Joshua Tree National Park
Two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, come together in Joshua Tree National Park. A fascinating variety of plants and animals make their homes in a land sculpted by strong winds and occasional torrents of rain. Dark night skies, a rich cultural history, and surreal geologic features add to the wonder of this vast wilderness in southern California. Come explore for yourself!
About 1 hours from Riverside and 2 hours from San Diego by car.
Alerts
- ClosureGeology Tour Road Temporarily Closed
The park received a significant amount of rain. Due to flooding, Geology Tour Road is temporarily closed. Please use caution while traveling on all other roads in the park.
- CautionPartial Trail Closure of West Side Loop
There is a partial trail closure of West Side Loop trail in the Black Rock area to allow for trail crew and volunteers to conduct trail repairs. Sections of West Side will be closed to all forms of traffic, Equestrians and hikers will have to take one of the connector trails along Black Rock Canyon to bypass the planned work. Estimated reopening date is November.
- CautionOasis of Mara Trail Partial Closure
Due to a heavy flooding event, the Oasis of Mara Trail is closed past the Oasis.
- CautionNPS ↗Inaccurate Third-Party Apps
Some third-party hiking apps are providing inaccurate trail and safety information to users. Please use the official NPS app for accurate information.
Fees & passes
| Type | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Private Vehicle7-day vehicle permit, admitting the passengers of a single, non-commercial vehicle on the day of purchase and for the next six days. | $30 | |
| MotorcycleValid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. | $25 | |
| Per Person7-day entrance fee, per person on foot or bike. | $15 | |
| Passes | ||
| Annual Entrance - ParkThis pass is valid for 12 months from the month of purchase. It covers the entrance fee to Joshua Tree National Park for the pass signee and accompanying passengers entering in a single, non-commercial vehicle. Joshua Tree Annual Passes are available at park entrance stations and visitor centers. | $55 | |
Visitors have multiple entrance fee and pass options depending on how they arrive and if they are part of a commercial tour group or not. The most common entrance fee is the Private Vehicle Pass, valid for 7 days. This covers the cost for anyone who is riding in the vehicle.
Hours
| Joshua Tree National Park | Daily · All Day |
When to go
March draws the most visits here and July the fewest, averaged over 2021 to 2025.
Campgrounds
| Jumbo Rocks Campground | 124 sites | |
| $30 a night · Campgrounds are open 24 hours a day. Check in and check out are at noon. Quiet hours are from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am. · 124 reservable | ||
| White Tank Campground ↗ | 15 sites | |
| $25 a night · All campgrounds and campsites are subject to closure, but typically campgrounds are open 24 hours a day, everyday. Check in and check out are at noon. · 15 first-come | ||
| Sheep Pass Group Campground | 6 sites | |
| $55 a night · All campgrounds and campsites are subject to closure, but typically campgrounds are open 24 hours a day, everyday. Check in and check out are at noon. · 6 reservable | ||
| Ryan Campground | 37 sites | |
| $30 a night · Ryan campground is open year-round and is reservable through recreation.gov. | ||
| Indian Cove Campground | 114 sites | |
| $35 a night · Campgrounds are open 24 hours a day. Check in and check out are at noon. Quiet hours are from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am. | ||
Show all 9 campgroundsHide
| Hidden Valley Campground ↗ | 44 sites | |
| $25 a night · Campgrounds are open 24 hours a day. Check in and check out are at noon. Quiet hours are from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am. · 44 first-come | ||
| Black Rock Campground | 99 sites | |
| $35 a night · Campgrounds are open 24 hours a day. Check in and check out are at noon. Quiet hours are from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am. · 99 reservable | ||
| Belle Campground ↗ | 18 sites | |
| $25 a night · Campgrounds are open 24 hours a day. Check in and check out are at noon. Quiet hours are from 10 pm to 6 am. · 18 first-come | ||
| Cottonwood Campground | 62 sites | |
| $35 a night · Campgrounds are open 24 hours a day. Check in and check out are at noon. Quiet hours are from 10 pm to 6 am. · 62 reservable | ||
Every campground here has its own page on Campsite Atlas, with site counts, hookups, rig limits and booking windows. All of them on one page → How park camping works
Visitor centers
- Joshua Tree Visitor Center ↗Passport stamp
Located in downtown Joshua Tree just five miles from the West Entrance, the Joshua Tree Visitor Center offers educational exhibits, a bookstore, and visitor resources.
