacts Joshua Tree has a rich cultural history and protects significant artifacts from historic and prehistoric American Indian groups. By law, archeological and historic sites and artifacts may not be disturbed. This includes rock art (pictographs and petroglyphs), habitation sites (rock shelters and camping sites), and cultural artifacts (pottery vessels and sherds, projectile points, stone tools, beads, etc.) While taking a single piece (sherd) of broken pottery may not seem wrong, it could provide the clue an archeologist needs to accurately interpret the activities of American Indians in this area.

Climbing within 50 feet of rock art is prohibited. Pictographs (paintings) and petroglyphs (carvings) are easily damaged and should not be touched. Skin oils, chalk, and boot rubber hasten the deterioration of these irreplaceable cultural artifacts. So does fire, never start a fire in a rock shelter.

Animals In order to protect sensitive wildlife habitat, the entire Wonderland of Rocks is closed to overnight use. This allows the desert bighorn sheep and other animals to visit water sources without being disturbed. Pets are banned from the backcountry. The presence of carnivores, such as domestic dogs, inhibits the feeding, travel, and reproductive cycles of animals who must struggle to survive in the wild. Even leashed dogs cause extra stress on wild animals and are only allowed in campgrounds and within 100 feet of designated roads.

Joshua Tree is home to about 250 bird species, including several birds of prey (raptors). Occasionally a climbing route will be closed during nesting season to protect these birds. Closure notices are posted in the area of the closure, at park visitor centers, at entrance stations, and at local climbing shops. If you encounter nesting raptors while climbing, please inform park staff and avoid the area.

Rock Formations Chipping, scraping, gardening, comfortizing, and gluing holds is prohibited. Minimize the use of chalk and brush it off after bouldering sessions to minimize the visual impact.

Closed to Climbing Six areas of the park are closed to rock climbing due to their proximity to sensitive resources or private property. They include: "Energy Crisis" on the east side of "Little Hunk," the "Schwarzenegger Wall," the "Pictograph Boulder" at the base of Queen Mountain, and within 50 feet of "Chicken Wing," "Heavy Metal," and "Hell Flake" in the "Indian Wave" boulder area. The private property across from the Hemingway parking area is closed to climbing, as is the Keys Ranch property. Visitors to the ranch must be accompanied by a park ranger; scheduled tours are available.

Fixed Anchors The rules that govern the placement of fixed anchors are complex. Please study them carefully as you are responsible for following them.

A fixed anchor is defined as any piece of climbing equipment that is left in place to facilitate a safe ascent or rappel. Examples include, but are not limited to, bolts, pitons, and slings. Only place fixed anchors as a last resort. Before placing fixed anchors on a route, think seriously about whether the route warrants them. Joshua Tree has a lot of top-rope routes, many of which are worth climbing, but not worth bolting.

Fixed Anchor Specifications The local climbing community suggests stainless steel hangers and bolts that are at least three-eights-inch in diameter and two and one-half inches in length. Please minimize visual impacts by camouflaging fixed anchors.

Fixed Anchors in Non-Wilderness Areas You are not required to have a permit to place new, or replace existing, fixed anchors in non-wilderness. However, please consider the impacts of new fixed anchors on the quality of existing climbing routes, natural, historical, and archeological resources, and the experience of other visitors. A “fixed anchor checklist” was devised by the park, with advice from local climbers and other interested persons, to help you evaluate the potential impact of your proposed route. It is available at entrance stations, visitor centers, and online.

Fixed Anchors in Wilderness Areas Fixed anchors may be replaced, anchor for anchor, in wilderness. A permit is required to place new fixed anchors in wilderness. Contact the special-use office at 760-367-5545 to request a permit application.

Over 75 percent of the park is Congressionally-designated wilderness. Climbers are responsible for knowing where wilderness boundaries are located. A list of climbs and whether they are inside or outside of designated wilderness is available online. If you are unsure about a particular location, contact a park ranger.

