9 Beautiful Joshua Tree Hikes For Unforgettable Views

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Looking for the best Joshua Tree hikes? You have come to the right place. Joshua Tree National Park in California has become one of our favorite go-to trips – either as a day trip or for a last minute weekend getaway. Through our many visits, we have found a few trails that we return to again and again. Below are the best Joshua Tree hikes for first timers with or without kids. These hikes can be completed by people of almost all fitness levels and are especially great for families as the interpretive trails provide great learning opportunities. Although the trails are family friendly, they are not stroller friendly. Much of the trails throughout Joshua Tree tend to be loose sand, which can be quite deep in areas making it difficult for a stroller to roll.

Information on Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park is located in southern California just 2 hours from Los Angeles. Many visitors make a day trip from nearby Palm Springs, however it is also doable from LA as a day trip even.

Joshua Tree is named after a unique “tree”, which is actually a succulent! The Yucca brevifolia, known as a Joshua Tree only lives in a few high places in the Mojave Desert. These cool looking trees can live for up to 150 years. While this is not all Joshua Tree National Park has to offer, they are a bonus sight that must be seen. 

While visiting the park you may notice that the environment changes. There are three distinct ecosystems: the Mojave desert, the Colorado desert, and a high-altitude Pinyon and Juniper Tree zone. Here you will notice that you only see Joshua Trees in the Mojave area due to its altitude. Even though the desert can look sparse, there are 40 different species of reptiles, 70 breeds of mammal including Bighorn sheep, and an overwhelming 700 plant species that can be found here.

When to Visit

The best time to visit Joshua Tree is outside of the summer months as it can get extremely hot during June, July and August. Our favorite time to visit is in fall and early spring when the temperatures are cooler and the wildflowers are in bloom.

UNBELIEVABLE JOSHUA TREE HIKES 

Hiking in Joshua Tree is one of the most beautiful experiences you can have out in the desert. Getting out of your car and off the main roads can open up a new world filled with animals and plants you never knew existed out here. Below we share some of the most popular day hikes in Joshua Tree as well as a few to get you away from the crowds to experience something new you might not have seen before.

Barker Dam

Barker Dam - One of the best family friendly Joshua Tree HikesBarker Dam Trail is your rare chance to see water in the desert! However, due to the ongoing drought there is often not much water in the dam, but it’s still a fun little easy hike, especially for beginners. A relatively easy 1.5 mile hike that can be done as a loop or as an in/out trail to make it shorter.  To make this an in/out trail – once you reach the dam, return the way you came. Otherwise, continue on the loop trail back to the start.

The trail leads you to the dam and then through some of the old Keys Ranch land. The trail is not always well marked, however it is easy to find your way as there are usually plenty of people on the trail.

This interpretive trail is great for families in that you learn more about the history, plant and animal life in the area and throughout Joshua Tree. Don’t miss the petroglyphs on the rocks on the back end of the loop. This is one of the most popular hikes in Joshua tree, so expect to see crowds at times. 

If you haven’t picked up your Junior Ranger Booklet at the Visitor’s Center, do it! These are for kids and grown-ups, providing a fun way to learn more about the park and go home with a free souvenir!

Hidden Valley

Hidden Valley - Joshua Tree National Park HikingOne of our favorites and best hikes in Joshua Tree hikes is at Hidden Valley. This is a moderate 1 mile walk around varying terrain. There are flat areas and places to scramble over rocks. It is a great hike for kids, but not stroller friendly. At times you might feel you have lost the trail, no fear, you will meet up with it again fairly easily.

Take the path from the Hidden Valley Trail parking lot that leads between rock walls into Hidden Valley. Once you have climbed through this gap in the rocks, you will reach the sandy desert floor and a T-junction. Pick a direction and start along the loop. We tend to go left as there are more rock climbing opportunities earlier before the little legs get tired. The fun of this hike are the many off trail rock scrambling opportunities that little kids cannot resist! Scramble up some rocks, take detours and return to the trail as you wish. This is always one of our top recommendations for things to do in Joshua Tree no matter how many times you have visited!

Hidden Valley - Joshua Tree National Park HikingAdditionally, around the circle drive parking area are picnic tables (often in the shade), making this an ideal location to stop for lunch. Behind the picnic tables there are even more places for kids to run around, climb and explore the rock formations without even going on an actual hike.