- Black Rock Nature Center ↗Passport stamp
Located in the heart of the beautiful Black Rock Campground, the Nature Center offers a bookstore, art gallery, visitor resources, and a picnic area. Visitors can chat with a park ranger, shop at the bookstore, and observe exhibits in the art gallery.
- Cottonwood Visitor Center ↗Passport stamp
Located on Pinto Basin Road, approximately 7 miles north of Interstate 10 (exit 168), the Cottonwood Visitor Center is a convenient stop for those entering and exiting the park from the south. It has educational exhibits, a bookstore, visitor resources, and restroom facilities.
- Joshua Tree National Park Visitor CenterPassport stamp
The Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center is located in downtown Twentynine Palms and features educational exhibits, a bookstore and giftshop, and visitor information.
Explore
Things to do
- Stargazing at Joshua Tree
Enjoy Joshua Tree National Park's amazing night sky.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike Cholla Cactus Garden15-30 Minutes
An easy quarter mile hike through a cholla patch along Pinto Basin Road.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike Skull Rock1-2 Hours
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.
Opens on the Park Service site - Attend a Ranger Stroll30-45 Minutes
Join a ranger on an educational stroll.
Opens on the Park Service site - Birding at Joshua Tree
Joshua Tree National Park offers a wide range of birds for birders to discover.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike Boy Scout Trail1-10 Hours
Explore the Wonderland of Rocks on the Boy Scout Trail.
Opens on the Park Service site
Show all 12Hide
- Hike Fortynine Palms Oasis2-3 Hours
A difficult three mile hike to a desert oasis.
Opens on the Park Service site - Drive Park Boulevard1-10 Hours
A scenic drive through Joshua Tree National Park.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike Barker Dam Trail30-60 Minutes
Enjoy an easy 1.1 mile hike on the Barker Dam Nature Trail.
Opens on the Park Service site - Attend an Evening Ranger Program45 Minutes
Attend an evening program at Joshua Tree National Park.
Opens on the Park Service site - Visit the Universal Threads Exhibit15-60 Minutes
Visit the Universal Threads Exhibit and learn about the intertwining relationships between plants, animals, earth, sky, and human life.
Opens on the Park Service site - Horseback Riding in Joshua Tree National Park1-10 Hours
Horseback riding designated trails in Joshua Tree National Park.
Opens on the Park Service site
Films
National Park Service productions, public domain.
Webcams
Camera images load live from the National Park Service and partner agencies
News
- Temporary Closure of Covington Flats Area During Fourth of July Weekend ↗2026-06-23
Joshua Tree National Park will temporarily close public access to the Covington Flats area from Thursday, July 2, 2026, to Monday, July 6, 2026, to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfire during the Fourth of…
- Joshua Tree National Park Implements Fire Restrictions Beginning June 15 ↗2026-06-15
Joshua Tree National Park has implemented fire restrictions beginning June 15, due to hot, dry weather conditions and increasing fire danger.
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
Public land nearby
Distances are approximate. Wilderness Atlas publishes a center point and an acreage for each area rather than a boundary, so each area is treated here as a circle of the same size and the figure is the gap to that circle.
Guidebooks for Joshua Tree National Park
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Local history books for Joshua Tree National Park
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Wildlife
Seen this monthGray Fox 1×Research-grade observations within 25 km, last 30 days, via iNaturalist
Full checklist: 251 birds, 54 mammalsHide
Raptors & owlsAmerican Kestrel · Bald Eagle · Barn Owl · Broad-winged Hawk · Burrowing Owl · Cooper's Hawk · Ferruginous Hawk · Golden Eagle · Great Horned Owl · Long-eared Owl · Merlin · Northern Harrier · Northern Saw-whet Owl · Osprey · Prairie Falcon · Red-tailed Hawk · Rough-legged Hawk · Sharp-shinned Hawk · Short-eared Owl · Swainson's Hawk · Turkey Vulture · Western Screech-Owl · White-tailed Kite
