High
Climbing risk
3/3
Entrances open
4 areas
Campgrounds
$30
7-day fee
IDSP
Dark sky
1 live
Camera
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 CenterBooks · Maps · Gifts7:30 AM – 5 PM
Joshua Tree Cultural Center & Visitor CenterBooks · Maps · Gifts (Twentynine Palms)8 AM – 5 PM
Cottonwood Visitor CenterBooks · Maps · Gifts8:30 AM – 4 PM
Black Rock Nature CenterBooks · Maps · Gifts8 AM–4 PM, closed 11–12 · Jun–Aug: Thu–Sun 9 AM–4 PM
Rock Climbing & Trailheads10 stops▾
Rock Climbing Areas4 areas▾
Hidden ValleyBeginner–intermediate trad & top-ropeSunrise–Sunset
Wonderland of RocksAdvanced · maze of granite domesSunrise–Sunset
Indian CoveBouldering & crack climbingSunrise–Sunset
Jumbo RocksScrambling & short routesSunrise–Sunset
Popular Trailheads6 trails▾
Hidden Valley Nature TrailEasy · 1 mi loop~1 hr
Ryan MountainStrenuous · 3 mi round trip~2–3 hrs
Barker DamEasy · 1.3 mi loop~1 hr
Cholla Cactus GardenEasy · 0.25 mi loop~20 min
Fortynine Palms OasisModerate · 3 mi round trip~2 hrs
Lost Palms OasisStrenuous · 7.2 mi round trip~4–5 hrs
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 ↗
Park Contact Information