I have only been interested in Joshua Tree National Park for a few years now, despite having grown up in Southern California. My mom even admitted she has very little interest in Joshua Tree, which is why I went by myself! I don’t really think I knew it existed, honestly. In the past, it was under-represented when faced with other giants like Sequoia National Park, but it’s gained popularity recently.
I finally got the chance to visit in December of 2019. I couldn’t decide how many days I wanted to visit, though, so I planned for 1, 2, and 5 days. There are tons of activities, hikes, and sights in Joshua Tree National Park; the good news is many of the highlights can be seen in just one day! I chose 5 days, but I still have all those plans, so I decided to share my resources! If you want one resource for everything you need to know, I’ve got that too!
My 1- and 2-day itineraries assume those full days are spent in Joshua Tree National Park. However, if you have five days to spend in the area, this itinerary supports a broader range of sights and activities. Plus, I built in some leeway for skipping or adding things! Except where specified, I assume you’ve brought food with you into the park and won’t need to exit and re-enter. This plan was roughly the one I followed when I went (the 1- and 2- plans were backups), but as any traveler can tell you, I had to deviate from it. I arrived too late in the day to start day 1 as intended, so many other things got shuffled. But it’s a tried plan that I have now worked the kinks out of and can share for you to work with! I visited during the week in December, so I entered via the West Entrance. If you go one a weekend during busy times, you may want to enter through a different exit, arrive earlier, or plan to spend more time at the entrance gate. You may also choose to spend more or less time doing things on this list (some days have lots of walking and/or driving); use it as a guide for whatever you are interested in!
Joshua Tree Itinerary: Day 1
Pioneertown
Visit around 11am, unless you want to go on a Saturday for the Wild West Show. Arriving then gives you time to arrive from wherever you are coming from and visit when stores are open or just about to open. Visiting before you head into the park also helps avoid the extra time to drive back and forth between the towns (Pioneertown is about 20 minutes from the center of Joshua Tree and 25 minutes from the West Entrance of the park).
Founded in 1946, Pioneertown was built as a movie set for popular wild west movies of that time. Nowadays, it’s not used for movies much anymore, but it is a little town with shops and old west style scenery. On the 2nd and 4th Saturday from October thru June, there’s even a free wild west re-enactment show at 2:30pm. Since I was there out of season, I can’t say for sure, but it appears to be animal-free and all donations go to a children’s charity. That charity is not specified.
A weekend visit to Pioneertown is highly recommended, but as I stated above, Joshua Tree gets busy at that time. You might want to choose one or the other or arrive on a Saturday (the best day to experience everything Pioneertown has to offer). Obviously, I chose to visit during the week and didn’t get to experience the full glory of Pioneertown thanks to a storm. There are many shops (General Mercantile/Local Art Studio, a Pottery Shop, etc.) and facades (Bank, Jail, Saloon, etc.) to visit when you go as well! The stores run on a “when the owner feels like it” schedule, but mid-day is a safe bet for opening. Additionally, they have a cute (running) post office that’s open year-round!
Pappy and Harriet’s is a popular place for food, but they have a limited menu, and nothing is clearly vegan. They have a few vegetarian options, and plenty of options for your omnivorous pals if you need that, though. I would probably wait until Joshua Tree for food, unless you want to experience an old west environment (and sometimes music). (P. S. they seem very open to feedback on their website, so if more people express needs for a clearly marked/better menu, it might help!)
Joshua Tree Visitor Center
1:30pm: After a 20-minute drive, you’ll arrive in Joshua Tree. If you are hungry and didn’t bring your own food, your first stop should be Natural Sisters Café before they close! After that, a pit stop at the Visitor Center can be helpful to grab a map and orient yourself. If you want to look for some souvenirs, they have a few, as does Coyote Corner across the street. Coyote Corner is also your stop for a shower if you are camping!
Check-In or Set Up Your Campsite
2:30pm: Whether you are staying in town or camping in the park, now is a good time to set up your sleeping arrangements.
Hidden Valley Nature Trail (1-mile) (1 hour)
4pm: If you are staying in the park, your drive to the trail will be shorter, but coming from elsewhere it’s a 20-minute drive from the West Entrance. Try to be at Hidden Valley around 4pm to do some exploring!
Hidden Valley is rumored to be where cattle ranchers in the 19th century would hide their herd, and once you breach the rocks at the beginning of the trail, I immediately understood this tale. I don’t know if it’s true or not, but it’s an enchanting story to keep in mind as you read the path markers.
The trail is decently well marked and fairly populated, so if a thin crowd sounds bothersome, move on. However, keep in mind if you are there at a busy time, most of these sights will be quite populated.
