A solitary Joshua tree stands in a grassy desert plain beneath a twilight sky tinted purple and pink over distant low hills.

Yucca Valley · Joshua Tree · the Morongo Basin

Local guides.

Written from the desert

Everything worth the drive, most of it within an hour of the house.

Real places, real distances — the hikes, towns, art, food and dark skies we point every guest toward. Start here, then build your days.

Or read the Journal

Joshua Tree & nature

A Joshua tree among desert scrub and granite boulders in Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree & nature

The Best Hikes in Joshua Tree National Park

The best hikes in Joshua Tree, shortest to longest — Hidden Valley, Barker Dam, Ryan Mountain, 49 Palms Oasis and Lost Horse Mine, about 25 minutes from the house.

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A climber bouldering on a granite boulder in Joshua Tree National Park under a blue sky
Joshua Tree & nature

Rock Climbing & Bouldering in Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree is a world-class rock-climbing and bouldering destination. Where to start, when to go, how to climb it responsibly, and how to hire a guide if you're new.

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A dense stand of backlit teddybear cholla cacti in a desert basin against distant arid mountains.
Joshua Tree & nature

The Cholla Cactus Garden & the Park's Quiet South End

The Cholla Cactus Garden and Joshua Tree's quiet southern end — Cottonwood Spring, Lost Palms Oasis and the ocotillo patch, and how to do the drive from Yucca Valley.

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Historic wooden ranch buildings, an old truck, and a wooden trailer with patches of snow on the ground against monzogranite boulders.
Joshua Tree & nature

Keys Ranch: The Desert Queen Ranch Tour

Keys Ranch (the Desert Queen Ranch) in Joshua Tree — a preserved homestead you can only see on a ranger-guided walking tour. The Keys family story and how to book.

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Woolly desert marigolds in bloom in Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree & nature

Wildflowers & the Desert in Bloom

How the high-desert wildflower bloom works around Joshua Tree — why it hinges on winter rain, when and where to look, what you'll see, and how to catch it in a good year.

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A telescope lit with red light under the stars at a night-sky program in Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree & nature

Sky's the Limit Observatory & Nature Center

A volunteer-run observatory and nature center by Joshua Tree's north entrance in Twentynine Palms, with a walk-through solar system model and night sky events.

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A wooden boardwalk trail winding through dense riparian woodland and shrubbery.
Joshua Tree & nature

Big Morongo Canyon Preserve

A spring-fed oasis in Morongo Valley with an accessible boardwalk, canyon trails and over 200 bird species recorded. Free, about 25 minutes from the house.

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An elevated panoramic view of an arid desert basin and rolling pinyon-dotted hills traversed by a winding dirt road.
Joshua Tree & nature

Covington Flats

A corner of Joshua Tree National Park reached by dirt road from Yucca Valley, with some of the park's largest Joshua trees. High-clearance 4WD required.

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A backcountry camping registration kiosk and trail sign at the Black Rock Canyon trailhead with hikers walking down a desert path.
Joshua Tree & nature

Black Rock Canyon

Black Rock Canyon is the Joshua Tree National Park corner in Yucca Valley, with a campground, a nature center and trails from Hi-View to Eureka Peak.

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Granite boulders, yuccas and desert scrub along the Hidden Valley trail in Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree & nature

Hidden Valley Nature Trail

Hidden Valley Nature Trail is an easy one-mile loop through a rock-walled valley in Joshua Tree. Trail details, picnic area, climbing, parking and dog rules.

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Water behind Barker Dam reflecting the granite boulders around it, Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree & nature

Barker Dam

Barker Dam Trail in Joshua Tree is an easy 1.1-mile loop past a historic ranchers' dam and a rock art site. When there's water, parking, history and dog rules.

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The panorama from Keys View over the desert mountains toward the Coachella Valley
Joshua Tree & nature

Keys View

Keys View is a drive-up overlook in Joshua Tree at about 5,185 feet, looking over the Coachella Valley and the San Andreas Fault. The drive, haze and crowds.

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An elevated panoramic view over a desert valley with monzogranite boulder formations and a Mojave yucca in the foreground.
Joshua Tree & nature

Ryan Mountain

Ryan Mountain is a strenuous 3-mile round trip in Joshua Tree National Park, climbing about 1,050 feet to a summit view. Heat warnings, parking and timing.

