Park Overview
Joshua Tree National Park, also known as J-Tree by locals, is a mesmerizing land where two deserts and ecosystems come together to create fascinating geologic displays in California’s deserts. And although it may appear harsh, it is a fragile landscape; home to a wide array of flora and fauna, history and culture.
Quick Facts
Region: Southeastern California – about 140 mi. east of LA
Park Size: 794,000 acres
Established: October 31, 1994
Top Attractions
5. Hidden Valley
A family-friendly one-mile loop walking/hiking trail that takes you through impressive boulders rumored to have been a cattle rustler’s hideout. If you want to take it up a notch, Hidden Valley is a popular area for rock climbing, as well. Because of its unique location, Hidden Valley is home to a variety of animals and plants that don’t typically cohabitate in other areas of the park.
4. Keys Ranch
While most miners and ranchers found desert life too unforgiving and harsh, a pioneer named William F. Keys not only survived, but thrived, on his desert homestead. Keys ran the Desert Queen Mine for several years and also owned several mining claims, ran a mill, and built a schoolhouse, workshop, and store. He and his wife raised their children, ran a ranch, and even built a lake to sustain their venture. Today, visitors enjoy tours through the buildings and relics this amazing family left behind.
3. Keys View
This lookout on the crest of the Little San Bernardino Mountains is popular for its amazing views of the Coachella Valley, Palm Springs, and the Salton Sea. If the day is clear, peer through your binoculars for a glimpse of Mountain Signal, located over 90 miles away in Mexico.
2. Rock Climbing and Viewing
Whether you’re a beginner or an avid climber, Joshua Tree is the perfect place to explore. With over 8,000 climbing routes that cover a range of skill levels, J-Tree has something for everyone. Check out Arch Rock, Hall of Horrors, the Hidden Valley area, and more. And if you prefer the security of solid ground, you’ll still love marveling at these fascinating formations, and watching the adventurers explore them.
1. 49 Palms Oasis
This 3-mile trail follows a Native American path up over a small ridge that eventually leads you to an oasis of California fan palms, clear pools, and even a trickling spring. The area serves as a watering hole for many animals such as bighorn sheep and coyotes. It’s also a favorite of birdwatchers- keep an eye out for orange- and black-hooded orioles, Gambel’s quail, and many more.
The park offers a myriad of outdoor adventures such as backpacking, hiking, camping, birding, and horseback riding, to name a few. You can also take advantage of the ranger-led programs to get an in-depth understanding of everything the park has to offer. There are also a number of Visitor Centers to help you learn about the park and plan your trip.
Check out the Joshua Tree National Park website for up-to-date information on fees, hours of operation, and park alerts, as well as helpful park tips.
Brief History
Human history in the Joshua Tree region can be traced back over 5,000 years. The first people known to inhabit the area were the Pinto Culture, believed to be part of the first group of people to inhabit the Southwestern U.S.
Later, nomadic groups of Native Americans such as the Serrano, Cahuilla, and Chemehuevi seasonally gathered nuts, beans, acorns, and cactus fruits.
The 1800’s saw cattlemen grazing their cows on the land. They were soon followed by miners, many of whom arrived before the California Gold Rush of 1849.
Homesteaders began filing land claims with the government during the 1900’s and filled the area with cabins, wells, and crops. However, desert life proved too difficult for most- crops failed, wells ran dry, and conflicts became common- and much of the area was abandoned.
The region was largely underappreciated until Minerva Hoyt, an American socialite and activist, took up the cause of protecting the desert’s fragile plants and land. She hired numerous professionals, served on commissions, and advocated tirelessly for the designation of the region as a national park. Thanks to her efforts, President Roosevelt established Joshua Tree National Monument in 1936. It was elevated to the status of National Park in 1994.
Animals, Plants, & Environment
Joshua Tree is home to 813 species of plants, 52 mammal species, 44 reptile species, and 250 bird species. The resident desert tortoise is currently listed as threatened, and several plants are either of special concern, endangered, or threatened.
Lizards, birds, and ground squirrels are more active during the day; but the majority of the park’s animals roam at night when temperatures are lower. Common nocturnal animals include bighorn sheep, coyotes, jackrabbits, rats, and snakes.
Two deserts converge here- the Mojave and the Colorado- and divide the park into two ecosystems of contrasting appearance due to elevational differences.
The Mojave, in the western section of the park, is referred to as the high desert and is slightly wetter and cooler than its lower-lying neighbor. Here, the Joshua Tree, for which the park is named, flourishes in spots. It is said that Mormon pioneers saw the limbs of the tree as resembling the outstretched arms of Joshua guiding them to the promised land. Not all agreed with this summation, however; one early explorer called them “the most repulsive tree in the vegetable Kingdom”.
The landscape in the Mojave region of the park includes hills of bare rocks and loose boulders, which give the land a somewhat otherworldly appearance.
The Colorado, or low desert, occupies the eastern region of the park and is home to large numbers of the creosote bush, saltbush, and mixed scrub such as yucca and cholla cactus. Additionally, the only palm tree native to California, the California fan palm, can be found in five places in the park.
The southeastern side of the Colorado Desert area also hosts desert dunes and sandy-soil grasslands.
