Essential Hikes to Explore Joshua Tree National Park

Take a look at my favorite hikes that give you a good feel for the park!

ESSENTIAL HIKES TO EXPLORE: JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK

These hikes are ordered by length and/or difficulty. You would need about 3 full days in the park to do all of these.

cholla cactus garden

This is an easy 0.25-mile flat loop trail with little to no elevation gain. This hike is good to do any time of day but the light is best at sunrise or sunset. This is also a great location for stargazing.

keys view

This is an easy 0.25-mile loop trail with 25 feet elevation gain. The elevation at this point is 5,185 feet. Views spanning from the Salton Sea, Palm Springs, Santa Rosa Mountains, San Jacinto Peak, and the San Andreas Fault that runs from San Francisco to the Gulf of California.

CAP ROCK NATURE TRAIL

This is an easy 0.40-mile loop trail with little to no elevation gain. Cap rock is known for its unique cluster of boulders. This trail along with the Hall of Horrors are the best spots to photograph Joshua Trees.

Some of the best views of Joshua Trees in the park

HALL OF HORRORS

This is trail is easy to moderate depending on how much scrambling you feel like doing. Hall of Horrors is a 0.8-mile loop trail with 100 feet elevation gain. There’s a slot canyon hidden in the boulder pile all the way in the back. This is one of the most scenic trails in the whole park.

HIDDEN VALLEY

This is an easy 1.0-mile loop with 150 feet elevation gain. This is a very popular trail. Expect lots of people and limited parking here. Giant boulders line the trail making the valley feel like a bowl.

One of the most picturesque areas in the park

SKULL ROCK TRAIL

If you’re short on time, skip the 1.7-mile loop because Skull Rock can be seen from the road. This is a cool trail with lots of scrambling opportunities if you have the time. The trail can be started from several places in the park.

Skip the trail and just grab a picture of Skull Rock

arch rock trail

Arch Rock Trail is home to Arch Rock, Heart Rock (which is a “secret spot” but there is now a trail that leads here), and some impressive rock formations. This is a 1.8-mile loop with 210 feet elevation gain.

The most unique rock formations are found here

FORTYNINE PALMS OASIS

There are several different oasis trails in the park but this is my favorite. This is a moderate 3.2-mile trail with 775 feet elevation gain. Scramble up the boulders for the best views of the oasis.

RYAN MOUNTAIN

This is a 2.9-mile strenuous hike with 1,075 feet elevation gain. The hike is entirely uphill with lots of stairs. The payoff at the top is nice with panoramic views of the park.

View the heart of Joshua Tree National Park

IF YOU ONLY HAVE ONE DAY TO SEE THE PARK

Hike the Hall of Horrors
Hike to Heart Rock and Arch Rock
See Skull Rock
Hike Fortynine Palms Oasis
Check out Cholla Cactus Garden
Visit Key’s View