Joshua Tree Itinerary: Explore Hidden Gems and Top Trails
During a drive back from a national park, we mapped out a rough itinerary for when we’d visit each of the U.S. National Parks, including our Joshua Tree itinerary. As a family that’s spent years adventuring through national parks with kids in tow, we’ve learned how to plan trips that hit the highlights while keeping things fun and manageable. We considered the best seasons to visit, iconic experiences not to miss, and what would be the most enjoyable at our kids’ ages and stages. With all that in mind, we landed on seeing Death Valley and Joshua Tree in the spring—hoping for desert wildflowers, milder weather, and fewer crowds.
After planning dozens of family national park trips, I’ve developed a reliable process: research the must-see sights, map out smart routes, and hunt down the best flight deals. Based on our schedule and airfare, we opted to start with Death Valley and wrap up in Joshua Tree—though the route works equally well in reverse. We ended up spending a bit more time in Death Valley, which left us with just a day and a half in Joshua Tree. But after exploring it firsthand, we could easily see spending more time there—especially to tackle longer hikes or venture out on some 4×4 trails.
When to Go
Like I said, our trip to Joshua Tree was during spring break. Theoretically shoulder season in the desert, but we were there at the beginning of Coachella, so things in town were slightly busier. I’ll say, though, the park wasn’t overly crowded. In early April, it was starting to get hot which cut down on the length of hikes for us midday, but we were able to see blooming Joshua Trees and cactus.
How Many Days for a Joshua Tree Itinerary
We spent one full day in the park, but could have easily filled several more days! We saw the popular spots and explored some dirt roads, but there is so much more to do. Another day or two would make for a full experience of the park.
Getting There
As I said, this was a combined trip for us. After flying into Vegas, we headed to Valley of Fire then to Death Valley. After a couple of days, we drove down to Joshua Tree. Looking at flights, we chose to spend the last day of our trip in Anaheim with a flight out of LAX, but Palm Springs has a beautiful airport that is easy to navigate. If only visiting Joshua Tree, this is where I would fly into. Of course, driving is always an option if you’re close enough.
Where to Stay
There are three towns on the north side of Joshua Tree National Park – Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree, and Twentynine Palms. Each of these towns has a visitor center, but the northern entrances are in Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms. There’s a variety of hotels and unique places to stay depending on your budget and number of people with you. For us, we chose to stay at a VRBO. We absolutely loved the house we rented. It was fully stocked with all the amenities we could need including a pool and sauna. Highly recommended.
Camping is also available in the park. Most campsites do not have water, so this is an important thing to note! For more information, check in with the National Park website.
Things to Know
- There is little to no cell service throughout the park. Download your offline maps before you leave town.
- Fill your water bottle whenever you can AND have extra water with you, just in case, as there is very little water within the park.
- Have lots of salty snacks to replace the salt you’ll lose with sweating.
- SUNSCREEN
- A hat to keep the sun off of you and sunglasses are super helpful.
- Know your limits
- Leave no trace and more importantly, leave it better than how you found it!
Full Day Joshua Tree Itinerary
This is a very full day if you do everything on this list. Originally, our plan was to do this all but the temperature was hotter than expected (about 10 degrees higher than typical!), so we cut out the longer hikes as the day went on. We made an important discovery about our daughter during this trip. She will easily hike a 5-mile trail, but not when it’s hot – and I don’t really blame her. If you have more fortitude than us, this could make for a great time.
Don’t trust google maps, but rather grab a map from the visitor center or bring your own. There is a one-way road in this Joshua Tree itinerary that could ruin your plans. Also, bring lots of water, lunch, and snacks!
If you are looking to snag your picture in front of the National Park Sign, they are just before each entrance. You can get your passport stamp at one of the visitor centers.
Fortynine Palms Oasis
Start out early here! There is no shade until you reach the oasis. Plus, by starting early, we only saw a couple of people on the trail. On our way back out, we crossed paths with many more. After a 1.6 mile trek, you reach a beautiful natural fan palm oasis. Much of the area is under rehabilitation, but you can still scramble over a couple of rocks to view the water. After about half an hour shady snack break, we headed back. In total it took us about 2 hours. Of note, this is a 3.2 mile moderate, out and back hike with lots of stairs.
Desert Queen Mine
Next, head into the park to the Desert Queen Mine. There is a marked turn off that takes you to the mine. Important: take this road. The road leaving the mine is one way, so you can’t backtrack in a different order. This hike is a 3.5 mile out and back moderate trail. On average, it takes about 1.5 hours. Along the way, explore ruins of the mine and a house. It’s a great mix of history and scenery, with interpretive signs that share the story of one of the most productive gold mines in the area. You’ll pass weathered stone foundations, mining equipment, and sweeping views of the rugged canyon landscape. Unfortunately for us, it was about 90 degrees at this time and the littlest was not having it, so we missed out on this hike. On our next trip, we will be starting here so we make sure to get it done!