Skull Rock & Jumbo Rocks Loop

Skull Rock - Joshua Tree National Park HikingMost people do not even bother with an actual hike here at Jumbo Rocks. Exploring Skull Rock Loop and the crevices and rock formations behind it tend to provide more than enough for many adventurers. This is one of the best places for kids, big and small, to spend a good deal of the day scrambling up and down the rough granite rocks.

However, if you do want a little more milage, this 1.7 mile loop will get you away from the crowds, into the Jumbo Rocks campground and provide a pleasant view back over the road towards Skull Rock.

Follow the well marked trail from Skull Rock, parallel to the road towards the campground. After passing through the campground, the camp road is the trail for a short while before reconnecting with the dirt trail leading back to where you started.

Desert Queen Mine & Eagle Cliff Boulder House

One of our all time favorite hikes in Joshua Tree takes in old mine entries and ends with a view into the Eagle Cliff Boulder House that is still in tact! This trail is one that has been kept under guard for many years as people didn’t want its awesomeness to reach the masses. I’ve seen it listed on more and more blogs, so I will join in and also add it here. This is really by far one of our favorite hikes in Joshua Tree. The scenery changes and offers unique views. The hike is less than 5 miles round trip but can feel quite far in the heat of the day. Go early or later in the day to avoid the scorching sun as there is no shade until you reach the boulder house. 

Upon arrival to the boulder house, please make sure to leave everything as you found it. Do not write on anything, take anything or move anything. This is such a unique place that has been left as is and it’s only fair to continue to keep it nice for future visitors. Otherwise, you never know the next time you visit it may be locked behind gates which would be sad for all of us. 

Bring a lunch or snacks as the boulder house area is a great place to refuel and relax before heading back down. 
Also note, that even though many trails in Joshua Tree are flat, this one does have a bit of elevation gain to get your heart pumping.

Ryan Ranch

Ryan Ranch - Joshua Tree National Park HikingRyan Ranch Trail is a flat, easy 1 mile out and back hike that leads to the remains of Ryan Ranch. Even for non-hikers, this is a fun and easy thing to do in Joshua Tree. Families will enjoy spending time to explore the old adobe brick buildings and looking for the broken windmill, old fencing, ‘trash’ left behind by the cattle rustlers and so much more.

The trail is flat with little to no elevation gain and well marked until you reach the remains of the ranch. The is little to no shade on this trail, so it’s best to avoid during the height of the day’s heat. This trail is not to be confused with Ryan Mountain. 

Indian Cove

Indian Cove - Joshua Tree National Park HikingFor visitors to Joshua Tree that want a little something different and to see a different side of the park, Indian Cove is a good place to head for a short walk. This Joshua Tree hike is actually just a short .6 loop trail with interpretive signs along the way. Be on the lookout for the elusive desert tortoise and road runners as they are known to be in this area! Have lunch or a snack on the nearby picnic tables.

This nature trail is not a commonly traversed trail except for people camping at the nearby camsite as it’s only accessible from the Twentynine Palms Highway, not from any other roads inside the park. If you are short on time, this is a great short hike if you don’t want to head all the way into Joshua Tree for the day. 

Click here for even more things to do in and around Joshua Tree as well as itinerary suggestions.

Palm Oasis

Palm Oasis - Joshua Tree National Park HikingIf you are entering Joshua Tree from the Cottonwood entrance, stop in at the ranger station here for your maps and Junior Ranger books before heading off on this 1 mile hike near Palm Oasis. The scenery here is very different to what you will see on other Joshua Tree hikes and is worth a quick look before venturing further into the park to the more popular areas. It is interesting hiking this area as you won’t see any Joshua Trees, instead you will Palm trees which need water – most often you won’t see standing water, but seeing the oasis, you know it’s there somewhere! This trail has little to no shade, so best to avoid during the hottest part of the day.

Silver Bell Mine

Silver Bell Mine - Joshua Tree National Park HikingOne of the best ways to get off the beaten track is to actually get off trail! Our son was super into learning more about the old mines in Joshua Tree on our last visit. A ranger at the Cottonwood Visitor Center told us about a short hike up to an abandoned mine just off the main road. It is the second exhibit sign past Cholla Cactus Garden (coming FROM Cottonwood Spring). Look up on the left and you will see the remains of the mine.

