7 Easy Hikes in Joshua Tree National Park

With 800,000 acres of land, there’s quite a variety of hikes in Joshua Tree National Park that practically anyone can enjoy. Kids, non-hikers and even those that might not get around so well anymore will find Joshua Tree to be the most welcoming of national parks. Here’s a few of my favorites.

Hidden Valley Nature Trail

Believe it or not, the area that became Joshua Tree National Park was once used for ranching and cattle rustling. Hidden Valley was one of the rustler’s hideouts. Once you see it in person, you’ll understand why. The valley is surrounded by huge boulders and massive rocks and feels like a secret hideaway.

The trail is a 1 mile loop hike that’s listed as easy – and it is – but there are several series of stone steps that take you up and then lead you back down into the “valley”. Mature hikers might do better with a walking stick to steady themselves. There are interpretive signs with interesting facts about the area and the wildlife you might see. Another bonus about the trail is the boulders that surround it are popular with rock climbers, so it’s interesting to watch them work.

Since I was with my daughter, we took advantage of the picnic area with its shaded tables to have lunch. There are also barbecue grills and a bunch of fat squirrels.

• Hidden Valley Nature Trail map
• parking lot
• vault toilets
• picnic area

Cap Rock Hike in Joshua Tree National Park

Walking the short well maintained trail of Cap Rock is a perfect introduction to Joshua Tree National Park. As you turn off Park Boulevard on the road to Keys View, the Cap Rock trail is an easy .4 mile loop hike that’s dotted with desert scrub, junipers and Joshua trees. There are interpretive signs to help guide your way. This outcropping of monzogranite rock – yes monzogranite – features a large rock that has a smaller rock balanced on top so it looks like a cap.

• Cap Rock map
• parking lot

Key’s View

Keys View is one of my favorite “hikes” in Joshua Tree National Park. It’s not really a hike. Just an easy walk or stroll.

At 5000 feet above sea level, the view is stunning. On a good day – when it’s not hazy or cloudy – you can see the Coachella Valley and maybe, even as far as Mexico. It was pretty hazy the day we were there but we had no trouble seeing the Little San Bernardino Mountains and two of California’s highest peaks – Mount San Jacinto and San Gorgonio. It didn’t show up well in photos but we we able to spot the Salton Sea south of the park.

Keys View has its own parking lot with a paved ADA accessible walkway. Interpretive signs lead the way to more viewing decks and benches. If you feel up to a more vigorous hike, you can access the Inspiration Point trail from here.

• Keys View map
• parking lot
• vault toilets
• good for a picnic

Skull Rock

Probably one of the most recognizable – and popular attractions – at Joshua Tree National Park is Skull Rock. This huge boulder, etched by time and water, looks just like a skull and what appears to be two eye sockets. It’s fascinating looking.

Besides the main Skull Rock, this entire surrounding area is perfect for exploring. Especially if you have kids. There are plenty of well marked trails to run around on and like most places in Joshua Tree National Park, rocks to climb around on.

Southerner Says: if Skull Rock is crowded during the day, save it for the late evening. Campers staying in Jumbo Rocks campground, can access Skull Rock from the campground as well.

• Skull Rock map
• parking on the side of the road

Split Rock Loop Trail | One of the Best Hikes in Joshua Tree National Park

Split Rock Loop Trail is a 2 mile nature trail that passes through a variety of desert scenes. Interesting boulders, cacti, yuccas and yes, a split rock, are just a few of the things you will encounter on this hike in Joshua Tree National Park. And you might even spot a big horn sheep or two.

The elevation gain is easy and once you reach the highest part of the trail called Isles in the Sky, there’s a flat rocky area perfect for a midway rest and views of the park. Take a few minutes to cool off and enjoy the view before you wind back around to the parking lot.

• Split Rock Loop Trail map
• parking lot
• vault toilets

Cholla Cactus Garden

If you love cactus, then the Cholla Cactus Garden is a hike – or walk – in Joshua Tree National Park that you can’t miss. Since this area of the park is at an lower elevation it looks a little different and there aren’t many Joshua trees around. It’s just hundreds and hundreds of teddy bear cholla cactus. In fact it’s approximately ten acres of cactus.

The .25 mile trail is a maintained path the weaves through cactus grove so you can get an up-close look. Just don’t touch or you’ll spend the day picking cactus out of your body. The cholla cactus likes to latch on to anything or anyone that gets too close.

If you are passing through and only have time for one thing in the park the Cholla Cactus Garden would be my pick.

• Cholla Cactus Garden map
• parking area
• vault toilets

Hall of Horrors

A place called Hall of Horrors probably doesn’t sound like a place you would seek out but contrary to its name, we found it to be one of the most peaceful spots – and one of my favorite hikes – in Joshua Tree National Park. Hall of Horrors gets its name from, what looks like halls or slots, between the closely set walls of rocks. It’s very similar to a slot canyon.

The trail to the Hall of Horrors is a flat .6 mile trail. This entire area of Joshua Tree National Park is really unique and full of some of the most picturesque Joshua trees in the entire park.

We timed our visit just right and showed up in the evening as the sun was going down. Even though the sunset wasn’t the vibrant sunset I had hoped for, the colors of the desert sky and the light breeze made it a perfect place to end the day. It was just us and the jack rabbits watching the sun go down. In fact, we spent so much time looking for the perfect Joshua Tree, we never made it to the actual hall.

• Hall of Horrors map
• parking lot
• vault toilets

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More Joshua Tree National Park Tips

• Joshua Tree National Park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
• If you visit in late spring and summer, hike early or late to avoid the heat.
• The National Park Service states there’s no phone service in the park. I have Verizon and had absolutely no service. My daughter has AT&T and occasionally had a enough that her phone would update.
• Have a travel plan and let someone know your plans, especially if you travel solo.
• There’s no water available in the park so carry plenty with you. You can fill bottles at the Oasis Visitor Center at Twentynine Palms.
• Dogs aren’t allowed on the trails in Joshua Tree National Park.
• Drone use is prohibited as well.

Other Resources

• For more information about the park and to read about the different entrances, check out my Joshua Tree National Park Guide.
• Download a Joshua Tree National Park map from the National Park Service website before you go.
• Download the National Park Trust’s – who support and help fund our national parks – ParkPassport Mobile App to use for a better experience in the park.
• Learn more about Leave No Trace principles for visiting public lands.

Packing List for Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park is near Twentynine Palms and the town of Joshua Tree. If you forget something you should be able to buy it locally. Twentynine Palms is smaller than Joshua Tree but it does have a Dollar General. Here’s a few suggestions of things to pack for June in Joshua Tree National Park. Especially if you are camping in the park.

• Water, water and more water – did I mention there’s no water in the park? In fact, it’s a good idea to invest in a refillable water cube that you can use over again instead of lots of small bottles.
• For small drinking bottles, I like this refillable water bottle and this Hydro Flask one too.
• sunscreen
• lip balm
• good shoes for hiking in dusty conditions
• a hat
• a bandana to keep you cool
• If you don’t want a full size day pack, how about a fanny pack? REI has one that my daughter owns and it works well for short day hikes. It also comes in cute desert colors.

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