Fixed Anchor-Free Zones Fixed anchors may not be placed or replaced in fixed anchor-free zones. Additionally, the Barker Dam area, a popular destination for many park visitors, has been designated a fixed anchor-free zone to maintain its aesthetic value for visitors. Fixed anchors may not be placed between the parking lot and the dam. If you wish to place fixed anchors in the surrounding area, make sure to identify the boundaries first.

Power drills Power drills may not be used without a permit. You may contact the special-use office at 760-367-5545 to learn more about the permitting process.

Climbing Safety Rock climbing can be a dangerous activity. The National Park Service does not maintain climbing routes or associated climbing gear and cannot guarantee your safety. You climb at your own risk.

Most climbing in Joshua Tree National Park requires traditional climbing gear. Fixed anchors for top-roping are limited. Helmets are advised for all climbing activity in the park.

Emergencies Volunteers and park staff train together to provide search and rescue services in the park. In an emergency call the park dispatcher direct at 909-383-5651, or call 911. Be prepared to tell the dispatcher the rock formation and climbing route names, the nearest landmark, and a meeting place so that you can direct rescuers to the accident site.

Cell phone service is limited within the park. Emergency-only phones are located at the Intersection Rock parking lot next to Hidden Valley Campground and at the ranger station in Indian Cove. Pay phones are located in the village of Joshua Tree and at the Oasis Visitor Center in Twentynine Palms.

Please report all climbing related injuries to park staff, even those that do not require assistance.

Birding

Residents, Migrants, and Nesters

Joshua Tree’s resident bird species, such as Greater Roadrunner, Phainopepla, Mockingbird, Verdin, Cactus Wren, Rock Wren, Mourning Dove, Le Conte’s Thrasher, and Gambel’s Quail can be sighted in the park throughout the year. The park’s winter migrants: White-Crowned Sparrow, Dark-Eyed Junco, Sage Sparrow, Cedar Waxwing, American Robin, and Hermit Thrush will remain in the park into March. Along about the time the winter migratory species are departing, other species will begin to migrate into the area for spring and summer. This group includes summer nesting species such as Bendire’s Thrasher, Ash-Throated Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Scott’s Oriole, Northern Oriole, and Western Bluebird.

Transients

A brightly colored bunch of warblers: Wilson’s, Black-Throated Gray, Nashville, Mac Gillivray’s, Yellow, Yellow-rumped (a species also here in winter), and Orange-crowned are among the species that just pass through the park. Other transients are Black-Headed Grosbeaks, Western Tanagers, Indigo Buntings, and Lazuli Buntings. In addition to these smaller migrants, the park hosts a migration of birds of prey: Sharp-Shinned Hawk, Rough-Legged Hawk, Northern Harrier, Osprey and Swainson’s Hawk. There are several resident hawks as well: Red-Tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Cooper’s Hawk, and Prairie Falcon.

Unusual Sightings

Occasionally groups of 200 or more turkey vultures will spend the night in the trees at the Oasis of Mara during their spring migration. They present quite a sight especially with their wings slightly spread, warming in the early morning sun. An occasional shore bird also finds its way into Joshua Tree during spring. Do not be too surprised if you see a Black-necked Stilt or an Eared Grebe standing on a park road. Grebes have their feet placed so far to the back of their bodies they cannot make a running takeoff on land—once grounded, they are stranded. Please report any sightings to park personnel so the stranded bird can be transported safely to a water site.

Where to Look

Fan palm oases, and water impoundments are good places to search for birds. Even “lakes” that are dry, such as Barker Dam, offer forage vegetation for birds. The Oasis of Mara, including the 29 Palms Inn at the west end, is a good bird viewing area. Cottonwood Spring has both cottonwood trees and fan palms to provide vegetation and shelter for a number of birds. Lost Palms Oasis, 49 Palms Oasis, and the riparian habitat associated with Smith Water Canyon require more extensive hiking but provide good birding as well. When in the high desert areas of the park take a walk or two in the Queen and Lost Horse valleys and look for Ladder-Backed Woodpecker, Red-Tailed Hawk, Oak Titmouse, Bushtit, Black-Tailed and Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers, Black-Throated Sparrow, and Sage Sparrow.