Note: There is a connecting trail of about 2.2 miles from Hidden Valley to Barker Dam Trail. If you want to take this path, make sure to look at the sunset time so you don’t get stuck in the dark! I took it but can’t say it’s particularly “special” if you will be exploring the rest of the park.
You may even see some peek throughs 🙂 
Amazing huge rocks
Barker Dam Trail (1.1-mile) (1 hour)
5:05pm: Barker Dam is a 5-minute drive from the Hidden Valley parking lot.
I want to say Barker Dam was my favorite trail in Joshua Tree National Park, but I honestly loved it all. I can say this area was the biggest surprise for me! There is standing water from the old dam at the far end of this loop, which brings a unique set of species to this area. The dam’s water level fluctuates with the season, but there’s always something intriguing about the area. There is minimal elevation gain, and the path isn’t always smooth.
It is well marked and fairly populated, so if a thin crowd sounds bothersome, move on. However, keep in mind if you are there at a busy time, most of these sights will be quite populated.
Keys View (& Cap Rock)
6:30pm: Keys View is a 20-minute drive from Barker Dam, so if seeing the sunset today (recommended) is important to you, check the time before starting the previous hikes. I went when sunset was around this time, so it worked for me, but if sunset is earlier, you’ll have free time to explore later! If sunset is later, you may want to do something else, or skip the sunset and do something else with the rest of your night 😊
You can stop at Cap Rock at the corner of Keys View Road and Park Blvd, but I wasn’t mesmerized. It did provide a pretty cool picture though! It’s a giant rock formation with a short trail around it.
A night view of the Coachella Valley and San Bernandino Mountains. 
On cloudy days, all you can see is clouds!
Joshua Tree Itinerary: Day 2
Today is packed to minimize driving time, gas usage, and “back and forth” driving. If it’s too much, arriving earlier on day 1 or staying later on your final day may help you spread out the walking/hiking.
Cholla Cactus Garden (.25-mile loop) (30 minutes) & Ocotillo Patch (10 minutes)
Sunrise was 6am when I went, and I got up to photograph it (sadly, for an overcast sky). If sunrise isn’t interesting, feel free to push it back, but starting here will work best for the rest of the day (you’ll be working from the middle, out).
The Ocotillo Patch is an hour from the West Entrance, but since I was camping in Joshua Tree National Park, my drive was short. As I said, feel free to move it around if you aren’t staying in the park or if sunrise is just too early for you. They are a Sonoran Desert plant that put on a dramatic floral display, but only after some rain (even just a little). If they aren’t blooming, they aren’t very exciting (in my opinion), but they were worth a quick stop due to their uniqueness. They can grow over 15 feet (up to 33 feet) and have bright red-orange flowers each spring. I personally find their close-up fascinating!
It’s a 5-minute drive to the Cholla Cactus Garden. I was fascinated with these cacti, and I walked the quarter-mile flat loop. Something about these cacti is intriguing. I love the color change and their varying textures. They are a unique species I encourage everyone to visit. They will change your views of cacti for sure! P. S. During my research, I read that these were nicknamed the teddy bear cholla, but don’t snuggle them!
Arch Rock Trail (1.2-mile loop) (1.5 hours)
8am: It’s less than 15 minutes to the Arch Rock parking area. It shares parking with the Twin Tanks Backcountry trail. There’s a small “parking area” in White Tank Campground that puts you 0.3 mile from Arch Rock that some people suggest using, but it’s not encouraged to use that space. It’s supposed to be for campers at that site.
Arch Rock appears to defy gravity, and it’s a popular spot for pictures. Scrambling up the rocks for a pose is common but be careful doing so. Honestly, my favorite part of the stop was one of the information signs I read. I kept seeing these lines in the rocks but didn’t know what they were or where they came from. They are called dikes …isn’t that perfect (even if it is a different spelling)? I was smiling and laughing the whole time, feeling like Joshua Tree should win a metal (there are plenty of other parks with these formations, but I was just tickled pink)! Some of them are veins, which look similar but are the same. Dikes are large, extensive, columnal, and formed when magma fills in a pre-existing rock that has cracked; veins are smaller, thinner, more random, and formed from rare-element concentrated fluid over a longer period.
On the trail, you can also see rocks that have been sculpted from cavernous weathering and undercutting (below on left). These processes occur when moisture is trapped on a rock surface or soil long enough to decompose minerals. Running water and wind then wash the sand away.
An orange-ish rounded rock seems to defy gravity. 
Just one of the many dikes throughout the park.
