Joshua Tree

What can I say about Joshua Tree... it's simply stunning. It wasn't what we expected; it was even BETTER!

It was located only an hour away from our RV site ( Emerald Desert RV Resort ), and we thought we could get through what we wanted to see in the park in a matter of half a day. Well, there's just no way, and we happily spent the entire day there until sundown. It's such a spectacular park, and there are so many stops to be made and hikes to be had. Going in Fall was nice as the temperature was perfect and not too hot, there is very little shade to be found.

Thankfully, we packed a cooler with lunch and cold drinks. There is no place within the park that we saw where you could buy food or drinks.

There is an entry park fee of $30 per vehicle, and we had another opportunity to use our National Park Service, America the Beautiful, annual pass that we purchased at the start of our trip in Oregon for $80, which gives us access to all the National Parks and Lands. We plan to visit numerous parks during our 6-month US stay, so this pass is well worth the money and savings.

We stopped in at the Visitor Centre first and grabbed a map of the area, which came in handy as cell service is pretty much non-existent in the park. https://www.nps.gov/jotr/index.htm

It didn't take too long after entering the park for the landscape to change from desert with stubby weeds to wide open landscape covered with Joshua Trees. It looked very alien, like being on another planet.

We opted to do a couple of the shorter hikes this way we could see more of the viewpoints located on the map and enjoy all the various trails and rock formations that make up the park.

There is also some climbing routes in Joshua Tree and we watched one climber navigate Sports Challenge Rock. https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/climbing.htm

Joshua Tree is intersected by numerous faults, making it an excellent location to observe exposed rocks and earthquake impacts. The well-known San Andreas Fault borders the park's southern side and is visible from Keys View. The panoramic view from the top of Keys View was fantastic.

The park had ample bathroom stops along the way. Something to note, many of the bathroom areas had quite a few bees around them as they were attracted to the water on the ground near the bathrooms, so if someone were allergic, they might want to carry an EpiPen or take extra care. The bees were not by any means aggressive, simply there to grab a drink.

Be sure to pack lots of water, a lunch, snacks, and good comfortable walking shoes. Closed-toe may be best as the park does have black widows, rattlesnakes, and scorpions. We did not see any during our visit. The best time to visit Joshua Tree National Park to avoid snakes is during the coldest months, when the rattlesnakes are in a state of dormancy.

Joshua Tree is a definite must to put on your bucket list that is sure to leave a lasting impression. It's a beautifully strange place.

Bill & Cat