To reach the mine, start off from the exhibit sign, where you will wander through the open desert and shrubs for almost a mile. It looks so much closer, but as you walk, you realize the hill in the distance isn’t getting close very quickly! There is no real path here but you will see where others have tread to not destroy the landscape. As you continue towards the mountain you will see a narrow path up the side of the hill that leads to the mine. This path is well-worn, marked by rocks on the edges and easy to see.

Silver Bell Mine Rocks - Joshua Tree National Park HikingIt looks like a steep incline, but it’s actually not too bad. Note however, there is almost no shade, which can make it more difficult in the height of the day’s sun. Once you make it to the top, spend some time at the top exploring remnants of the old mine, including plenty of copper ore scattered and other colorful mineral rocks left by the abandoned mine.

There are no facilities here on the road and the trail is not signposted. It would be rare to see anyone else on this trail to be honest, but it is a well worn path and easy to navigate. About 2 miles round trip with approximately 400 feet of elevation.

Other Joshua Tree Hikes That Are Stroller Friendly 

Cholla Cactus Garden - A great family friendly joshua tree hikesIf you can’t handle carrying the little one far and they just won’t (or can’t) walk, there are five loop trails that are each half a mile or less.

  • Cholla Cactus Garden (best viewed at Sunset)
  • Bajada
  • Cap Rock
  • Oasis of Mara
  • Keys View (a great drive out for scenic views)

These four walks are all stroller friendly or easy for kids to maneuver. They are good alternatives to the above hikes if you are doing a quick drive through the park, but need something small to stretch the legs a bit, while also taking in some of the beauty of this spellbinding national park.

Don’t forget to get off the beaten path during your visit. Take a walk most anywhere you want. This is the beauty of Joshua Tree, you are free to roam any of the trails or non-trails you choose. It’s a beautiful park with so much to spark the imaginations of little minds.

For more detailed information about visiting Joshua Tree, see our recommendations for getting the most out of Joshua Tree on a one day visit.

Looking for a place to stay? There are some super cool glamping sites listed on VRBO  (see our post on glamping for our top picks) and GlampingHub.com as well as more traditional, in the quirky Joshua Tree way on Booking.com.


 

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8 Amazing Joshua Tree hikes for first timers with or without kids!

13 thoughts on “9 Beautiful Joshua Tree Hikes For Unforgettable Views”

  1. What a great article. we are considering taking a long weekend trip to Joshua Tree for new year’s…hopefully some camping! I’ll take this post with me for sure. Thanks as always for your wonderful tips, Karilyn!

    Reply
  2. Nice! I always hear people talk and write about Joshua Tree but never have I seen the actual areas broken down and explained. Thanks so much. I found this very helpful and will hold on to it for my next trip our west.

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  3. It seems like a good area to take hikes in with kids of all ages. I especially like how you included the stroller friendly hikes as well.

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  4. It’s an amazing place! During our long trip to USA, unfortunately we didn’t have enough time to go there, I hope next time, because these tress are so great!

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  5. Joshua Tree is only a short drive from us in Aliso Viejo yet we haven’t visited yet. I’m certain 2016 will be the year. We love hiking and there are some good family trails here for us.

    Reply
  6. Fantastic post about one of our favourite hiking destinations. We used to climb at J-Tree before kids and now we enjoy hiking there. The Barker Dam is such an accessible hike – love it for hikers young and old.

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  7. I remember Joshua Tree from my first US trip after I graduated. We didn’t stop to go out on a hike then since it was like 50 degrees Celsius or something. Perhaps I should revisit it sometime, when the temperature is a bit lower πŸ˜‰

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  8. It is cool if the areas allows you to pick hikes for everyone no meter if young or old. Area looks really interesting and also looks like it’s really hot there πŸ˜‰ No idea why o haven’t heard about Joshua Tree before.

    Reply
  9. Love this! We are going to Joshua Tree next week and are taking our 8 month old baby. I’m so excited to explore all the paths and see the gorgeous sites!

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  10. Love this! We are going to Joshua Tree next week and I’m totally naive to it! This article really got me excited to go and now I feel a little more prepared on what to expect! Thanks πŸ™‚

    Reply

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