Waterfowl & wadersAmerican Bittern · American Coot · American White Pelican · American Wigeon · Black-crowned Night-Heron · Blue-winged Teal · Bufflehead · Canada Goose · Cinnamon Teal · Common Loon · Eared Grebe · Glossy Ibis · Great Blue Heron · Great Egret · Green Heron · Green-winged Teal · Hooded Merganser · Lesser Scaup · Northern Pintail · Pied-billed Grebe · Red-breasted Merganser · Ring-necked Duck · Ruddy Duck · Snow Goose · Snowy Egret · Virginia Rail · Western Grebe · White-faced Ibis · Wood Duck
Shorebirds & seabirdsAmerican Avocet · California gull · Common Snipe · Greater Yellowlegs · Killdeer · Least Sandpiper · Long-billed Dowitcher · Red-necked Phalarope · Ring-billed Gull · Solitary Sandpiper · Spotted Sandpiper · Western Sandpiper · Wilson's Phalarope
Gamebirds & dovesBand-tailed Pigeon · Common Ground-Dove · Gambel's Quail · Mountain Quail · Mourning Dove · Rock Pigeon · White-winged Dove
WoodpeckersAcorn Woodpecker · Gila Woodpecker · Gilded Flicker · Hairy Woodpecker · Ladder-backed Woodpecker · Lewis's Woodpecker · Northern Flicker · Nuttall's Woodpecker · Red-breasted Sapsucker · Red-naped Sapsucker · White-headed Woodpecker · Williamson's Sapsucker · Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Hummingbirds & swiftsAllen's Hummingbird · Anna's Hummingbird · Black-chinned Hummingbird · Calliope Hummingbird · Costa's Hummingbird · Rufous Hummingbird · Vaux's Swift · White-throated Swift
Also on the checklistAbert's Towhee · American Goldfinch · American Pipit · American Redstart · American Robin · Ash-throated Flycatcher · Baltimore Oriole · Barn Swallow · Bell's Vireo · Belted Kingfisher · Bendire's Thrasher · Bewick's Wren · Black Phoebe · Black-and-white Warbler · Black-chinned Sparrow · Black-headed Grosbeak · Black-necked Stilt · Black-tailed Gnatcatcher · Black-throated Blue Warbler · Black-throated Gray Warbler · Black-throated Sparrow · Blue Grosbeak · Blue-gray Gnatcatcher · Brewer's Blackbird · Brewer's Sparrow · Brown Thrasher · Brown-headed Cowbird · Bullock's Oriole · Bushtit · Cactus Wren · California Thrasher · California Towhee · Canada Warbler · Canvasback · Canyon Wren · Cassin's Finch · Cassin's Kingbird · Cassin's Vireo · Cedar Waxwing · Chestnut-sided Warbler · Chipping Sparrow · Clark's Nutcracker · Cliff Swallow · Common Gallinule · Common Nighthawk · Common Poorwill · Common Raven · Common Yellowthroat · Crissal Thrasher · Dark-eyed Junco · Dusky Flycatcher · European Starling · Evening Grosbeak · Fox Sparrow · Gadwall · Golden-crowned Kinglet · Golden-crowned Sparrow · Grasshopper Sparrow · Gray Flycatcher · Gray Vireo · Great-tailed Grackle · Greater Roadrunner · Green-tailed Towhee · Hammond's Flycatcher · Harris's Sparrow · Hermit Thrush · Hermit Warbler · Hooded Oriole · Hooded Warbler · Horned Lark · House Finch · House Sparrow · House Wren · Hutton's Vireo · Indigo Bunting · Lark Bunting · Lark Sparrow · Lawrence's Goldfinch · Lazuli Bunting · Le Conte's Thrasher · Lesser Goldfinch · Lesser Nighthawk · Lincoln's Sparrow · Loggerhead Shrike · Louisiana waterthrush · Lucy's Warbler · MacGillivray's Warbler · Mallard · Marsh Wren · Mountain Bluebird · Mountain Chickadee · Nashville Warbler · Northern Mockingbird · Northern Rough-winged Swallow · Northern Shoveler · Oak Titmouse · Olive-sided Flycatcher · Orange-crowned Warbler · Ovenbird · Pacific Wren formally Winter Wren · Pacific-slope Flycatcher · Painted Redstart · Palm Warbler · Phainopepla · Pine Siskin · Pinyon Jay · Purple Finch · Purple Martin · Pygmy Nuthatch · Pyrrhuloxia · Red Crossbill · Red-breasted Nuthatch · Red-faced Warbler · Red-winged Blackbird · Redhead · Rock Wren · Rose-breasted Grosbeak · Ruby-crowned Kinglet · Rufous-crowned Sparrow · Sage Sparrow · Sage Thrasher · Savannah Sparrow · Say's Phoebe · Scott's Oriole · Song Sparrow · Sora · Spotted Towhee · Steller 's Jay · Summer Tanager · Swainson's Thrush · Townsend's Solitaire · Townsend's Warbler · Tree Swallow · Varied Thrush · Verdin · Vermilion Flycatcher · Vesper Sparrow · Violet-green Swallow · Virginia's Warbler · Warbling Vireo · Western Bluebird · Western Kingbird · Western Meadowlark · Western Scrub-Jay · Western Tanager · Western Wood-Pewee · White-breasted Nuthatch · White-crowned Sparrow · White-throated Sparrow · White-winged Scoter · Willow Flycatcher · Wilson's Warbler · Yellow Warbler · Yellow-billed Cuckoo · Yellow-breasted Chat · Yellow-headed Blackbird · Yellow-rumped Warbler · chukar
