Joshua Tree National Park
A cool experience with 6 to 10 mile hikes
Driving to and sleeping at a campground
Ideal for first-timers
Places we've visited and fallen in love with
Trip · 3-day camping trip
For · Friends and new campers
Vibe · Moderate and fun
Reservations · Buy a $30 vehicle pass and reserve a site at Indian Cove Campground
Drive · 3 hours from LA
Ideal dates · February - April (for wildflowers!)
Pets · Welcome at campgrounds, but not on hiking trails
Joshua Tree National Park (JTNP) is the second largest national park in California (the first is Death Valley National Park); it features more than 795,000 acres, which makes it slightly larger than Rhode Island. Inside you'll find native Yucca brevifolias, aka Joshua Trees, desert tortoises, and one of the darkest skies in Southern California. Outside of the park are delicious restaurants, funky art and sounds at Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum and the Integatron. Get a taste of desert cool at JTNP.
Official National Park Website
Main image credit: Alex Kramarevsky
Each campsite comes with a:
Indian Cove Campground is tucked between giant rock formations, which is what JTNP is famously known for. Bring plenty of drinking water because there isn't any drinking water at camp. You can refill your supply at the ranger station located two miles away. Restrooms and trash collection are available. Pets are welcome too!
Check-in: Noon · Check-out: Noon
Nightly Rate: $25
Image credit: Michael Mayernick
JTNP was originally declared a national monument in 1936, and only became a national park in 1994, thanks to the California Desert Protection Act.
For thousands of years, the Chemehuevi, Serrano, and Cahuilla tribes regularly lived the high desert, canyons, and caves.
Joshua trees are technically stemless succulents, not trees! The tallest Joshua Tree in the park is about 43 feet high in Queen Valley forest and is estimated to be around 960 years old.
You won't be saving money, but you'll save space and weight with these camp sandals.
Clothes
Sleepover! This is a tent you can stand up in and have plenty of space for air mattresses, doggos, and more.
Shared Gear
A reliable, popular, and relatively affordable dual-burner camping stove that is fairly heavy, but performs well.
Kitchen
It's pricey, but the New York Times' Wirecutter recommended this attachment as a way for wheelchair users to navigate uneven terrain.
Essential Items
Instead of transporting stuff on your lap, use this storage bag to easily store items underneath your wheelchair.
Essential Items
Never dig around your pack to find some hand sanitizer. Instead, hang this one on the outside of your pack.
Personal Stuff
If you're an experienced backpacker, this is the lightest full-size, full-featured, frameless pack made.
Essential Items
Add a little magic to your experience by hanging these twinkling lights around your tent every night.
Shared Gear
Sometimes you just want a camp chair that gets the job done. Nothing glamorous or fancy. Well, this is it.
Shared Gear
The more you backpack the lighter your shelter becomes, and the lighter it is, the more expensive it can be.
Shared Gear
This winter trek on Santa Rosa Island in Channel Islands National Park is a one of a kind itinerary for experienced backpackers.