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Sunset over the granite boulders of Jumbo Rocks seen from the Skull Rock Trail, with a Joshua tree in front
Joshua Tree & nature

Skull Rock and Jumbo Rocks

Skull Rock and Jumbo Rocks in Joshua Tree: the roadside rock, a 1.7-mile nature loop, the campground, nearby trails, dog rules and the drive from Yucca Valley.

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Arch Rock, a natural granite arch near White Tank in Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree & nature

Arch Rock and White Tank

Arch Rock in Joshua Tree: the 1.4-mile loop from Twin Tanks, White Tank Campground, Heart Rock, parking, dog rules and the drive from the house in Yucca Valley.

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A dirt hiking trail winding through arid desert hills toward the historic Lost Horse Mine stamp mill visible on a distant ridge under a blue
Joshua Tree & nature

Lost Horse Mine

Lost Horse Mine in Joshua Tree: the 4-mile hike to a preserved ten-stamp mill, the longer loop, the mine's gold-rush history, mine-shaft safety and dog rules.

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Fan palms and cottonwood trees at the Cottonwood Spring oasis in Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree & nature

Cottonwood Spring and Mastodon Peak

Cottonwood Spring and Mastodon Peak in Joshua Tree: the palm oasis, the 3-mile loop, the visitor center, Lost Palms Oasis and the long drive from Yucca Valley.

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A tall granite boulder formation with a tiny rock climber scaling a crack, framed by a Joshua tree in the foreground under a deep blue sky.
Joshua Tree & nature

Geology Tour Road

Geology Tour Road in Joshua Tree: the 18-mile dirt road tour, which cars can go how far, the self-guided stops, flash floods and closures, and dog rules.

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A cluster of California fan palms growing among large granite boulders in a desert canyon oasis.
Joshua Tree & nature

Fortynine Palms Oasis

A 3-mile round-trip hike over a ridge to a grove of desert fan palms off Highway 62. Distance, climb, the summer closure, heat and how to get there.

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Mojave yucca in bloom below the granite hills at Indian Cove in Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree & nature

Indian Cove

Indian Cove on Joshua Tree's north edge: the campground, the half-mile nature trail, climbing, Rattlesnake Canyon and how to get there from Highway 62.

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Towns & neighbours

Mane Street in Pioneertown, with the bank and the bath house among the wooden Old West storefronts
Towns & neighbours

Pioneertown

Pioneertown, California: an 1880s movie set built in 1946 that's now a working Old West town. Mane Street, Pappy & Harriet's and how to spend an afternoon, 18 minutes away.

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A modernist residential building framed by tall fan palms and desert landscaping with the arid San Jacinto Mountains rising sharply behind i
Towns & neighbours

A Palm Springs Day Trip from the High Desert

A Palm Springs day trip from the high desert — the Aerial Tramway, midcentury modern architecture, palm canyons and how to plan around the heat. About 50 minutes away.

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Big Bear Lake from above on a summer day, with docks, the shoreline road and pine-covered hills
Towns & neighbours

Big Bear & the Mountains: The Alpine Escape

A Big Bear day trip from the high desert — about 90 minutes from cactus to a pine-ringed lake at 6,750 feet. The drive, summer on the water, winter snow, and how to plan it.

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Desert fan palms stand beneath a starry night sky against distant low mountains.
Towns & neighbours

Twentynine Palms & the Oasis of Mara

Twentynine Palms — the park's north gateway town about 30 minutes away: the 9,000-year-old Oasis of Mara, the Oasis of Murals downtown, and the Marine town around them.

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An abandoned, yellow-sided desert homestead cabin with an exposed rafter roof sitting in a flat gravel basin under dramatic clouds.
Towns & neighbours

Wonder Valley & the Jackrabbit Homesteads

Wonder Valley, east of Twentynine Palms — hundreds of tiny 'jackrabbit homestead' cabins from the 1938 Small Tract Act, how to see them respectfully, and The Palms roadhouse.

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Amboy Crater, an extinct cinder cone in the Mojave Desert, under a pink evening sky with the moon rising
Towns & neighbours

High-Desert Farmers Markets & Provisions

The Wednesday and Saturday farmers markets in Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms, plus where to do a full grocery run on Highway 62.

