favorite hidden gems in joshua tree national park
kiddo runs through the boulders at joshua tree national park at sunset
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joshua tree is truly my favorite place on earth. no matter how many times we go, i always look forward to the next visit. and, after living close by for nearly three years and then returning one to two times a year since then, we’ve been to joshua tree national park at least two dozen times. while i can’t say we’ve seen every nook and cranny, we’ve seen an awful lot. we’ve been to all of the popular spots - some many times - and they are absolutely worth visiting! but now when we visit joshua tree, we try to find less frequented spots like longer hikes or places on the edge of the park’s borders.
indigenous peoples
the land presently referred to as joshua tree national park is the traditional homeland of many tribal peoples, including the cahuilla, serrano, mojave, and chemehuevi. per an enthographic study performed by the park, “the Chemehuevis had something that resembled a moiety system associated with the ownership of land in demonstrated in two hereditary songs, the Mountain Sheep Song and the Deer Song, each of which described trips through the mountains and valleys along the colorado river. those who had the right to sing the song had the right to hunt in the area and in that sense owned it. the songs were inherited patrilineally, but after the euro-americans came a man might inherit his song from his mother's father if his father were a non-Indian and thereby had no song, and, therefore, presumably no right to use the economic assets thereof.
groups of Chemehuevis had a right to hunt in a Mountain Sheep area only if a man who was an owner of the Mountain Sheep Song was part of the group. the same was true of the Deer Song. the Mountain Sheep Song covered an area west of the colorado river, and the Deer Song, east of the river. the Salt Song was associated with the Deer Song, and was often owned by those who owned the Deer Song, but it involved both sides of the river. each song had subdivisions, and a subgroup might own only a subdivision of a song, and a specific version of it… only a person who owned a song could sing it ritually, but others could sing it in non-ritual contexts.”
descendants of the chemehuevi, the twenty nine palms band of mission indians, settled at the oasis of mara, a sacred site near twenty nine palms. the oasis of mara can be visited by guests to joshua tree national park. be sure to go to the cultural center to learn more about this history, the ongoing importance of the site, the original stewards of the land, and the continued role of their descendants.
what you’ll need to visit joshua tree
joshua tree is, of course, a desert. water and sun protection are of the utmost importance, no matter the season. a few things we alway bring:
sunscreen: this one is our favorite. it’s spa 50 and we like the mousse because it’s easy to apply, but you can also get the lotion or the mist.
water bottles: kiddo uses this camelpak on all our hikes. my current favorite water bottle is this one from wondery.
other sun protection: we recently purchased this buff for kiddo as a multi-use item. it protects his neck from sun but can also be worn in a myriad of ways, based on need. we most often use it as a headband! i wear a wide brim hat that i purchased from a shop years ago, but similar styles can be found here and here.
good shoes: the desert is fully of prickly things. i highly recommend sturdy boots (and not hiking sandals). kiddo currently wears these hiking boots. i have high arches and am always alternating between boots. my two favorite pairs these days are these and these.
a trip to joshua tree national park is truly an adventure, and you’re sure to find something special no matter what. these are some of our favorite hidden gems in joshua tree national park, along with a couple of the hot spots that are worth returning to again and again.
favorite hidden gems in joshua tree national park
the view from lucky boy vista at sunset
lucky boy loop
we hiked this 3.3-mile loop just before golden hour so we could get to lucky boy vista at sunset. we ate our trail dinner while watching the sunset over the vista point, and then raced back down, getting to the car just as the sky turned dark. and then it was just us and the stars. it’s one of our favorite memories in the park. if you’re traveling park boulevard, the turn off for this hike is between ryan mountain and jumbo rocks, so it’s in an area you are likely to travel at some point during your visit. if you bring binoculars, you can spot skull rock from the vista.
view of mount san gorgonio from the hi-view ridge
hi-view trail
located near the black rock campground, the trailhead to the 1.4 mile hi-view loop is down a bumpy dirt road through joshua trees. the trail climbs up a ridge to stunning views of mount san gorgonio. we did this one on a christmas morning and the ridge was extremely windy. but the views of the snowy mountains were well worth it! if you come in winter, be sure to pack layers. you’ll be grateful for it!