Wall Street Mill
Down the one-way street, drive about 10 minutes until you get to the Wall Street Mill. Take a chance to appreciate the beautiful Joshua Tree Forest in this area. There are hundreds of massive trees with no one around. It was so lovely. This hike is another set of ruins, with well-preserved remnants of an old gold processing mill, complete with rusty equipment, an old truck, and the original stone structure—offering a fascinating glimpse into the area’s mining history. At 2.4 miles, this moderate trail will take one to two hours.
Barker Dam
Just down the road is another 1.1 mile easy hike that takes about an hour. There are petroglyphs along the trail to a historic dam. Our family that used to live in the area highly recommended this hike, except when we were there, it was dry, so we skipped it. It is a very popular area known for its topography and bighorn sheep sightings. Check recent All Trails’ reviews to see if there is water.
Hall of Horrors
Don’t miss this one! I didn’t really know what to expect for this hike. It’s listed as a 0.6 mile easy loop that takes about 20 minutes. That’s only if you do the simplest route without any exploration. We spent an hour and a half squeezing through hidden slot canyons and climbing over boulders. We got into some precarious situations, but always kept our limits in mind. If you start climbing, just remember, you either have to keep going or turn around. At one point, I thought we could make it the whole way through an area, but didn’t know if we were approaching a sheer drop off, so back we went. Don’t get yourself into a position that needs rescuing!
Skull Rock
A famous spot that everyone stops to get a picture at is Skull Rock. If you need a break from hiking, you can park on the side of the road for a short walk to snap a pic. For more exploration, take the 1.7 mile Skull Rock Nature Trail.
Split Rock
Another spot that you can park and see the rock or explore along a 2.4 mile loop with lots of opportunity for scrambling. Take this one clockwise.
Live Oak
Across the road is Live Oak Day Use. We loved this little unexpected spot. There weren’t many people, so we had the area to ourselves. At the end of the road to the right and back behind the rocks is a Live Oak along the wash. Relaxing under the shade while the kids scrambled around was an unforgettable memory at a hidden gem.
Arch Rock and Heart Rock
This is another one we missed and I am so sad! We had plans to go back when the temperature went down, but it was still hot in the late afternoon and we wanted to make sure we were at Keys View for sunset. We made friends with some fellow hikers that went earlier in the day and their photos were amazing! The arch was impressive and Heart Rock truly looked like a heart! Along the way, you walk through rock formations that create hallway effects. This hike is an easy 1.4 mile that takes about 1 hour. There’s a spur trail off Arch trail that takes you to Heart Rock.
Keys View
End the day at Keys View for a beautiful sunset. Somewhere I had heard this was the “most overrated hike”, but let me tell you, they’re wrong. There are a lot of people there, but remember that popular things are popular for a reason. That being said, we were able to find space for photos and views without anyone in the way. From this vantage point, Coachella Valley, Palm Springs, and sometimes even farther is visible. Sunset just illuminates the whole valley. My suggestion – if you have time, grab take away from town and enjoy the sunset.
More Adventures for Your Joshua Tree Itinerary
Rock Climbing in Joshua Tree
After exploring Hall of Horrors, I think my kids would have loved this experience! When planning this trip, I decided to skip it because I was worried my youngest would not be a fan, but after scrambling around the boulder there, she would have been just fine. From what I found, there are half day and whole day excursions at a variety of levels. I highly recommend going with an outfitter permitted to work within Joshua Tree National Park as they are certified at the highest level, first aid trained, and insured.
Explore the Southern Portion of Joshua Tree
Because of our limited time, we chose to stay on the northern side of the park. If you have more time, go south at Pinto Wye for a more secluded area of the park.
Cholla Cactus Garden
When we visited, this hike was closed for restoration. If you have the chance though, it is a quick 0.25 mile walk to see the cholla, or “teddy bear”, cactus.
Cottonwood Springs Oasis
Keep headed south near the Cottonwood Visitor Center for a secret desert hideout—where towering palms sway above bubbling springs and rugged rocks beg to be explored. This lush, unexpected patch of green is nature’s surprise party in the middle of the desert.
Backcountry 4x4s in Joshua Tree
If you have access to a high-clearance or 4×4 vehicle, Joshua Tree offers some incredible off-the-beaten-path experiences you won’t find from the main roads. One of the most popular routes is Geology Tour Road, a 19-mile loop that weaves through fascinating rock formations and dry desert washes—the last 7.5 miles require true 4WD and reward you with sweeping views and geological wonders. For a more rugged challenge, Berdoo Canyon Road takes you deep into a rocky canyon and eventually connects to the Palm Springs area. But for something truly special, head to Covington Flat or Queen Valley Road—remote areas known for having some of the oldest and tallest Joshua trees in the park. These groves feel almost prehistoric, with ancient, towering trees that have stood for hundreds of years.
Bottom Line: Joshua Tree Itinerary
Whether you’re chasing sunrise views from Keys View, scrambling up boulders in Hall of Horrors, or soaking in the otherworldly desert vibe under a canopy of stars, Joshua Tree delivers unforgettable moments at every turn. Our Joshua Tree itinerary balanced adventure, relaxation, and a touch of wonder—just the way we like it. Hopefully, it gives you a great jumping-off point to plan your own magical desert escape. Pack plenty of water, bring your sense of adventure, and don’t forget to wander more together.