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The cactus planter and courtyard path at golden hour
Towns & neighbours

Coffee in the High Desert

Independent cafés open in 2026 in Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms, with roasters, opening times to check, and how to fit coffee into a park day.

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A view along Highway 62 through Yucca Valley showing roadside businesses and snow-capped mountains in the distance.
Towns & neighbours

Things to Do in Yucca Valley

Things to do in Yucca Valley near Joshua Tree: Black Rock Canyon, Desert Christ Park, the free nature museum, Old Town cafes and shops, markets and Pioneertown.

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The town of Joshua Tree along Twentynine Palms Highway, with the desert hills behind
Towns & neighbours

Joshua Tree Village

The town of Joshua Tree at the park's West Entrance: the visitor center, the Crochet Museum, galleries, diners, the Saturday market and a climbing shop.

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A dry desert basin with scrub bushes and small yuccas leading up to rugged, rocky granite hills under a patterned blue and white cloudy sky.
Towns & neighbours

Pioneertown Mountains Preserve

Pioneertown Mountains Preserve: free trails up Pipes Canyon and Chaparrosa Peak, open sunrise to sunset, with leashed dogs allowed. Distances, trailheads, tips.

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Art & culture

Assemblage sculptures at the Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum
Art & culture

The Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum

The Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum near Joshua Tree — ten acres of assemblage sculpture, free and open daily. Who he was and how to visit respectfully.

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The white dome of the Integratron in Landers under a wide blue sky with streaks of cloud
Art & culture

The High-Desert Art Trail: Galleries, Studios & Highway 62

The high desert's art scene — galleries in Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms, outdoor desert art, and the Highway 62 Open Studio Art Tours each October. How to plan a day.

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The vintage car and the Stargaze sign at blue hour
Art & culture

Vintage & Thrift Shopping in the High Desert

Where to hunt for vintage, mid-century and desert-weird treasure around Yucca Valley and Joshua Tree — boutiques, thrift stores and roadside oddities, plus what's still open.

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The Pappy and Harriet's roadhouse in Pioneertown at night
Art & culture

Live Music & Desert Nights

Live music in the high desert — Pappy & Harriet's, the Joshua Tree Music Festival, The Palms in Wonder Valley, and the desert-rock roots of the Mojave. Where to hear it.

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A weathered and damaged white concrete biblical sculpture depicting a robed man with two children at an outdoor desert sculpture park.
Art & culture

Desert Christ Park, Yucca Valley

Free hillside park in Yucca Valley with more than 40 white concrete sculptures by Antone Martin, dedicated on Easter 1951. Its history, hours and how to visit.

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Giant Rock near Landers showing the large section that sheared off in the year 2000 resting on the desert floor beside a concrete pad.
Art & culture

Giant Rock and Landers

Giant Rock, a seven-story boulder on public land north of Landers, and its story: Frank Critzer, George Van Tassel's UFO conventions and the nearby Integratron.

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A desert tortoise on sandy ground in the Mojave Desert
Art & culture

Hi-Desert Nature Museum

The Hi-Desert Nature Museum in Yucca Valley: free natural and cultural history exhibits, a live mini-zoo of native reptiles and a kids' corner. Hours and tips.

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Experiences & seasons

The Milky Way over Joshua trees under a dark desert sky
Experiences & seasons

Where to Stargaze near Joshua Tree

Where to stargaze around Joshua Tree — an International Dark Sky Park — from the house itself to park pull-offs, the free Sky's the Limit Observatory and the Night Sky Festival.

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A resort swimming pool lined with lounge chairs and palm trees, with Mount San Jacinto rising in the background.
Experiences & seasons

Hot Springs, Spas & Wellness in the High Desert

The high desert's wellness side — the Integratron sound bath, the natural hot mineral springs of Desert Hot Springs, and Joshua Tree's yoga scene. A guide to slowing down.

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Joshua trees under changing desert light in the high desert
Experiences & seasons

When to Visit: A Month-by-Month Guide

When to visit the high desert around Joshua Tree — an honest, season-by-season guide to the heat, the cold, the crowds and the best times for hiking, blooms and dark skies.