Split Rock Loop (2-miles) plus Face Rock (0.2-mile round loop shoot off) (2.5 hours)
9:15am: It’s less than a 15-minute drive to Split Rock Loop trail, which is less busy than others in Joshua Tree National Park, such as Hidden Valley or Barker Dam. It’s also not as easy to follow (honestly, it probably is, but I took a turn to see something and got lost). Split Rock itself is interesting, but the trail is what stands out to me here. I crawled around a lot of rocks over here and saw some cool formations. This trail is a great option for similar views, but less people.
P. S. I promise pictures get better than the one below – lighting and weather was not great that day. I would put a different one, but I visited not knowing which formation Split Rock was – so if that’s you, here it is! There’s also a pretty red bush to make up for it 😊
Skull Rock (30 minutes)
11:45am: Five minutes down the road, you’ll see a pull out, likely with quite a few cars. You’ll know you have arrived at Skull Rock. Most of the leftover 20-minutes I gave to find parking. I will be honest; Skull Rock was cool for about one minute. It’s a formation that looks like a skull, but only from a very specific angle. The idea of it was enticing, but once I arrived, I was… disappointed. I don’t have a reasonable explanation for why. I just wasn’t impressed (and I love skulls!), so I want to encourage you to make a stop on your own and form your own opinion. I promise, it is cool. Just not for me!
Because it was overcast all week, I didn’t get many great pictures, but I especially didn’t get any of Skull Rock, so enjoy Face Rock (from Split Rock’s trail).
Ryan Mountain Trail (3 miles) (3 hours)
12:15pm: It’s a 10-minute drive to the parking area from Skull Rock, so 12:30pm is a good estimate to arrive. Sometime in these next few hours, you’ll probably want lunch, so instead of 2.5 hours, I estimated the mountain as a 3 hour stop! I would eat on the way or in my car to save time and gas, but if you want lunch at a picnic area, you can either backtrack to Live Oak or Split Rock Picnic Areas. Remember to leave no trace!
Ryan Mountain is the second highest peak in Joshua Tree National Park (Quail Mountain is the highest, but there is no set trail to hike up). The trail is well marked and well trafficked. There are a few times the hike seems to peak, but you turn the mountain and continue. There are some wonderful sights from the hike (such as seeing the Wonderland of Rocks), but the best view is the top. You can even see other mountains (I saw them with snow!). Feel free to sit up here and hang out a while. You won’t be the only one.
This trail is mostly uphill, so if walking uphill for a prolonged period is difficult, I suggest skipping this hike. Take some pictures for a nice rest mid-day, or head into town for lunch instead of the picnic area. I have some intense knee problems, and honestly, this hike probably wasn’t a good idea for me. But I did it, loved it, and would do it again (in no way does that mean you should push yourself! I just like mountains).
The view from Ryan Mountain Trail. 
A spiky red cactus you can see in Joshua Tree!
Note: If you’ve done everything today to the letter, you may be tired and ready to head into town to rest for the rest of the day. Anything you skip can be done on day 5 before heading home, so don’t worry about missing out!
Ryan Ranch Trail to see Estate (0.8-mile) (40 minutes) or Wall Street Mill (2 miles) (1.5 hours)
3:15pm: I’d personally skip the mill in this instance, but it is next to Barker Dam and it’s a point of interest, so I thought I would mention it. It’s also another long investment in a hike, so maybe you want to take the last day to see the Mill instead!
The Mill is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and the story behind it is interesting. Well, at story of Bill Keys and Worth Bagley is interesting, but you’ll learn about that if you visit Keys Ranch. Essentially, they disputed control over the road to the mill, and Bagley was killed. Keys went to prison, and there is a memorial about 0.8 miles up the trail… except, the memorial is a copy. The National Park Service had to remove the original after vandalism at the site.
As I said, it really is an interesting site with a stop, but I wouldn’t return because the walk there was standard, i. e. no interesting views or formations.
Ryan Ranch is a considerably shorter walk than others in the park, and one of the “easy” ones. It’s easy to stay on the path, but it is not paved. For the first half of the trail, I felt like I was walking into nothing, but suddenly I looked to the left and saw a hint of abode walls! The estate, built by J. D. Ryan in the 1800s, was originally a main house, two-room bunkhouse, a single room building, well, corral, and graveyard. The Ranch served as a home base for Ryan and his family, who operated the Lost Horse Mine nearby. The area held up well for over a century until a suspected act of arson in the late 1970s.