Small mammalsBotta's pocket gopher · California chipmunk · California deermouse · California ground squirrel · California pocket mouse · Crawford's gray shrew · Merriam's kangaroo rat · North American deermouse · Piñon deermouse · San Diego pocket mouse · black rat · black-tailed jackrabbit · brush deermouse · cactus deermouse · canyon deermouse · chisel-toothed kangaroo rat · desert cottontail · desert kangaroo rat · desert pocket mouse · desert woodrat · dusky-footed woodrat · house mouse · little pocket mouse · long-tailed pocket mouse · round-tailed ground squirrel · southern grasshopper mouse · spiny pocket mouse · western harvest mouse · white-tailed antelope squirrel · white-throated woodrat
PredatorsAmerican badger · American black bear · bobcat · coyote · gray fox · kit fox · long-tailed weasel · ringtail · western spotted skunk
Hoofed mammalsNelson's bighorn sheep · mule deer
BatsCalifornia leaf-nosed bat · Californian myotis · Townsend's big-eared bat · big brown bat · fringed myotis · hoary bat · long-legged myotis · pallid bat · spotted bat · western mastiff-bat · western pipistrelle · western yellow bat
Also on the checklistcougar
Activities
Activity guides for this park Birdwatching in the national parks · Camping in the national parks · Hiking in the national parks · Horseback riding in the national parks · Rock climbing in the national parks · Stargazing in the national parks · Wildlife watching in the national parks
Weather & climate
Days are typically clear with less than 25% humidity. Temperatures are most comfortable in the spring and fall, with an average highs around 85°F (29°C) and average lows around 50°F (10°C) respectively. Winter brings cooler days, around 60°F (15°C), and freezing nights. It occasionally snows at higher elevations. Summers are hot, over 100°F (38°C) during the day and not cooling much below 75°F (24°C) at night.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Joshua Tree?
Entrance is $30 per private vehicle, $25 per motorcycle, and $15 per person on foot or bike. 7-day vehicle permit, admitting the passengers of a single, non-commercial vehicle on the day of purchase and for the next six days.
Source: National Park Service
Which passes work at Joshua Tree?
The $80 America the Beautiful pass covers the entrance fee here, and a Joshua Tree-only annual pass is $55.
Source: Is the pass worth it
Can I pay the entrance fee in cash?
No. Joshua Tree takes cards only at the entrance.
Source: National Park Service
When is entrance to Joshua Tree free?
Next on October 27, Theodore Roosevelt's birthday. 2 fee-free days are left this year, for US residents only.
Source: Free entrance days
Do I need a reservation to enter Joshua Tree?
No. There is no timed-entry or entrance reservation at Joshua Tree. Camping and some tours have their own reservations.
Source: National Park Service
Is Joshua Tree open year-round?
Yes. The grounds are open 24 hours a day, year-round.
Source: National Park Service
Can I camp in Joshua Tree?
Yes. The Park Service lists 9 campgrounds in Joshua Tree: Jumbo Rocks, White Tank, Sheep Pass Group, Ryan, and Indian Cove, and more. 6 take reservations through Recreation.gov.
Which Joshua Tree campgrounds have showers, hookups, or a dump station?
Dump station: Black Rock and Cottonwood.
Source: Campgrounds
Do camping fees at Joshua Tree include the entrance fee?
No. Camping is charged per night on top of the entrance fee or a pass; Jumbo Rocks is $30 a night.
Source: Campgrounds
Is anything closed at Joshua Tree right now?
4 active alerts as of October 14, 2026: Partial Trail Closure of West Side Loop; Geology Tour Road Temporarily Closed; and more.
Source: Alerts
How busy is Joshua Tree?
2,932,644 recreation visits in 2025, number 31 of 387 units that report visitation.
Source: Most visited parks
Is there cell service at Joshua Tree?
At the park's reference point, FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G. Coverage inside the park varies by location.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
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