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The Twentynine Palms Highway (State Route 62) crossing the high desert
Experiences & seasons

Getting Here: Airports & the Drive Up Highway 62

How to get to Yucca Valley and Stargaze Escape — which airport to choose (Palm Springs, Ontario, LAX), the drive up Highway 62, and why you'll want a rental car.

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A lush green golf course fairway lined with palm trees and large deciduous trees backed by steep, rugged desert mountains under a clear blue sky.
Experiences & seasons

Golf, Tennis & Pickleball

Public golf, tennis and pickleball near the house: Hawk's Landing in Yucca Valley, four Coachella Valley courses, Palm Springs courts and the BNP Paribas Open.

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The Joshua Tree National Park west entrance sign at dusk under a pink and purple sky
Experiences & seasons

Joshua Tree Entrances and Fees

Joshua Tree National Park's three entrances, four visitor centers, 2026 entrance fees and passes, and which entrance to use from Yucca Valley on a busy day.

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A small camping tent pitched among large rounded monzogranite boulders and desert shrubs with the sun bursting over the rocks.
Experiences & seasons

Camping in Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree National Park's nine campgrounds: which take reservations on Recreation.gov, which are first-come, summer closures, water, fire rules and limits.

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The stained-glass phone booth glowing at sunset beside a boulder
Experiences & seasons

High Desert Events Through the Year

Annual events near Yucca Valley and Joshua Tree, month by month: Grubstake Days, the Hwy 62 Art Tours, the Night Sky Festival, music festivals and Pioneer Days.

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Day trips

The vintage car among the cacti at dusk
Day trips

Coachella & Stagecoach: Basing Yourself in the High Desert

Staying up in the high desert for Coachella or Stagecoach — a calmer, often cheaper base about an hour from the Indio polo fields. The trade-offs, the traffic and how to plan.

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The Twentynine Palms Highway (State Route 62) crossing the high desert
Day trips

Three Classic Desert Road Trips

Three classic road trips from the high desert — Route 66 and Roy's Café at Amboy, the surreal Salton Sea and Salvation Mountain, and an easy Pioneertown loop. Distances and desert-driving tips.

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The multi-story adobe and timber exterior of Cabot's Pueblo Museum with desert gardens and benches in the foreground.
Day trips

Cabot's Pueblo Museum, Desert Hot Springs

Cabot Yerxa's hand-built, Hopi-inspired pueblo in Desert Hot Springs: 35 rooms of reclaimed materials, guided tours, 2026 hours and prices, and nearby stops.

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A shallow, rocky desert stream bordered by riparian shrubs and reeds flowing through an arid mountain canyon under a clear blue sky.
Day trips

Whitewater Preserve

A free canyon preserve with a year-round river, shaded picnic lawns and trails to the Pacific Crest Trail, under an hour from Yucca Valley. Dogs welcome.

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Salvation Mountain near Niland, painted with God Is Love and a large red heart under a white cross
Day trips

Salvation Mountain & the Salton Sea

A long day trip to Leonard Knight's painted Salvation Mountain, Slab City and the shrinking Salton Sea, with drive times, site rules and cool-season advice.

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A classic Mojave desert road-trip landmark in Southern California
Day trips

Amboy Crater & Route 66

Hike into Amboy Crater, a 250-foot cinder cone off old Route 66, then stop at Roy's in Amboy. Drive times, trail facts, heat and road notes from Yucca Valley.

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Curving crests of large desert sand dunes overlooking a vast flat basin and rugged distant mountains under a blue sky.
Day trips

Mojave National Preserve & the Kelso Dunes

A full day in Mojave National Preserve: the 3-mile Kelso Dunes climb, booming sand, Kelso Depot and the cinder cones, with drive times and current road notes.

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A Palm Springs Aerial Tramway cable car on its way up from the station
Day trips

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway rides 10 minutes up Chino Canyon to 8,516 feet and Mount San Jacinto State Park's trails. About 50 minutes from the house.

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Pines on South Ridge above Idyllwild, looking down to the San Jacinto Valley
Day trips

A Day Trip to Idyllwild

Idyllwild is a forest mountain town at about 5,400 feet, roughly 90 minutes from the house via Highway 243. Routes, Humber Park trails, permits and the town.

