Summary
3/3
Entrances open
$30
7-day fee
1 live
Camera
Historic Crowd Data
Avg. monthly visitors, 2015–2024 · National Park Service
Light
Moderate
Busy
Very Busy
Peak season is March, when around 13% of annual visitors arrive. For lighter crowds, aim for June–September.
Plan Your Visit
Park Entrances & Fees3 open · $30▾
West Entrance
Busiest
Park Blvd, via Joshua Tree village
Closest entrance to Hidden Valley, Barker Dam & most climbing areas. Gets long backups on weekends and holidays.
💡 Arrive before 8 AM or after 4 PM to skip the longest lines.
NPS directions ↗
North Entrance
Usually Open
Utah Trail, via Twentynine Palms
Enters near the Oasis of Mara & Twentynine Palms Visitor Center. Rarely backs up, good alternate to the West Entrance.
💡 A solid choice if you're staying in Twentynine Palms.
NPS directions ↗
South Entrance
Usually Open
Cottonwood, via I-10
Best route from Palm Springs/Coachella Valley. Leads to Cottonwood Spring, Mastodon Peak & the Colorado Desert side of the park.
💡 Furthest from the main rock formations — plan extra drive time north.
NPS directions ↗
Park Contacts5 numbers▾
Phone Numbers & Emergency Info ▾
Emergency911
Visitor Info & Staff760-367-5500
Campground & Backcountry Permits760-367-5554
Black Rock Canyon Campground760-367-3001
Indian Cove Campground760-368-4367
No AM/FM traveler-info station in-park — check nps.gov/jotr for alerts.
Fire RestrictionsJun 15 – Oct 1▾
Campground Information4 areas▾
Jumbo Rocks Reservation Only ▾
Sites124
Elevation4,400 ft
Booking WindowUp to 6 months ahead
NotesLargest campground · fills fastest in spring/fall
Book on Recreation.gov ↗
Indian Cove Reservation Only ▾
Sites101
Elevation3,200 ft
Booking WindowUp to 6 months ahead
NotesPopular with climbers · separate entrance off Hwy 62
Book on Recreation.gov ↗
Cottonwood Reservation Only ▾
Sites62
Elevation3,000 ft
Booking WindowUp to 6 months ahead
NotesNear South Entrance · quietest of the big three
Book on Recreation.gov ↗
Small First-Come Campgrounds First-Come, First-Served ▾
Hidden Valley44 sites
White Tank15 sites
Ryan31 sites
Belle18 sites
NotesNo water at any of these · arrive early
Full campground list ↗
Visitor Center Stores4 locations▾
Bookstores & Gift Shops4 locations▾
Joshua Tree Visitor Center7:30 AM – 5 PM
Books · Maps · Gifts
Joshua Tree Cultural Center & Visitor Center8 AM – 5 PM
Books · Maps · Gifts (Twentynine Palms)
Cottonwood Visitor Center8:30 AM – 4 PM
Books · Maps · Gifts
Black Rock Nature Center8 AM–4 PM, closed 11–12 · Jun–Aug: Thu–Sun 9 AM–4 PM
Books · Maps · Gifts
Rock Climbing & Trailheads10 stops▾
Rock Climbing Areas4 areas▾
Hidden ValleySunrise–Sunset
Beginner–intermediate trad & top-rope
Wonderland of RocksSunrise–Sunset
Advanced · maze of granite domes
Indian CoveSunrise–Sunset
Bouldering & crack climbing
Jumbo RocksSunrise–Sunset
Scrambling & short routes
Popular Trailheads6 trails▾
Hidden Valley Nature Trail~1 hr
Easy · 1 mi loop
Ryan Mountain~2–3 hrs
Strenuous · 3 mi round trip
Barker Dam~1 hr
Easy · 1.3 mi loop
Cholla Cactus Garden~20 min
Easy · 0.25 mi loop
Fortynine Palms Oasis~2 hrs
Moderate · 3 mi round trip
Lost Palms Oasis~4–5 hrs
Strenuous · 7.2 mi round trip
Things to Do5 categories▾
Horseback Riding3 ways▾
Equestrian Trail Network253 mi
Open lands, canyon bottoms & dry washes throughout the park are laced with designated horse trails and corridors
Black Rock Horse Camp$20/night
Staging area and stock camp near the West Entrance; reserve via Recreation.gov · 877-444-6777
Ryan Horse Camp$15/night
No-water stock camp near Ryan Mountain; book directly with park staff (Jeannie_Wilson@nps.gov)
Keys Ranch Guided Tour3 details▾
Ranger-Guided Walking Tour0.5 mi · 120 min
The only way to see the historic Keys family homestead — ranching, mining & homesteading history
Tickets$20 adult
Book up to 60 days ahead via Recreation.gov or 877-444-6777; max 10 people per group
SeasonOct–May
Tours run in the cooler months only; check the park calendar for current dates
Biking Backcountry Roads3 routes▾
Queen Valley Roads13.4 mi
Gentle dirt roads through Joshua tree forest, passable by most 2WD vehicles; bike access at Barker Dam & Big Horn Pass trailheads
Covington Flat Roads3.8 mi one-way
Climbs toward Eureka Peak past some of the park's largest Joshua trees
Trail RulesRoads only
Bikes are restricted to roads open to motor vehicles — no riding on hiking trails or in designated wilderness
Stargazing & Night SkyDark Sky Park▾
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Joshua Tree is an International Dark Sky Park. Designated stargazing areas are the parking lots at Quail Springs, Hidden Valley, Cap Rock & Ryan Mountain; Pinto Basin has the darkest skies in the park. Best on new-moon nights — bring a red flashlight to preserve night vision. NPS night sky info ↗
Bird WatchingTop 5 species▾
Golden Eagle
Hunts over the boulder piles
Greater Roadrunner
Common on desert trails
Phainopepla
Glossy black desert songbird
Cactus Wren
Nests among the cholla and yucca
Verdin
Tiny desert songbird
Park Contact Information