The Best One-Day Joshua Tree Itinerary to Maximize Time

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 a more laid back experience, you can go for two days or even five days like me. If you want one resource for everything you need to know, I’ve got that too! For common questions, like how to get to Joshua Tree, where to stay in Joshua Tree, and even where to shower, you can find that in everything you need to know.

If you start at the West Entrance, you can follow this plan from the top-down. If you start at the South Entrance, go from the bottom-up (ending at Keys View)! The North Entrance is a similar set-up to the West, but you may choose to move a few stops around. I equally favor both directions. Starting at the top ensures ample time for all the “main” stops but starting at the bottom means you can end at the day at Keys View.

You’ll want to start off this day early to get all the best stops in, but if you want an earlier end, later start, or slower day, feel free to leave out a stop or two. Not everyone thinks the southern part of Joshua Tree National Park is worth their time in one day, which is why it’s missing on most one-day itineraries. I disagree. It’s like two different parks, and the oasis makes it worth the trip 100%.

Another note: My estimated times work in a fair amount of time for pictures and differently abled people. If you do not stop, your times may be considerably shorter, but I like to enjoy the journey. Also, if you enjoy it, please like, share, or follow!

1. Barker Dam Trail (1.1-mile loop) and Hidden Valley Trail (1-mile loop) (2 hours)

8:00am: The day starts at the West Entrance. It’s 25 minutes from the West Entrance to Barker Dam or Hidden Valley Trail, excluding stops to take pictures of the Joshua trees.

8:45am (with a picture stop or detour!): 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.

I took the connector trail (nearly an hour added), but for the one-day itinerary, hop in your car and drive over to the Hidden Valley Trailhead less than five minutes away. Hidden Valley is rumored to be where cattle ranchers in the 19^th 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.

Both trails are 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.

2. Keys View (30 minutes)

10:45am: After a 15-minute drive to Keys View, you’ll have 15-minutes to enjoy Coachella Valley. I came three nights in a row at sunset, and absolutely loved it, but without the sun setting this scene can be enjoyed in a short amount of time. I think it’s worth the 15-minute drive to see the scene because the Salton Sea, Palm Springs, the San Andreas Fault, and more. I also like being able to see so much of the earth in one spot, so I am a bit biased. It makes me feel free, but small and part of something so much bigger. Plus, the lookout is paved and short (albeit steep) so many people can visit.

You can stop at Cap Rock at the corner of Keys View Road and Park Blvd, but I wasn’t mesmerized. It’s a giant rock formation with a short trail around it.

3. Hall of Horrors Area (0.6-mile loop) (45 minutes)

11:15am: It’s a 15-minute drive from Keys View to the hall of Horrors Area, so you’ll arrive around 11:30am. 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.

4. Skull Rock (30 minutes)

12:00pm: After a 10-minute drive, 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 this other large rock formation called Face Rock near Split Rock Loop.

5. Lunch at Live Oak Picnic Area (50 minutes)

12:30pm: Visitors need to make sure they are eating and drinking enough to sustain their activity for this busy day. After your stop at Skull Rock, you can pop over to Live Oak Picnic Area for lunch before continuing your adventure.

6. Arch Rock (1.2-mile loop) (1.5 hours)

1:30pm: Arch Rock parking is less than 10-minutes from the picnic area. This time estimate is assuming you start at the Twin Tanks Trailhead and walk the 1.2-mile loop, with Arch Rock at the mid-point. There is a 0.3-mile trail from the White Tanks Campground, but it’s a limited parking area with limited space for campers only.

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.

Anyway, Arch Rock was fun to explore and crawl on rocks while laughing at the coincidence of names. Arch Rock itself was cool (because it looks like an elephant skull from my awesome angle), but I especially liked the sculpted rocks. If you crawl on more than Arch Rock, it may take longer to finish the loop.

7. Cholla Cactus Garden (.25-mile loop) (45 minutes)

3:00pm: It’s a 12-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!

8. Ocotillo Patch (15 minutes)

3:45pm: After a short five minutes to the Ocotillo Patch, you can get out and explore. If they aren’t blooming, they aren’t very exciting (in my opinion), but they were worth a quick stop due to their uniqueness. Ocotillos are a Sonoran Desert plant that put on a dramatic floral display, but only after some rain (even just a little). They can grow over 15 feet (up to 33 feet) and have bright red-orange flowers each spring.

9. Lost Palms Oasis, but only to the first oasis (AKA Cottonwood Spring Oasis) (30 minutes)

4:00pm: The Lost Palms Oasis parking lot is about 30 minutes from the Ocotillo Patch, so you’ll arrive at 4:30pm. Depending on the time of year, this won’t leave hours of sun, but it will leave time to reach the first oasis, which is the main attraction at this stop for one day. The full trail is over seven miles, but the Cottonwood Springs Oasis is right by the trailhead. A stop here is magical because it’s so unexpected compared to the rest of the park. I read often, and I remember stories of people stuck in a desert stumbling across an oasis, and it’s a real-life version of something that was merely imagination for me. It’s truly an oasis in the middle of the desert.

On my five-day trip, I intended to do this whole trail, but arrived too late in the day to feel safe completing it. I ended up taking about 30 minutes to walk up the stairs past the oasis and take pictures from above. If you are able and interested, I’d recommend trying to explore a little bit because it is so different than the rest of the park.

Other notes: If you have an off-road capable vehicle, you may want to substitute Arch Rock, Lost Palms Oasis, or the Hall of Horrors Area with Covington Flats (my suggestion) or Berdoo Canyon Road.

If you are into photography like me, you’ll want to start your day before sunrise and head to the Cholla Cactus Garden and Ocotillo Patch (particularly the cacti) because you can get incredible sunrise photos with the flat land. Of course, I went when it was overcast and didn’t get those ideal pictures, but I promise they exist. These two spots are in the middle of the park, though, so if you want to start on the edges forego this option for time sensitivity. Keys View is the perfect spot for sunset, so if you can, end there.

Food?

Eat at: Natural Sisters Café. They are 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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