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Month by month

A light dusting of snow covers the desert floor, shrubs, and Joshua trees around large monzogranite rock formations under a foggy winter sky.
Month by month

Joshua Tree in January

Joshua Tree in January: NOAA weather normals for Yucca Valley, short days, snow and road closures, crowd numbers, the Quadrantids and Palm Springs events.

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A desert plain filled with Joshua trees leading toward rugged hills and snow-dusted distant mountains under a clear sky.
Month by month

Joshua Tree in February

Joshua Tree in February: Yucca Valley weather normals, longer days, the start of spring crowds, Joshua tree blooms, Modernism Week and Mars and Jupiter in 2027.

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Yellow desert wildflowers bloom across a sandy wash surrounded by Joshua trees and desert shrubs under a bright blue sky.
Month by month

Joshua Tree in March

Joshua Tree in March: the park's busiest month, NOAA weather normals, the clock change, mid-elevation wildflowers, spring wind, the night sky and local events.

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A close-up photograph of a blooming Joshua tree flower cluster against an out-of-focus desert landscape.
Month by month

Joshua Tree in April

Joshua Tree in April: warming NOAA weather normals, blooms on the high ground, Coachella and Stagecoach weekends, waking wildlife, the Lyrids and what to pack.

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Beavertail cactus blooming with vivid magenta flowers amidst desert shrubs and monzogranite boulders in Joshua Tree National Park.
Month by month

Joshua Tree in May

Joshua Tree in May: Yucca Valley climate normals, sunrise and sunset, the last blooms, Memorial Day crowds, the Eta Aquariids and what to pack.

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A Mojave Desert landscape with rounded granite rock formations, desert scrub, and yuccas against rugged desert mountains.
Month by month

Joshua Tree in June

Joshua Tree in June: NOAA normals for Yucca Valley, the longest days, Fortynine Palms and campground closures, safe hiking hours and dark June nights.

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A solitary Joshua tree stands framed by rounded granite rock formations under a starry night sky with the Milky Way.
Month by month

Joshua Tree in July

Joshua Tree in July: Yucca Valley and Twentynine Palms normals, monsoon storms and flash floods, Fourth of July rules, thin crowds and Milky Way nights.

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A dense stand of teddybear cholla cacti under a dark, dramatic storm sky with distant desert mountains.
Month by month

Joshua Tree in August

Joshua Tree in August: NOAA normals, monsoon storms and road closures, the Perseid meteor shower, shorter days, thin crowds and what to pack.

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A Mojave desert landscape with granite boulder formations, Joshua trees, and rugged mountains under a late afternoon sky.
Month by month

Joshua Tree in September

Joshua Tree in September: NOAA weather normals, late heat, daylight, the Fortynine Palms closure, flash floods, crowds, the night sky and what to pack.

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A person rock climbing a steep monzogranite cliff face using top-rope gear.
Month by month

Joshua Tree in October

Joshua Tree in October: NOAA normals, shorter days, Fortynine Palms reopening, climbing season, crowds, the Orionids, Night Sky Festival and art tours.

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Campers gather around a blazing campfire at a desert campsite backed by monzogranite rock formations and desert scrub.
Month by month

Joshua Tree in November

Joshua Tree in November: NOAA normals, the clock change and early sunsets, Thanksgiving crowds, campsites, longer hikes, the Leonids and what to pack.

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A silhouetted Joshua tree stands against a twilight sky patterned with rippled clouds and a tiny crescent moon.
Month by month

Joshua Tree in December

Joshua Tree in December: NOAA normals, freezing nights and rare snow, the shortest days, holiday crowds, the Geminids, holiday events and packing.

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Getting here

Wind turbines standing along a railway track against arid mountain slopes in a desert pass.
Getting here

Los Angeles to Joshua Tree

Driving from Los Angeles to Joshua Tree: the I-10 and Highway 62 route, miles and drive time, when to leave, toll lanes, EV charging and stops in Cabazon.

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Large roadside sculptures of an Apatosaurus and Tyrannosaurus Rex at the Cabazon Dinosaurs attraction with snow-dusted mountains in the background.
Getting here

Orange County to Joshua Tree

Driving from Orange County to Joshua Tree: the 91, the 60 and I-10 to Highway 62, miles and drive time, the 91 Express Lanes, charging in Beaumont and stops.

