One of two spectacular desert national parks in Southern California, Joshua Tree National Park is a wonderful nature-forward getaway in the winter and spring.
The landscapes at Joshua Tree National Park feature gigantic boulders and the namesake Joshua trees. But the park also offers other flora and fauna to observe, and wildflowers in the spring.
The Hidden Valley Trail is one of the most popular hikes in Joshua Tree National Park. The scenery is spectacular, and, along the way, there are boulders to climb!
Hiking is one of the top things to do in the park, with trails for every level. The Wall Street Mill hike offers scenic vistas and interesting local history.
Barker Dam is another short and scenic hike in the park, especially rewarding when there is water in the old cattle resrvoir. You may see bighorn sheep drinking water at the reservoir!
Rock climbing or scrambling is hugely popular in Joshua Tree National Park, with climbers of all ages and skill levels having fun on the gigantic boulders.
While Joshua Tree National Park offers campgrounds (but no lodging), there are motels and vacation rentals available in the towns of Twentynine Palms and Joshua Tree, to the north and northwest of the park.