7 Best Hikes In Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park has hikes for everyone and every level of hiker. Whether you are looking for a hard hike up Ryan Mountain or a casual stroll along a nature trail, there are plenty of hikes to choose from in the park.
In this post, we’ll break down some of the best hikes in Joshua Tree that we hiked during our spring break trip. Keep reading to find the best hikes that suit you. Or, if you are feeling really adventurous, complete them all! It’s possible, because some of them are very short.
If you’re wondering how we did it all, check out our full Joshua Tree National Park guide and itinerary, too.
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Joshua Tree National Park – Need To Know Before You Go
Entrance & Fees
Joshua Tree National Park charges an entrance fee. If you’re visiting multiple national parks in the same year, the America the Beautiful Pass covers all of them. Pick one up on our gear page at REI before you leave home and save yourself some time at the entrance.
Joshua Tree National Park has three main entrances, each offering a different starting point. The West Entrance, near Joshua Tree, is the most popular and provides quick access to iconic areas like Hidden Valley and Keys View.
The North Entrance, near Twentynine Palms, is a convenient gateway to the park’s northern attractions and is often less busy.
The South Entrance, along Interstate 10 near Cottonwood, is the best choice for travelers approaching from Palm Springs or Phoenix and offers access to the park’s desert landscapes and Cottonwood Visitor Center.
Food & Gas
There is no food or gas available inside Joshua Tree National Park, so plan ahead! If you’re coming through the West Entrance, you’ll find plenty of options for gas, food, drinks, and last-minute supplies near the Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center. Stock up before entering the park so you can enjoy your day without having to worry about running out of things you need.
🚗 Check prices and options for rental cars at Expedia or Booking.com. Book now!
Cell Service
Coverage is very spotty to non-existent, so plan ahead here as well. You might get some signal on Ryan Mountain, but mostly everywhere else is a dead zone, so plan on downloading offline maps or using a map that you receive at the entrance station.
🏡 Get ready for your stay near Joshua Tree. Find a place to stay on VRBO now.
7 Best Hikes In Joshua Tree National Park
Below is a list of the best hikes in Joshua Tree. We’ve personally hiked every trail on this list, and we have some detailed guides linked to a few of the hikes on our list.
We ranked these hikes from our personal favorite down to our least favorite. That being said, they are all great hikes even if they are at the bottom of our list. Let’s start things off with an overview and map of where each hike is located within Joshua Tree National Park.
Map
1. Desert Queen Mine To Eagle Boulder House
At the top of our list, the Desert Queen Mine to Eagle Cliff Boulder House comes in at number 1. This hike is so unique and not too hard. With a great hike through the desert wilderness and an old miner’s boulder house at the end, this one is so much fun!
Our family, who lives nearby, recommended this hike, and we loved it so much! It was a great way to start a morning in the park.
- Moderate
- 3.5-4 miles
- 400 ft. elevation gain
🏜️ Get every detail you need on how to reach this cool, one-of-a-kind shelter house in the middle of the Joshua Tree desert.
2. Ryan Mountain
Ryan Mountain is probably the most popular hike in the park. This is a short, steep hike to the summit of Ryan Mountain, where 360-degree views of the park surround you. Go early, take plenty of water, and stop often for photos as the landscape changes with the climb.
- Hard
- 3 miles
- 1,000 ft. elevation gain
🌵 Get all the details on the Ryan Mountain trail on our post right here.
3. Hall of Horrors
Now, this one really isn’t a hike in the traditional sense, but more of an exploration of a fun area of the park. Located right near the Ryan Mountain Trail, visit the Hall of Horrors and walk around the desert near giant rock piles. Explore and climb the rocks and see if you can find the slot canyons within.
Exploring the slot canyons will require some rock scrambling and climbing, but the canyons were really fun to explore. They are short and sweet.
- Easy
- 0.5 miles
- Minimal to no elevation gain
4. Skull Rock Nature Trail
A visit to the famous Skull Rock is a must-do while visiting Joshua Tree. You can find a parking spot right near the rock, but what’s the fun in that? Take the Skull Rock Nature Trail Loop, which is a great short and easy hike through the desert.
Start at the other end of Skull Rock, walk through the campground, visit the rock, and work your way back to where you started along the loop. There is another face in the rocks after you pass Skull Rock, so see if you can find it!
- Easy
- 1.8 miles
- 150 ft. elevation gain
🛌🏽 Ready to book your stay? Check out the places in Joshua Tree, CA on Expedia now.
5. Barker Dam Nature Trail
This is another very popular trail in the park. With rock formations and Joshua trees, hike to a historic water catchment built by early ranchers. The loop is short and scenic, with plenty of interesting geology and desert scenery along the way. This one is great for kids too.
If there has been recent rain, you might even see more water behind the Barker Dam. This is a great contrast to the desert, which we all know is mostly dry.
- Easy
- 1.3 miles
- 65 ft. elevation gain
6. Wall Street Mill Trail
If you are looking for another easy hike right near the Barker Dam Trail, we recommend the Wall Street Mill Trail as well. Hike through the desert and come across an old gold mill, with old equipment and structures scattered along the way.
- Easy
- 1.8 miles
- 75 ft. elevation gain
🥾 Looking for our full Joshua Tree National Park itinerary? Check it out now.
7. Arch Rock and Heart Rock
Another somewhat easy hike in Joshua Tree is the Arch and Heart Rock Trail. This one is at the bottom of our list. We’re not sure if it was the massive amount of people hiking the trail, or the small reward for a somewhat boring hike (in our opinion!), but it’s still worth it for the fun photo op at Heart Rock!
- Easy
- 1.7 miles
- 100 ft. elevation gain
Where To Stay While Visiting Joshua Tree National Park
When visiting Joshua Tree National Park, we recommend staying near the west entrance. This is located right near one of the visitor centers, and there are plenty of options and amenities. It’s a quick drive into the park.
- VRBO – our top pick for a stay near Joshua Tree National Park. Find a place to stay now.
- The Bungalows by Homestead Modern at The Joshua Tree Retreat Center – complete with a restaurant on site, a pool, and games. Book your stay on Expedia.
- Sacred Sands – a quiet desert hideaway known for its intimate setting and thoughtfully designed spaces. Slow down and enjoy the rugged beauty of Joshua Tree. Reserve a room now.
- Field Station Joshua Tree – experience the desert while staying close to Joshua Tree National Park with comfortable, modern accommodations. Check out the options on Expedia.
Final Thoughts About The Best Hikes In Joshua Tree National Park
There are so many hikes for every hiker when visiting Joshua Tree. From easy, flat hikes that are perfect for a trip with kids, to wilderness hikes that will take you to the middle of nowhere on the Desert Queen Mine Trail.
As noted above, our favorite hike was the Desert Queen Mine to Eagle Cliff Boulder House. It was such a fun hike with great scenery and, in our opinion, was not too strenuous at all compared to some of the other national park hikes that we have done.
🛌🏽 Don’t forget to check out Expedia and book your hotels, and if you like this itinerary, check out some of our other ones here!
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