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Menifee and the inland valley seen from the Menifee Hills, on the drive up from San Diego
Getting here

San Diego to Joshua Tree

Driving from San Diego to Joshua Tree: I-15 and Highway 79, or the desert way through Julian, Anza-Borrego and the Salton Sea. Miles, times, charging and stops.

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A multi-lane desert highway stretching straight across scrubland toward the towering massif of Mount San Jacinto under a partly cloudy sky.
Getting here

San Francisco to Joshua Tree

Driving from San Francisco to Joshua Tree: I-5, Route 58 over Tehachapi Pass, Barstow and Route 247 to Yucca Valley, with miles, drive time, charging and stops.

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A divided multi-lane highway cutting across an arid desert plain toward distant hazy mountains.
Getting here

Phoenix to Joshua Tree

Driving from Phoenix to Joshua Tree: I-10 to Highway 62, the Cottonwood entrance through the park, or Parker and Route 62, with miles, time zones and stops.

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The giant thermometer landmark in Baker, California standing against a bright blue desert sky beside an American flag and a gift shop.
Getting here

Las Vegas to Joshua Tree

Three ways to drive from Las Vegas to Joshua Tree and Yucca Valley: I-15 and Highway 247, Kelbaker Road through the Mojave Preserve, or US-95 and Amboy.

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The outdoor fabric tensile canopy and courtyard walkway of Palm Springs International Airport featuring a 'Welcome to Palm Springs' sign.
Getting here

Flying into Palm Springs

Palm Springs International is the closest airport to Stargaze Escape. Airlines and seasonal flights, rental cars, and the drive up Highway 62 to Yucca Valley.

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An aerial view of the runways and terminals of Ontario International Airport surrounded by roads and suburban development.
Getting here

Flying into Ontario

Ontario International is about 95 miles from Stargaze Escape. Its terminals and airlines, the rental car shuttle, and the drive east on I-10 and up Highway 62.

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A parking lot at Los Angeles International Airport with the freeway overpasses beyond
Getting here

Flying into Los Angeles

LAX, Burbank or Long Beach for a Joshua Tree trip: how the three compare, where to pick up the rental car, and the 135 to 150 mile drive east to Yucca Valley.

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Eat & drink

The boulder dining table with cacti at the window
Eat & drink

Breakfast and Brunch near Joshua Tree

Breakfast and weekend brunch near Joshua Tree: diners and cafes in Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree, Twentynine Palms and Morongo Valley, with drive times.

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The corner kitchen window seen from the courtyard
Eat & drink

Lunch near Joshua Tree

Lunch near Joshua Tree by town: delis that pack food for the park and sit-down lunches in Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree, Twentynine Palms and Morongo Valley.

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The kitchen with the coral tile wall and the window to the garden
Eat & drink

Dinner near Joshua Tree

Dinner near Joshua Tree by town: Yucca Valley, Pioneertown, Joshua Tree, Twentynine Palms, Morongo Valley and Highway 247, with booking tips and drive times.

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The fire pit and a vintage sign at nightfall
Eat & drink

Bars and Saloons in the High Desert

Bars and saloons near Joshua Tree, town by town: Old West saloons, a 1950s airport lounge, jazz, breweries and dive bars, with drive times and late-night tips.

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Shelves of vintage cans in the kitchen
Eat & drink

Mexican Food in the Morongo Basin

Taco shops, sit-down Mexican restaurants and late-night tacos in Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms, with drive times and hours to check.

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The kitchen window over the sink, looking out to the breeze-block wall and the garden
Eat & drink

Groceries and Supplies in Yucca Valley

Where to stock a cook-in stay near Joshua Tree: Yucca Valley supermarkets, natural foods, wine and liquor shops, hardware, pharmacies, water and ice.

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The covered patio with lounge seating beside the house
Eat & drink

Bakeries and Sweets in the High Desert

Sourdough, cookies, donuts, ice cream, bagels and pan dulce in Yucca Valley, Morongo Valley, Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms, with drive times and hours.

