Joshua Tree hikes allow visitors to connect with a landscape whose magic lies in its contrasts—solemn boulders next to tress, twisted into shapes as if they were dancing; simmering days preluding chilly nights; the highs of the Mojave meeting the lows of the Colorado desert. Joshua Tree’s incongruities shape an unearthly scene, beckoning visitors to take a surreal journey to the desert.
Though the environment might not seem of this world, humans have been in and around Joshua Tree National Park for over 5,000 years. The park’s namesake—Yucca brevifolia, otherwise known as the Joshua tree—provided sustenance for the Pinto culture, and the Serrano, Cahuilla, and Chemehuevi people, before the Indigenous residents of the land were displaced from their home by cowboys, ranchers, and miners in the 19th century, and homesteaders in the early 20th century. (Today, the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians, who are descendants of the Chemehuevi, helps steward the park’s lands.)
Since Joshua Tree was designated a national monument, the park attracted new crowds as well: The ’60s and ’70s brought counterculture through rock climbers, musicians, artists, and writers, all looking to draw from and experiment with the park’s unique landscape. Now, Joshua Tree is all sorts of things to all kinds of people—artists, spiritualists, and naturalists alike. More than three million travelers come annually for the park’s hundreds of hiking trails, thousands of climbing routes, leagues of peaceful solitude, and the expanse of Milky Way above their tents.
Despite its popularity, Joshua Tree may still feel like a mystery for those who have never been—and ot can be confusing figuring out what you need and where you can go for beginner outdoorspeople. So, we have compiled a list of the most accessible yet scenic hikes in Joshua Tree.
Before going, just make sure to prepare properly for any Joshua Tree hikes you’re considering—the climate and landscape can be unforgiving. All natural water sources in the park are reserved for wildlife, so it is recommended that each visitor bring one gallon a day to avoid dehydration in the desert.
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
