The closest National Park Unit to Los Angeles (in travel time), Joshua Tree is known as one of the world’s best rock climbing areas, but the desert hiking is fantastic, too. Straddling the transition zone between high and low deserts, trails here climb up prominent peaks, meander through cactus gardens, reach hidden oases, and wander near the ruins of ghost towns. Fantastic stargazing and wilderness camping make this park a must-visit in the cooler months.
Viewing 17 of 17 Hikes
Cholla Cactus Garden
Cholla Cactus Garden
Distance: 0.33 mi
Time: 0.5 hrs
Elevation Gain: 22 ft
Difficulty: Beginner
Inspiration Peak
Inspiration Peak
Distance: 1.2 mi
Time: 0.5 hrs
Elevation Gain: 400 ft
Difficulty: Easy
Barker Dam Loop
Barker Dam Loop
Distance: 1.5 mi
Time: 1 hrs
Elevation Gain: 70 ft
Difficulty: Beginner
Arch Rock to Grand Tank
Arch Rock to Grand Tank
Distance: 1 mi
Time: 1 hrs
Elevation Gain: 140 ft
Difficulty: Easy
Pinto Basin Sand Dunes
Pinto Basin Sand Dunes
Distance: 2.1 mi
Time: 1 hrs
Elevation Gain: 65 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Ryan Mountain
Ryan Mountain
Distance: 2.9 mi
Time: 1.5 hrs
Elevation Gain: 1070 ft
Difficulty: Challenging
Wonderland Ranch / Wall Street Mill
Wonderland Ranch / Wall Street Mill
Distance: 3 mi
Time: 1.5 hrs
Elevation Gain: 20 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Mastodon Peak
Mastodon Peak
Distance: 3 mi
Time: 2 hrs
Elevation Gain: 470 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Queen Mountain
Queen Mountain
Distance: 3.8 mi
Time: 3 hrs
Elevation Gain: 1121 ft
Difficulty: Challenging
Pine City
Pine City
Distance: 4.4 mi
Time: 2 hrs
Elevation Gain: 530 ft
Difficulty: Easy
Panorama Loop from Black Rock Canyon Campground
Panorama Loop from Black Rock Canyon Campground
Distance: 6.5 mi
Time: 2.5 hrs
Elevation Gain: 1273 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Lost Horse Mine
Lost Horse Mine
Distance: 6.7 mi
Time: 3 hrs
Elevation Gain: 1215 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Johnny Lang Canyon
Johnny Lang Canyon
Distance: 6 mi
Time: 3 hrs
Elevation Gain: 780 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
The Maze
The Maze
Distance: 6.5 mi
Time: 4 hrs
Elevation Gain: 400 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Lost Palms Oasis
Lost Palms Oasis
Distance: 7 mi
Time: 3 hrs
Elevation Gain: 491 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Willow Hole
Willow Hole
Distance: 7 mi
Time: 4 hrs
Elevation Gain: 400 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
3 Comments
So excited to stumble upon your site. This is exactly what I was looking for when trying to plan out some trails for an upcoming Joshua Tree stay. Thank you so much for all the great info and photos - amazing and super helpful!! :)
Leave a Reply to Lauren Cancel reply
Keep up the amazing work! I just found your blog and I could not be happier.
I was just looking for trails at Joshua Tree, that I'll be visiting at the beginning of April, and you have amazing material and very well structured.
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Beautiful sights! We are from the Philippines, and one of our dream adventures is to hike the national parks of the US, including Joshua Tree. A rock climber friend of ours said that the rock climbing scene there is great.
