Joshua Tree, California
One of the top outdoor adventures in Joshua Tree, California is hiking along the Ryan Mountain Trail. This moderate difficulty trail is a must-visit, offering panoramic views of the surrounding desert and unique rock formations. It's a 3-mile round trip hike to the summit where you can enjoy scenic vistas of the park. Another best trail is the Barker Dam Nature Trail, a 1.1-mile loop that features a lake and is perfect for all skill levels. For rock climbing enthusiasts, Joshua Tree is a popular destination with over 8,000 climbing routes. Nearby, you can also explore the Cholla Cactus Garden, a dense concentration of cholla cacti. These are just a few examples of the best trails and outdoor activities in and near Joshua Tree.
Top Spots in and near Joshua Tree
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Riverside County, California
Painted Canyon Loop
5.04.8 mi / 974 ft gainTake Box Canyon Rd to Painted Canyon Road. Painted Canyon Road is a dirt road, so exercise caution. The road dead ends at the Painted Canyon Trailhead parking lot. Once on the trail, look out for markers and arrow rock piles pointing to the slot canyons and other trails. Some climbing is necessa...Read more -
Mecca, California
Ladder Canyon and Painted Canyon Loop
5.04.43 mi / 1119 ft gainFrom Interstate 10, take State Highway 195 (Box Canyon Road) to Painted Canyon Road. This well-maintained, dirt road goes for about 4 miles and leads into the sandy wash which runs the length of the canyon for approximately 1.7 miles. There are a few narrow side canyons which can be explored on f...Read more -
Riverside County, California
Dispersed Camp at Old Dale Mining District
5.0It can be a pain to try and camp in Joshua Tree. Most of the sites get reserved way in advance and if you are looking for privacy or a quiet area, it's not going to happen. But you can camp outside the park on BLM land and there is a great place to do this, it's called Old Dale Mining district. ...Read more -
San Bernardino County, California
Aztec Falls
3.31.23 mi / 16 ft gainFrom Lake Arrowhead, take the 173 to Hook Creek Road until you dead end onto Squint Ranch Road. Take a right at the first fork in the road, and park in the lot for Splinters Cabin. The dirt road can be a bit rocky and might not be the best for small cars. Once you're there, be sure to display you...Read more -
Mecca, California
Camp at the Salton Sea
4.0The Salton Sea State Recreation Area is a good place to camp. It has bathrooms with running water and showers. There are 3 options for camping RV camping with hookups is $30 per night. Tent camping at New Camp (on the map to the right) or Mecca Beach is $20 per night. One can also camp at a more ...Read more
