Joshua Tree National Park is where two worlds collide.
The park is sprawling- nearly 800,000 acres, and the landscape is diverse. Depending on the season, you can expect strong winds, sudden bursts of rain, and climatic extremes. We visited in March ’17, after an unexpectedly heavy and long rainy spring. So the desert was in BLOOM. It was perfect weather.
Two desert ecosystems (determined by elevation) come together in the park. It’s a rare seam of “high” & “low” desert. The Colorado Desert [ below 3,000 feet (910 m)] spans the eastern half of the park.
The higher Mojave Desert, (slightly cooler and wetter) is to the west.
Here are some Mojave Mound Cactuses we saw during our climb.
Wanderlust? Here’s $40 on Airbnb
Why are they called Joshua Trees?
According to legend, Mormon pioneers considered the limbs of the Joshua trees to resemble the up-stretched arms of Joshua- leading them to the promised land.
What we did.
We entered the park in one car, paid the entrance fee. Took a 15 min walk down one of the self-guided trails and went off the path towards some of the many monzogranite rock formations.
From there we did scrambling/bouldering/rock climbing. Our friend had done this route a few times and was down to take us. I wish I could give you the V rating. It went from V.0 – ???, some spots were more advanced.
We didn’t bring or need any equipment. The rock is a great texture, but can scratch. Luckily we onsighted (succeeded on the first attempt to climb) most of what we attempted. If one of our team of four felt pumped (tired arms) we did a great job of supporting each other.
In the end, we made it to the top and got some great views.
We brought some snacks and had a lovely, little picnic up where the birds soar by.
It’s an AMAZING place for any kind of climbing, while driving out we saw some pros top-roping.
If climbing isn’t your thing, there is also amazing hikes, lookouts and vistas.
Here are some other Trip Itineraries & Places to Go
The desert holds much more than what is readily apparent to the casual observer. Enjoy the complex and delicate ecosystem of the desert.
Like any adventure time, I recommend bringing sunscreen, food, and water.
(Maybe even more than you thing you need) I say “food” instead of “snack” because it should be a good source of energy (trailmix, sandwich, granola bar) and WATER it’s the desert, ya’ll.
Exposure is real, don’t get caught in a bad way. Be prepared because accidents happen.
I recommend checking the weather the morning before you visit.
Stay:
We rented a house with a group friends about an hour away from the north entrance to the park. We drove over in 2 cars and learned coverage can be SPOTTY in the desert. So make a plan like the old days (location, time).
Overall a great afternoon, can’t wait for another visit to this incredible park.
