Joshua Tree National Park Information

Joshua Tree National Park is a desert wonderland with a wealth of things to see and do. The park, averaging over 1.3 million visitors per year and encompassing 800,000 acres, was declared a national park in 1994. It encompasses two desert environments - the higher and cooler Mojave Desert, lying above 3,000 feet and the lower Sonoran Desert, characterized by higher temperatures and wide-open spaces. The Mojave is home to the park's famous Joshua trees and the hugh boulder piles that have made it a climber's paradise. While both desert ecosystems experience high summer temperatures, the Mojave's winter temperatures can fluctuate much more, even bringing snow, as I can attest to during my first visit to the park.

A visit to the desert provides an experience like no other. Everywhere you go, there are expansive and unobstructed views. Joshua Tree is a wonderful place to get away from it all.

Hours & Fees

Joshua Tree is open year-round. You can purchase a 12-month pass for $30. Vehicle passes are $15 for 7 days. Walk in fees are $5 for 7 days.

The Oasis of Mara Visitor Center (main visitor center) is located in Twentynine Palms and is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Cottonwood Springs Visitor Center is located off of Interstate 10 in the southern portion of the park and is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Weather

Days in Joshua Tree are typically clear with less than 25% humidity. The park receives the most visitors in the spring and fall when day and evening temperatures are more comfortable. Both of my visits to Joshua Tree have been in the winter. The days are cooler and temperatures at night can drop to freezing levels. Average highs and lows are shown in the graph below.

Click here for a park map. (636k PDF)