Pickup a Checklist
Interested visitors can stop at a visitor center and pick up a bird checklist that will indicate the likelihood of a particular species being observed during each season. Also ask about any interesting bird sightings or report any unusual sightings you might make. Enjoy the park and its birds.

Wildflower Viewing

Wildflowers When and Where

The extent and timing of spring wildflower blooms in Joshua Tree National Park may vary from one year to the next. Fall and winter precipitation and spring temperatures are key environmental factors affecting the spring blooming period. Normally desert annuals germinate between September and December. Many need a good soaking rain to get started.

In addition to rains at the right time, plants also require warm-enough temperatures before flower stalks will be produced. Green-leaf rosettes may cover the ground in January; however, flower stalks wait until temperatures rise.

Wildflowers may begin blooming in the lower elevations of the Pinto Basin and along the park’s south boundary in February and at higher elevations in March and April. Desert regions above 5,000 feet may have plants blooming as late as June.

Horseback riding is a popular way to experience Joshua Tree National Park for those who bring their own horses. However, because of the special requirements for horses in this environment, care should be taken in planning your trip. The lack of available drinking water is both a challenge and a limitation.

Designated Trails

The Backcountry and Wilderness Management Plan provides for 253 miles of equestrian trails and trail corridors that traverse open lands, canyon bottoms, and dry washes. Many riding trails are already open, clearly marked, and ready to be enjoyed. Other trails are in various states of development. Trail maps for the west entrance area and for the Black Rock Canyon area are available.

Camping and Backcountry Use

Ryan and Black Rock campgrounds have designated areas for horses and stock animals. A $10 per night fee is charged at Black Rock. A $5.00 per night fee is charged at Ryan; water is not available.

A permit is required to camp with stock in the backcountry. Grazing is not permitted in the park. While in the backcountry, stock animals are restricted to pellet feed. Manure must be removed from campgrounds and trailheads.

Travel Restrictions

Stock use is limited to horses and mules and is restricted to designated equestrian trails and corridors, open dirt roads, and shoulders of paved roads. Riders should travel single file to reduce damage to soil and vegetation. Stock animals are not permitted within ¼ mile of any natural or constructed water source. Horses and other stock are not permitted on nature trails, in the Wonderland of Rocks, in campgrounds, in picnic areas, or at visitor centers.

Access and Staging

In addition to the west entrance station, horse riders in the west entrance vicinity, may enter the park at Quail Wash, Cactus Cove View, and Burro Access.

In the Black Rock Canyon area, riders may enter at the Hi-View Nature Trail, Machris Wash, Long Canyon, and Little Long Canyon.

Staging for horses is available at the Boy Scout trailhead in Indian Cove, the west entrance borrow pit, Lower Covington Flats picnic area, Twin Tanks, Geology Tour Road, north entrance, as well as Black Rock and Ryan horse camps. Trailers may also be parked in other areas as long as they do not obstruct traffic.

Bike riding in the park is restricted to roads open to vehicles. The park’s Backcountry and Wilderness Management Plan designates approximately 29 miles of trails for non-motorized bike use, however, the new trails cannot be used until Congress gives its approval. In the meanwhile, the park's backcountry roads offer opportunities to explore many areas.

Biking Safety

• Carry plenty of water, at least one gallon per person per day—two for extended or uphill trips.
• Wear a helmet. If you take a spill your brain will thank you.
• Ride with caution: Park roads are narrow with sandy shoulders, bumps, and potholes.
• Watch for RVs and trucks with extended side-view mirrors.
• Wear reflective clothing after dark.

Within its 800,000 acres, spanning two deserts and three of California’s ecoregions, Joshua Tree National Park provides visitors destinations displaying a variety of landforms, vegetation communities, and elevations.

Some offer good hiking, some good birding, and still others the opportunity to catch sight, if you are lucky, of a bighorn sheep or desert tortoise. Several have campgrounds and picnic areas. Some offer spectacular views.