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Travel tips

Palm Canyon Drive in downtown Palm Springs with the San Jacinto Mountains behind
Travel tips

Hospitals and Urgent Care near Joshua Tree

Where to get medical help near Joshua Tree: the ER in Joshua Tree, trauma care in Palm Springs, urgent care, pharmacies, vets and the park's emergency phones.

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The California State Route 62 highway shield against the San Gorgonio Mountains
Travel tips

Gas and EV Charging near Joshua Tree

No gas or chargers inside Joshua Tree National Park. Where to fill up and fast-charge along Highway 62, how far park drives run, and fuel for desert day trips.

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The Cholla Cactus Garden in Joshua Tree National Park under a clear sky
Travel tips

Cell Service in Joshua Tree

Cell service in Joshua Tree National Park is very limited. Where to find wifi, how to set up offline maps, and how to reach help by satellite or text.

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The living room with the doors open to the cactus garden
Travel tips

Ideas for Hot, Windy or Rainy Days

Too hot, windy or wet for the park? Indoor and cooler options around Yucca Valley, Twentynine Palms and Palm Springs, plus heat, wind and flash flood facts.

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Photo credits on this page: Joshua Tree National Park 2013.jpg by Tuxyso, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Bouldering in Joshua Tree (31276719305).jpg by Joshua Tree National Park, Public domain · Cholla Cactus Garden.jpg by Eric Kilby, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Keys Ranch Historic Vehicle and Main House (50997128745).jpg by Joshua Tree National Park, Public domain · Joshua Tree National Park flowers - Baileya pleniradiata - 08.JPG by Jarek Tuszyński, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Astronomy Program (55086809621).jpg by Joshua Tree National Park, Public domain · Big Morongo Canyon Preserve (51858841369).jpg by blmcalifornia, Public domain · Aerial view of Joshua Tree National Park Covington Flats Area (51194879714).jpg by Joshua Tree National Park, Public domain · Black Rock Canyon Backcountry Trailhead (52798103522).jpg by Joshua Tree National Park, Public domain · Hidden Valley Trail 01.jpg by Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Barker Dam Joshua Tree December 2013 003.jpg by King of Hearts, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Joshua tree keys view pano more vertical.jpg by Matthew Field, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Ryan Mountain Trail 02.jpg by Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Sunset from the Skull Rock Trail; Jumbo Rocks (21113045388).jpg by Joshua Tree National Park, Public domain · Arch Rock 02.JPG by Bachelot Pierre J-P, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Lost Horse Mine (16837125542).jpg by Joshua Tree National Park, Public domain · Cottonwood Spring Oasis (29214416634).jpg by Joshua Tree National Park, Public domain · Joshua Tree NP - Light Saber - 5.jpg by Jarek Tuszyński, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Fortynine Palms Oasis in Joshua Tree National Park.jpg by Crishazzard, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Mojave yucca (Yucca schidigera); Indian Cove Campground - 12661672994.jpg by Robb Hannawacker, Joshua Tree National Park, Public domain · Pioneertown california saloon and bath house.jpg by Matthew Field, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Latitude 33.jpg by Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0 · BBV Summer 2019 -33.jpg by BigBearCabins, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Night sky and light pollution at the Oasis of Mara (50792382802).jpg by Joshua Tree National Park, Public domain · Shadow Mountain Road. Wonder Valley. August 2, 2022.jpg by Hwy62revisited, CC0 · Amboy Crater Area of Critical Environmental Concern, California (15039266973).jpg by Bob Wick, Bureau of Land Management, Public domain · View west in Yucca Valley CA.jpg by Downtowngal, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Joshua Tree, California 01 by Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Pioneertown Mountains Preserve Sawtooth Landscape.jpg by BookOfDisquiet, CC BY 4.0 · Noah Purifoy outdoor desert