A Winter Weekend in the High Desert

Summer gets the attention, but winter is when the high desert is easiest to enjoy. Days in December and January run from the mid-50s to the low 60s Fahrenheit, nights drop into the high 30s and low 40s, and the air is dry and clear. Snow is rare, a day or two a year if at all. The park is quiet, the sun sets before five, and the hot tub earns its keep.

Friday

Arrive in daylight if you can; the sun is down by about a quarter to five in December. Turn the fire pit on, put a pot of something on the stove, and watch the sky go from orange to black over the breeze-block wall. When the cold sets in, move to the hot tub. Winter nights out here are often the clearest of the year.

Saturday

Winter is the one season you can hike Joshua Tree in the middle of the day. Drive the 25 minutes to the west entrance and walk Hidden Valley or Barker Dam without the heat. Back at the house by mid-afternoon, take a bath in the soaking tub with the curtains open, then head to Pappy & Harriet's for dinner. For a daytime meal, La Copine serves lunch Thursday to Sunday, 11am to 4pm. Hours change at both, so check before you go. If your dates land on December 13 to 14, the Geminids peak that night. Our meteor calendar has the rest.

Sunday

Coffee at the boulder table with the sun coming in, a last walk through the cactus garden while it is still cool, and checkout by 11am.

What to pack

• A real coat and a hat for after dark. The desert loses its heat fast once the sun goes.
• Layers for the park: a fleece for the morning, a t-shirt by noon.
• Swimwear for the hot tub, whatever the temperature.
• A red flashlight if you plan to stargaze.

Our seasonal packing guide covers the rest.