wildflower super bloom at the bajada nature trail
bajada nature trail
if you’re into desert flora, this is the stop for you! though not really hidden, this 0.3 mile bajada nature trail is at the cottonwood entrance of the park, so much less visited than other areas. the trail is full of interpretive signs about the diverse plantlife in the colorado desert section of the park. it’s also here where you’re much more likely to see wildflowers. were were fortunate enough to live in the area during the last major wildflower superbloom and the bajada nature trail was covered in lupine, chia, and more. it was a spectacular site to behold!
ryan ranch
this 1.1 mile out and back trail is a good one for kiddos who love to explore. along the trail there are great rocks for climbing, but it’s the historic adobe - or, ryan ranch - that’s the big reward. built in 1896, it’s fun to imagine what the 6-room adobe once looked like. and it’s a great spot for photos! you’ll also find a lot more historic remnants scattered through the area. and did i mention scrambling opportunities?
view of a snow dusted mount san gorgonio from the peak of panorama loop
panorama loop
this was our most recent christmas hike and it’s a workout with a reward! after a long, sandy trudge, followed by a steep climb, the views of both mount san gorgonio and the san jacintos are a real treat. the panorama loop is a 6.6 mile lollipop and is located near the black rock campground. if you are up for it, you could do both panorama and hi-view on the same day as the trailheads are quite close to one another - though not as a single, connected hike.
kiddo looking down from atop eureka peak
eureka peak
this peak is mostly traversed via a rigorous 10-mile hike, but it can be driven to, as well! the road is certainly off the beaten path - a very bumpy, windy dirt road that will take you through the most dense stands of joshua trees i’ve ever seen. honestly, the density of the joshua trees alone is worth this trek. but, the views from eureka peak are also pretty darn spectacular. be sure to download the map in advance for this one. it’s quite easy to get turned around and there’s no signage to ensure you’re headed the right direction.
maze loop
this 4.9 mile loop takes you through canyons and high rock walls that make it feel like you’re inside a maze of boulders. it’s a bit of a wonderland, and you’ll definitely want to make sure you download the map in advance. there are several areas where the trail seems to disappear, and it’s easy to wander off track. the maze loop trail is mostly flat but there are some rocky sections, as well as some very sandy sections.
kiddo hiking the mastodon peak loop in joshua tree
mastodon peak
mastodon peak definitely isn’t a secret, but it’s another one that’s over in the cottonwood section of the park and less visited than say… skull rock. but if you are in the area, it’s definitely the one to do! after recently camping in joshua tree at the cottonwood campground, this is actually our new favorite joshua tree hike! at just over 2.5 miles, this loop also includes an additional short scramble up to the peak. if you’re lucky, you may get to see salton sea from the summit! there’s also mastodon mine with some interpretive information about the history of mining in joshua tree. this hike does include some stairs, as well as some rocky sections with loose gravel.
favorite hot spots in joshua tree national park
the chollas at sunset
cholla cactus garden
the cholla garden is my top spot. there’s nowhere else i’d rather be. i call the teddy bear cholla my best friends and jokingly send my dear (human) friend a photo of me with my “friends” every time i visit. (i even have a cholla on my porch!) at the cholla garden there is a short boardwalk trail that wends it’s way through hundreds of these pokey wonders. this absolute gem is located in the colorado desert portion of the park which means no joshua trees, but so. many. cholla. plus smoke trees! it’s definitely a different ecosystem and worth traveling to. and while you’re down there, continue on to the cottonwood area of the park to check out the bajada nature trail and mastodon peak!
skull rock nature trail
skull rock is definitely one of the most popular spots in the park. most people park on the side of the road to take a quick picture with the skull, but only some realize there is a full 1.7 mile loop that brings different views. we first did this trail while camping at jumbo rocks and hardly recognized we were at skull rock until we were literally right on top of it. if you’re staying at the campsite this is a must-do!
arch rock
another popular spot, arch rock trail is fun because you’re able to see a lot of interesting geologic features. the arch itself is not particularly large - and definitely requires scrambling up sharp boulders - but the entire 1.2 mile lollipop loop brings a feast for the eyes. the trail head can be accessed from the twin tanks parking lot.
i’d love to know what your must-see spots are at joshua tree - especially the hidden gems! if we haven’t seen it already, we’re sure to check it out on our next visit! in the meantime, i hope this list gives you some ideas for ways to explore this national wonder beyond the amazing, well-known (and well-loved) hot spots. go out wild and enjoy some hidden gems at joshua tree national park!
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