assemblage art museum entrance.jpeg by Sarahmirk, CC BY-SA 4.0 · IntegratronLanders.jpeg by Jerry Frissen, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Pappy and Harriets Exterior.jpg by Pappyswiki, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Desert Christ Park Trio - panoramio.jpg by Diarrhea, CC BY 3.0 · Giant Rock in Landers, CA July 2008.JPG by Tomwhite56 at en.wikipedia, Public domain · Desert Tortoise (6215569730).jpg by Pacific Southwest Region USFWS from Sacramento, US, Public domain · Headstone rock under the Milky Way (22829620378).jpg by Joshua Tree National Park, Public domain · Living Waters Spa.jpg by JS5owner, Public domain · Aerial view of Joshua Tree National Park (51194316453).jpg by Joshua Tree National Park, Public domain · CA62sb TwentyninePalmsHwySign 20170910.jpg by Niranjan Arminius, CC BY-SA 4.0 · California desert golf course with palm trees by Jennifer Bourn, CC0 1.0 · Joshua Tree National Park West Entrance Sign at Sunset (46967728522).jpg by Joshua Tree National Park, Public domain · Jumbo Rocks Campsite (26418406409).jpg by Joshua Tree National Park, Public domain · Beside Highway 62, 2004 - panoramio.jpg by ogwen, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Desert Hot Springs Cablot’s Pueblo Museum (3).jpeg by own picture Renhau (R. Haupt, Germany), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wildlands Whitewater River.jpg by BookOfDisquiet, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Salvation Mountain is an art installation covering a hill north of Calipatria, California, near Slab City and just several miles from the Salton Sea LCCN2013633406.tif by Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain · AmboyCraterViewMarch2010.jpg by Wilson44691, Public domain · Mojave National Preserve Kelso Dunes (49461666752).jpg by Joshua Tree National Park, Public domain · Aerial Tramway Car 7.jpg by Gillfoto, CC BY-SA 4.0 · San Jacinto Valley and Various Mountains from South Ridge Trailhead, San Jacinto Mountains.jpg by Z3lvs, CC0 · Joshua Tree Landscape with Snow (54380704275).jpg by Joshua Tree National Park, Public domain · Joshua trees and snow capped mountains (31727726703).jpg by Joshua Tree National Park, Public domain · Wildflowers by Keys View Road (26413348342).jpg by Joshua Tree National Park, Public domain · Joshua Tree Flowers in Bloom (51915511242).jpg by Joshua Tree National Park, Public domain · Beavertail Cactus in the Wonderland of Rocks. (36736804261).jpg by Joshua Tree National Park, Public domain · Indian Cove Campground; Twentynine Palms, CA - 12660944675.jpg by Joshua Tree National Park, Public domain · Night sky of Joshua Tree National Park (35211054330).jpg by Joshua Tree National Park, Public domain · Afternoon Storm over Cholla Cactus Garden (52397977619).jpg by Joshua Tree National Park, Public domain · Sunset at Joshua Tree National Park (21123226221).jpg by Joshua Tree National Park, Public domain · Rock Climber at Joshua Tree National Park - 2.jpg by Joshua Tree National Park, Public domain · Campfire at Jumbo Rocks campground (16116721080).jpg by Joshua Tree National Park, Public domain · Crescent moon and Joshua tree silhouette at sunset (50733907513).jpg by Joshua Tree National Park, Public domain · Wind energy near Palm Springs (30873356400).jpg by Pacific Southwest Region USFWS from Sacramento, US, Public domain · Cabazon-Dinosaurs-2.jpg by Jllm06, CC0 · Menifee viewed from Menifee Hills.jpg by Z3lvs, CC0 · CA62sb TwentyninePalmsHwy 1 20170910.jpg by Niranjan Arminius, CC BY-SA 4.0 · View of I-10 near Desert Center, CA 20110809 1.jpg by DXR, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Thermometer Baker California, 2019.jpg by Gayinspandex1, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Palm Springs International Airport-1.jpg by Visitor7, CC BY-SA 3.0 · LA Ontario Airport from the Air (ONT) San Bernadino, Cty, California.jpg by Northwalker, CC0 · LAX Cell Phone Parking Lot.jpg by Northwalker, CC0 · Palm Canyon Drive - Palm Springs, California, USA - August 1995.jpg by Giorgio Galeotti, CC BY-SA 4.0 · CA62s2 20150913.jpg by Niranjan Arminius, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cholla Cactus Garden, Joshua Tree National Park.jpg by Mojnsen, CC BY 4.0 · Joshua tree at sunset in Queen Valley (50602525682).jpg by Joshua Tree National Park, Public domain. More on our photo credits page.