National Park · CA

Things to do in Joshua Tree

The National Park Service lists 48 things to do at Joshua Tree National Park. 41 have no extra fee, 41 need no reservation, and 5 allow pets. Each listing links to the full NPS page. Data is from the NPS snapshot of Oct 28, 2026.

Updated · NPS Data API

All (48) Hiking (25)Backcountry Camping (6)Rock Climbing (4)Guided Tours (3)Arts and Culture (3)Scenic Driving (2)Junior Ranger Program (1)Biking (1)Birdwatching (1)Horseback Riding (1)Stargazing (1)
A park ranger talks to a group of visitors in front of a rustic building
Photo: NPS/Carmen Aurrecoechea

Attend a Keys Ranch Tour

Take a tour of Keys Ranch with a park ranger.

90-120 Minutes Winter, Spring, Fall Reservation required Fee applies

Guided Tours

A landscape filled with hill and mountain peaks topped with desert shrubs.
Photo: NPS/Renata Harrison

Black Rock Zone Backpacking

Backpack in the Black Rock Zone at Joshua Tree National Park. The Black Rock Zone features a wide variety of hiking trails through mountains, washes, ravines, and valleys.

2-15 Days Year-round Reservation required Fee applies

Backcountry Camping

A Jeep turns from one dirt road to another next to a boundary marker.
Photo: NPS/Emily Hassell

Drive 4x4 Roads

Joshua Tree offers many miles of backcountry dirt roads for four-wheel drive vehicles to explore.

1-10 Hours Year-round Pets allowed

Scenic Driving

A hiker walking along a barren trail with desert vegetation and small boulders.
Photo: NPS / Hannah Schwalbe

Hike Arch Rock

Hike the Arch Rock Trail, a lollipop trail through sandy and rocky terrain. A .6-mile trail leads to a .2-mile loop. The arch is located halfway along the loop. The full hike is 1.4 miles.

45-90 Minutes Winter, Spring, Fall

Hiking

A wooden bridge over a wash with a valley filled with desert vegetation in the background.
Photo: NPS / Preston Jordan Jr.

Hike Bajada Trail

Enjoy this short, easy trail through the Colorado desert.

15-30 Minutes Winter, Spring, Fall

Hiking

Three hikers walking along a dirt path running between large boulders.
Photo: NPS / Kelsey Graczyk

Hike Barker Dam Trail

Enjoy an easy 1.1 mile hike on the Barker Dam Nature Trail.

30-60 Minutes Year-round

Hiking

Hikers on a dirt trail going between Joshua trees and shrubs heading towards a rock formation.
Photo: NPS / Hannah Schwalbe

Hike Boy Scout Trail

Explore the Wonderland of Rocks on the Boy Scout Trail.

1-10 Hours Year-round

Hiking

Desert shrubs and Joshua trees in the foreground and rock formations and mountains in the background
Photo: NPS / Preston Jordan Jr.

Hike Cap Rock

An easy .4-mile loop hike

15-45 Minutes Year-round

Hiking

A person walking a sidewalk next to a fence in front of chollas with the sun setting over mountains.
Photo: NPS / Alison Taggart-Barone

Hike Cholla Cactus Garden

An easy quarter mile hike through a cholla patch along Pinto Basin Road.

15-30 Minutes Year-round

Hiking

A valley filled with Mojave yuccas and desert vegetation with mountains in the backbround.
Photo: NPS / Brad Sutton

Hike Contact Mine

Enjoy a secluded hike to a historic mining site.

2-3 Hours Winter, Spring, Fall

Hiking

A hiker on a dirt trail headed towards a large rock formation in the distance.
Photo: NPS / Emily Hassell

Hike Mastodon Peak

A moderate three mile loop with 375 feet of elevation gain.

2-3 Hours Winter, Spring, Fall

Hiking

Two people on a paved trail heading towards a clump of fan palms with mountains in the distance.
Photo: NPS / Brad Sutton

Hike Oasis of Mara

An easy half mile walk to a desert oasis.

30-45 Minutes Year-round Pets allowed

Hiking

A large Joshua tree in the middle of a trail through a desert landscape.
Photo: NPS / Renata Harrison

Hike Panorama Loop Trail

Hike up a sandy wash, then follow the ridgeline of the Little San Bernardino Mountains. Enjoy scenic views, dense Joshua tree forest, and pinyon-juniper woodland. This trail is 6.6 miles and has over a 1,000 feet of elevation gain.

3-5 Hours Winter, Spring, Fall

Hiking

A person hiking a dirt trail on a mountain with mountains in the distance.
Photo: NPS / Alison Taggart-Barone

Hike Ryan Mountain

A popular, steep, three mile out and back hike with wide panoramic views.

2-3 Hours Winter, Spring, Fall

Hiking

A hiker walking on a dirt trail with rocks in the background
Photo: NPS / Hannah Schwalbe

Hike Skull Rock

A relatively flat, 1.7-mile loop trail. Hike through the large, granite boulder fields around the Jumbo Rocks area, including one near Park Boulevard that closely resembles a Skull.

1-2 Hours Winter, Spring, Fall

Hiking

A man on a trail holds a camera and smiles towards a person kneeling in front of a rock
Photo: NPS / Emily Hassell

Hike Split Rock

Split Rock is a 2.5 mile loop trail with 150 feet of elevation gain and beautiful desert views.

90-150 Minutes Winter, Spring, Fall

Hiking

A dirt path heading past a sign, Joshua trees, small trees, and shrubs towards large rock formations
Photo: NPS / Hannah Schwalbe

Hike Wall Street Mill

A moderate two mile out and back hike to an old mill site.

45-120 Minutes Winter, Spring, Fall

Hiking

wo hikers walk along a sandy trail surrounded by golden vegetation and tall granite rock formations
Photo: NPS / Emily Hassell

Hike Willow Hole

Enjoy a scenic hike into the Wonderland of Rocks.

3-5 Hours Winter, Spring, Fall

Hiking

Before you go

Check current alerts and closures, entrance fees and operating hours for Joshua Tree. Programs and tours can change with the season or be cancelled on short notice — confirm on the NPS page before you plan around one.

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