Joshua Tree
Where two deserts meet, the boulders climb themselves, and Gram Parsons is the local saint.
- Distance
- ~25 miles (driving)
- Time
- 5 hours
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bring
- Water, sun protection
- Stops
- 12
- Walk total
- 132 mi · ~2835 min
Tip: open this page once with data, then it stays cached on your device. Use the printed copy if your signal drops on the route.
- 01
Hidden Valley Trailhead
"Begin in the high desert. The mile loop circles a basin of monzogranite. Find the boulder shaped like a skull."
34.01140, -116.16890Pin on map - 580 m · ~8 min · head SSW from stop 102
Cap Rock
"A boulder with a flat cap, beside the road. Stand under the overhang. This is also the Gram Parsons memorial site."
34.00670, -116.17170Pin on map - 4.7 mi · ~101 min · head E from stop 203
Skull Rock
"Beside the main park road, a boulder eroded into a skull. Walk the half-mile loop behind it."
33.99860, -116.09000Pin on map - 7.4 mi · ~158 min · head SW from stop 304
Keys View
"Drive to the top of the road. The view stretches a hundred miles. Find the relief map at the overlook."
33.92640, -116.18500Pin on map - 7.2 mi · ~154 min · head NNE from stop 405
Barker Dam
"1.3-mile loop. Walk to the dam. If there's been rain, find the petroglyphs on the rock face."
34.02440, -116.14280Pin on map - 14 mi · ~302 min · head ESE from stop 506
Cholla Cactus Garden
"Drive south into the low Colorado Desert. Walk the boardwalk through 10 acres of teddy-bear cholla. DO NOT TOUCH."
33.92440, -115.92920Pin on map - 2.1 mi · ~44 min · head NW from stop 607
Ocotillo Patch
"Just up the road. Find the spindly plants with red tips after rain."
33.94500, -115.95500Pin on map - 16 mi · ~347 min · head SSE from stop 708
Cottonwood Spring Oasis
"Drive south to the park's south entrance. Find the oasis with the date palms."
33.73920, -115.82080Pin on map - 48 mi · ~1025 min · head NW from stop 809
Pioneertown
"Drive 30 min west out of the park. Walk Mane Street. Find the false-front saloon."
34.15810, -116.48390Pin on map - 10 mi · ~215 min · head E from stop 910
Joshua Tree Inn (Room 8)
"Drive into the town of Joshua Tree. Walk the public courtyard. Find the small altar at Room 8."
34.13060, -116.31190Pin on map - 6.2 mi · ~133 min · head N from stop 1011
Noah Purifoy Outdoor Sculpture Museum
"10 acres of assemblage sculpture in the high desert. Find the throne made of TV sets."
34.22000, -116.30080Pin on map - 16 mi · ~348 min · head SSE from stop 1112
Sunset at Hidden Valley Picnic Area
"End back where you began. Find a flat boulder. Watch the granite turn pink."
34.01140, -116.17170Pin on map