Best Hikes In Joshua Tree National Park

California’s Joshua Tree national park is definitely one of the most interesting places to visit in California and both the Colorado Desert and the Mojave Desert. It features so many different hiking trails that it would take you ages to explore just half, and all of them boast truly incredible sights and an abundance of Joshua Trees. 

The best thing about the hikes in Joshua Tree National Park is that they are all predominantly easy. Most trails are pretty much flat with a very small elevation gain, and there are hardly any steep ascents or climbs in the park. Even complete hiking newbies can enjoy the trails in this park and see everything from jumbo rocks to bighorn sheep. Here’s our guide to the ten best hikes in Joshua Tree National Park, California!

Tips For Hikes In Joshua Tree

For the best experience, focus on shorter hikes, especially if we’re talking about summer adventures. California heats are no joke, and it’s not really smart to spend several hours under the sun when the temperatures get extremely high. The good news is that the national park has lots of great short hiking trails that you can cover in an hour or two, so they’re pretty great if you just want to escape for a little while. And when the temperatures get lower and more bearable, you can go and check out the more demanding trails.

Bring lots of water, sunscreen and a hat. The Joshua Tree National Park is in the middle of the desert, so don’t expect tonnes of water sources along the different hiking trails. Also, there’s not really a lot of shade on the trails, so you will need to protect yourself from the sun. Ample sunscreen is a must to protect your skin from any burns and sun damage, while a hat goes a long way towards protecting your health during prolonged sun exposure.

It’s best to rent a car. Generally, you can’t get far in California without a car. Sure, Uber is very popular there, but if you’re not trying to maximize your spending, a car is the most efficient and convenient option. There’s no direct public transport to the Joshua Tree National Park – the closest place you can reach with a bus is the town of Indio. Walking is not really an option because it would take you nearly 10 hours to cover the 30 miles to the park. Cycling might be an option in mild weather, but we’d still not recommend it because of the desert climate.

Wear proper hiking shoes/boots. You might be thinking that sandals are the best option because you’re in the desert, but that’s not really the case, especially for the longer trails. There’s a lot of sand on the trail and that’s actually one of the harder terrain types to hike on. Sandals and all other open-toed shoes are a nightmare for this terrain because sand is going to get inside the shoes, and it will be really uncomfortable to walk like that for long periods of time. Plus, you need all the grip and traction you can get, if you want to be as fast and as efficient on the trail as possible.

Ryan Mountain Trail