One of the National Parks we can’t get enough of is Joshua Tree National Park in California. There is something otherworldly about the rocky desert landscape and the alien-looking Joshua trees, the park’s namesake. If you love hiking, Joshua Tree National Park has some amazing hiking trails suited to all skill levels. Besides the beautiful scenery, some of these hikes are also full of history. Below is a list of, in our opinion, the best hikes in Joshua Tree National Park. The list isn’t in any particular order.
If you’re planning your trip to Joshua Tree, check out our recommended itinerary! It’s perfect for a 3-day weekend!
7 miles R.T. | 320 ft | Moderate | 3-4 hours
This moderate trail takes hikers into the heart of Joshua Tree National Park, the Wonderland of Rocks. Willow Hole Trail begins by meandering through the desertscape dotted with the unique Joshua trees before weaving in between big boulders and interesting rock formations, then ends at a seasonal water source, protected by a thicket of willow trees. If you’re lucky, you could even spot some bighorn sheep drinking water here.
3 miles R.T. | 1,050 ft | Moderate | 2-3 hours
As one of the most popular hikes, Ryan Mountain Trail is also on our list of the best hikes in Joshua Tree National Park. This trail is steep but straightforward to follow. Furthermore, it has one of the best panoramic views of the park and the surrounding areas. On a clear day, you can see the massive peaks of San Gorgonio and San Jacinto. If you’re okay with hiking back in the dark, Ryan Mountain Trail is also one of the best spots to see the sunset in Joshua Tree National Park.
2.4 miles | 275 feet | 58 min | Easy
In our opinion, the Split Rock Trail is underrated in Joshua Tree National Park. This trail was surprisingly beautiful once we gave it a chance. The trail weaves through the middle of all the interesting rock formations. It is easy to follow, yet challenging enough with a bit of elevation gain and stairs to make it exciting. For those who love scrambling as we do, there are many boulders and rocky outcrops to check out. We could spend hours here. Because of this, Split Rock trail belongs on our list of the best hikes in Joshua Tree National Park.
1.7 miles | 108 feet | 36 min | Easy
Even before the park created an official trail to Arch Rock, we had already spent so much time there. This place is just so beautiful with a few of our favorite rock formations: Arch Rock, the Dragon Spine, and the elusive Heart Rock. Now, with the official trail, it is so much easier to find these formations. And your adventure doesn’t stop here! If you’re up for it, the area behind Arch Rock is super fun to explore. Just make sure to bring a tracker so you won’t get lost.
4 miles R.T. | 656 ft | 3 hours | Moderate to Hard
We LOVE this trail! The Desert Queen Mine to Eagle Cliff Boulder House is 100% one of the best hikes in Joshua Tree National Park. It has everything we love, from impressive rock formations, mines, and tons of history, to an elusive boulder house, and also challenging enough to keep it exciting for us. The trail itself doesn’t have any technical sections, so it’s considered moderate. However, it is an unmaintained trail, especially after Desert Queen Mine. So, you’ll need some route-finding skills.
1.3 miles R.T. | 59 feet | 26 min | Easy
Barker Dam Nature Trail is the one place you can see a lot of water in the desert of Joshua Tree National Park. Of course, you have to be here at the right time. The dam area can get pretty full after a few big rainfalls, usually in the springtime. This trail is mostly flat and easy to follow. Within its short distance, you’ll be treated to enormous boulders, petroglyphs, iconic Joshua trees, and of course, the beautiful lake at the dam. Even during the dry season with no water, this area is still very beautiful and fun to explore.
4 miles R.T | 60ft | 2 hours | Easy
Samuelson’s Rocks is an unofficial trail in Joshua Tree National Park. This means you won’t be able to find any trail markers or signage here. Because of this, not many people know about this trail. However, if you’re willing to explore, it will take you to an interesting piece of history inside Joshua Tree National Park. At the end of the trail, you’ll find the Samuelson’s Rocks, the flat-sided rocks where John Samuelson chiseled his unique declaration on life into their surfaces, back in the early 1900s. Pretty cool, right? This is why this trail is on our list of the best hikes in Joshua Tree National Park.
1 mile R.T. | 118 feet | 24 min | Easy
Hidden Valley Trail is a popular and easy introduction to Joshua Tree National Park. It loops through the giant boulders that the park is famous for. As you hike along the trail, you’ll get to see interesting desert plant life and even wildflowers, if you visit in the spring. This trail is also one of the best places to see the Big Horn Sheep. Besides hikers, this trail is also popular for rock climbers. It is also home to one of our favorite adventures, the Chasm of Doom!
Happy Adventuring. Don’t forget to check out the related posts below for more inspiration on your upcoming adventures. While at it, follow us on Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube channel! We’ll love you forever!
These are the gear that we personally use and find helpful for this particular adventure. Don’t forget to check out our Recommended Gear section as well.
Our favorite biodegradable, eco-friendly, reef-safe sunscreen!
This is Vy's favorite hiking bag! It has tons of room for snacks and water!
It's always good to bring a GPS tracker with you. We use the Garmin inReach.
This jacket is packable into a super small and light little ball. Perfect for when you just need a little…
This jacket is packable into a super small and light little ball. Perfect for when you just need a little…
Our favorite hiking/travel jacket. It's warm and packable, perfect to bring on a hike or a road trip.
Our favorite hiking/travel jacket. It's warm and packable, perfect to bring on a hike or a road trip.
If you tend to have foot blisters on hikes, get this! We use this all the time.
These hiking poles are sturdy, and great to help keep your balance on short or longer hikes
Compact GoPro pole that extends to 25", perfect to bring on your adventure.
This is our go-to camera for all of our adventures. It comes with us everywhere!
Nice to meet you!
Hi! We are Dustin & Vy, the proud creators of Live That Adventure. We created this website because we wanted to inspire others to live their lives to the fullest. On here, you’ll find everything from hiking, canyoneering, kayaking, and snorkeling to adventure and travel tips, gear reviews, and bucket list items such as bungee jumping or wing walking. We’ll show you the ropes so you can do them too!
Subscribe
Get our best adventure tips, guides and more send to you!
Recent Post