Today, little of the originally ranch remains, but I thought it was beautiful. Yes, there is graffiti and some areas of unnatural ruin. However, it was moving to stand in the main area still left. I looked out the broken sides of the building and imagined the family that lived there so long ago. I saw the view they woke to every morning. Even more, I saw a desert hare that may have descended from ancestors from decades ago. *silly face*
Pudgy hare! 
The dilapidated Ryan Ranch.
Joshua Tree Itinerary: Day 3
After such a busy day yesterday, I planned for a lighter day, but it’s quite a lot of driving since you’ll be outside of the park.
Sound Bath at Integratron (75 minutes)
I chose to do a mid-morning (10:45am) sound bath at the Integratron after such a busy day prior. It’s about an hour from inside Joshua Tree and 25 minutes from the Visitor Center. After a brief history, you walk up a short but steep set of stairs to lay on mats (their website claims they are handicap friendly, and to contact them. I think you’d have to stay on the bottom level, so I am not sure how the experience would be). The sound bath consists of live quartz crystal bowls and ambient music inside a chamber designed for deep resonance and multiple waves. They also burn rosemary and wood incense, but I didn’t smell them. The experience as a whole is 60 minutes, but I would budget a few extra minutes to walk around (they have an awesome outside area).
I can’t say I believe in the origin or history that they claim, but it’s certainly a fun experience if you have the money. It was a big splurge for me as it is more expensive than I’d like, but it was something I was very interested in trying. It’s hard for me to say whether I would recommend it – my experience was tainted by a snorer. So please, if you think you may fall asleep, don’t partake because it harms the experience for everyone else. The workers try to have pre-cautions set in place, but they obviously don’t always work. That being said, it’s worth trying if it’s something that sounds interesting to you!
Gubler Orchids (10 minutes)
12pm: I learned about this orchid store (that offers free tours) at the end of the sound bath, and I had to stop. It was empty of people, so I didn’t bother them for a tour, but it’s worth popping in to see their flowers and storefront!
SO many little pots! 
Colorful orchids take up the other part of the store.
Noah Purifoy Art (60 minutes)
12:10pm: The Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Exhibit is about 20 minutes from the orchid shop, so you can expect to arrive around 12:30pm if you go to the Integratron. You may see a road runner, too — I saw two!
Noah Purifoy lived from 1917 – 2004 and was a lifelong artist. The last 15 years of his life, he used found or junk material to create large sculptures, and when you visit, the Noah Purifoy Foundation provides pamphlets with info on each installation. If art isn’t your interest, this stop isn’t for you. I also can’t say I’d visit again; however, I do recommend you visit at least once because it’s extremely interesting!
P. S. Lunch can easily be taken here, on the way back through Joshua Tree, or at the Indian Cove campsite picnic area.
Indian Cove Nature Trail (0.6-mile loop) (45 minutes)
1:30pm: After a half hour drive, you can expect to arrive around 2pm. This trail is short, but informative. I gave a 45-minute time estimate to allow visitors to stop and read the signs, climb some small rocks, and enjoy the scenery. This area of the park is not nearly as visited as the other areas, which is why I think it’s important to stop at if you have the time. It’s also a short bit of movement to help stretch after so much yesterday and resting today!
Hall of Horrors Area (0.6-mile loop) (45 minutes)
2:15pm: Since I camped in the park, I had to make my way back to the park anyway, so I stopped at the Hall of Horrors area on my way back in. However, if you are staying in town, exploring this area might make more sense on your last day or before the Integratron because it’s 50 minutes from Indian Cove (making you arrive at nearly 3:15pm). Remember, this plan is only a starting point!
The Hall of Horrors area has an awesome name, but it’s not scary at all. The paths are poorly marked, and the trail is uneven, though, so if you aren’t careful it will be a horror! Luckily, the huge rock formations in the middle of the area help visitors keep direction. The trail around the rocks most climbers will go on is about 0.6-miles, so it won’t take long if you stay on track. This area isn’t high on most lists, and I wouldn’t normally include a place like that, but I loved it for the species I saw (not going to lie, I also got off the path for almost an hour). Despite the area being similar to places like Arch Rock, I saw more birds and small mammals than I could count, but only in this area. I also liked how the rocks met and formed alleyways (halls!) visitors can explore. It’s worth a stop here to try and see one or two animals or halls since it is such a short stop.
I ended this day at Keys View, so I wanted to be in the park early, but you can spend time in town if you aren’t interested in the same place! Alternatively, you can see if Smiths Ranch Movies (below) is having movies this day and put it here instead.
Joshua Tree Itinerary: Day 4
Keys Ranch Tour (0.5-mile) (1.5 hours)
9:30am: You’ll want to make sure to be at the meeting point at least 10 minutes before 9:30am, and it’s about a 30-minute drive from the West Entrance. Many itineraries leave the ranch out because of the schedule aspect, but the guided walking tour was exceptional, and I think it’s worth the work around. You get to “discover the colorful lives of Bill and Frances Keys and learn how they survived and raised a family in the harsh desert environment.” Additionally, the location is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, so it has some awesome history!
It’s a half-mile over 90 minutes and only available certain days at certain times, and the tour is only offered between October and May. The days change over time, so you need to check on the NPS Calendar https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/calendar.htm when they will be offered. You must buy tickets in advance at https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/facility/tour/1040, and tours are capped at 25 people. Tickets are $10/ 12+ year old, $5/ 6-11-year-old, and free for ages younger than 6 (except when reserving it charges $1, so…). When I visited, tours were being offered Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday from 9:30am-11am, but Wednesday was the only day with tickets available, so planning is important.
Lost Palms Oasis & Cottonwood Springs (7.2-miles or 0.2-mile) (3.5-4 hours or 30 minutes)
11am: This day is a long drive day too. Hazard of visiting a big National Park, I think! Anyway, I truly believe this spot (specifically Cottonwood Springs) is one of the best in Joshua Tree National Park, but it’s also it’s best kept secret because no one talks about it. It’s far away from the other main attractions, so it rarely makes it on itineraries or “things to do,” which is a shame. It 70 minutes from the Keys Ranch tour area, so you can expect to arrive around 12:15pm.
The spring (which is by the parking area – the 0.2-mile choice) was the result of earthquake activity and was used by the Cahuilla people for centuries. Slightly down the path from the spring, there is a sign next to a hole in a rock with a description – it is an old mortar and pestle left behind from ages past. Seriously, if you see one thing in Joshua tree (other than a Joshua tree), please make it the Cottonwood Springs.
The Lost Palms Trail is the much longer choice. It’s also rated as moderate some places, but from what I experienced it was more difficult/hard. The trail itself will take about 3 hours, but of course with stops it’s longer. If you go down into the end Oasis, which I probably wouldn’t do on my abilities, it’s estimated to add an hour on top of that, so it’s a busy day. Bring at least twice as much water as you think you’d need!
Let me be clear, too. This hike is not easy! If you are worried about your ability, don’t feel bad! (Even if you aren’t, avoid this trail in high heat.) But maybe just go to the first oasis right at the beginning or go a little bit down the path and look around. I did something in the middle because of time constraints. If you can make it up the hill after Cottonwood Springs, you’ll get a nice view of the “valley” where the oasis sits.
Bajada Trail (0.25-mile loop) (30 minutes)
This trail isn’t one I went on, but I wanted to include it as an option for an easier path than a seven-mile hike! You’ll be able to learn about the plants in the Sonoran Desert on this trail, which is unlike most other paths in Joshua Tree National Park. I’m leaving the ETA off here because it’s so flexible.
Smith’s Ranch Drive In
When I went to Joshua Tree, the drive-in movies started at 7:30pm, so I went straight to the movies! Okay, I had to stop for gas and a few other things because it’s a two-hour drive, but you get the gist. I saw Frozen II and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil for $5 flat.
It may seem ridiculous or not worth the long drive, but because of their limited show times, it was my only option. And I had to go to the drive-in – it’s something I have always wanted to do. If you are in Joshua Tree when they have the movies on other days, it would behoove you to move it then!
Joshua Tree Itinerary: Day 5
I set aside day 5 in this itinerary exclusively for extras, things that were skipped, and/or traveling home.
If you’ve managed to see everything listed by today, you can take explore some of the off-roads/back roads.
There are other hikes that aren’t as popular, like 49 Palms, Lost Horse Mine, and more. Also, there is a famous crochet museum, a Cactus Mart where you can dig your own cactus, or exploring Palm Springs!
And I JUST learned about this thing, so I have never done it before, but it looks awesome: Geocaching! I will be doing that on future trips!
Joshua Tree Food?
Eat at: Natural Sisters Café. They are a vegan and vegetarian place open from 7am – 2pm daily, so you can stop for breakfast, then pick up lunch and dinner too!
Crossroads Café. They are open from 7am-9pm daily except Sunday (2pm close). They have some nice vegan options alongside omnivorous food.
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I would love to go camping + do more hiking at Joshua Tree someday! I went there for the first time last summer but didn’t stay too long because it was suuuper super hot and I was in danger of melting (heh)!
I can only imagine the heat in the summer! I don’t blame you for making it a quick trip, haha.
Wow this looks like such a fun place to visit! Lots of activities and adventurous too!
Absolutely is!