joshua tree ranch

great day trip if you have friends coming to visit. very interesting trees and rock formations. nothing not to like.

We motorcycles through this Parc. Great roads, very respectful drivers. Many attractions for all ages from hiking, to wildlife watching or camping. Very clean and well maintained.

Beautiful National Park, still Joshua Tree is rather desolate in the winter months. Hiking, walking along the trails is easy and you're more or less alone, so you feel like it belongs to you. At one stopping point, we hiked and although there were two other vehicles in the area we never saw anyone else. With warm mild temperatures in the 70s, the hiking was not exerting. We had water, but we were not really in need of our drinks. The temperatures in these high mountainous areas made it easy to walk and hike as long as we pleased. Our only deadline was the park's closing at dusk. A stop beforehand at the Visitor's Center is essential - for maps, hats, and to watch the short video in the media room. At the Oasis Visitor Center Snack Bar, buy anything you've forgotten: water, box lunches, hats and you are ready. In the winter, still remember sun screen. Winter in Joshua Tree is perfect, not cold or harsh. Rejuvenating hikes, Joshua Trees and beautiful vista views await you!

Just a very boring place. A few cool things but overall is very boring.In the winter there is no animals to see. We did not even see a bird in over 2 hours. There is not one thing that is cool about the mountains.

Seriously, when you drive through and see the rocks piled high, you begin to turn them into all sorts of images. As you continue to drive, the formations get bigger and more magnificent. There are a lot of easy walking trails for the whole family. Be sure to bring plenty of water and your lunch as you are going to want to spend as much time in the park without leaving. Having sunscreen is a must.Take time to see the sunset and find a special place to take those beautiful pictures. Also, be sure while you are there to go back at night. (park is open) turn off all the lights and just do a little star gazing. All in all a lot of fun and plenty to see!

Having been to Bryce, Zion, Grand Canyon, etc., I keep expecting to be disappointed when I visit another national park, but I'm not. Unlike Bryce, Zion, etc., this park is not nearly as commercialized and they are unapologetic. There are no services in the park -- no restaurants, only a limited gift shop. AND they don't make it all that easy to access. You drive yourself and stop where you want. There are a few short walks (which we did since my 70+ y/o aunt was with us).. Clearly this is a hiker's paradise -- but even if you just pull off the road and walk around, there is much to see and enjoy...just bring your own water!!!! Even in the winter, you get dehydrated out there

My favorite adventures involve the outdoors and hiking. I had a once in a lifetime experience when I visited the park on a Sunday. Admission for the week was $15. There were numerous hiking trails ranging in levels of difficulty. The staff was extremely helpful and welcoming. My boyfriend and I stared with an easy hike at the damn then finished with the Ryan Mountain hike later in the day when the heat was bearable. The views were breathtaking and the sunset encompassed the entire park. I can't wait to visit again.

What an incredible experience. The pictures I've seen don't do it justice. I was in awe of the rock formations and the vast land of trees and scrub. I wish we had visited at sunrise or sunset. I'm sure that would be an incredible experience.

Rangers helpful on trails to take and what to look for on hikes. We went middle of the week in the afternoon had the park to ourselves.

If you have a quest like me, to check all the National Parks, Joshua Tree is one that you can go just for the check mark. Is beautiful, there is a miriade of rock formations, lots of trais, but I would not go back. If you go hiking bring plenty water and food with you once there is no "vendors" in the entire park.

Amazing, a must visit if you are near Palm Springs. This is a one of a kind National Park. We hiked up Ryan's Mountain and had a 360 view it was stunning.

Recently visited the park and hiked Hidden Valley Nature Loop. But to our surprise as we ate lunch, we were entertained to a tight rope walker going between the boulders. No slips or falls--he was tethered, none the less. We also got to see the San Andreas fault on another hike. what a truly wonderful and splendid day.

We made the drive from Claremont, CA to visit Joshua Tree National Park, on the recommendation of a family member who had been there recently. We are so glad we did. The scenery was stunning; almost other-wordly. The kids (9, 12 and 15) really enjoyed exploring and climbing the smaller rocks. We did see some real climbers scaling much more challenging rocks. I wished we had brought a picnic and some more appropriate clothing for hiking, but as it was we were able to comfortably hike some of the shorter trails, and loved seeing the San Andrea's fault line. Our few hours at Joshua Tree National Park a sure to remain a treasured memory of travels with the kids.

Location:The park is approximately 1 hour from Palm Desert, and three hours from Los Angeles. Plan accordingly. When the sun sets, temperatures drop into the 40's or 50's in January when we went. Daytime temps will be in the 80's.Editorial:We strive to take advantage of all our wonderful country, The United States, has to offer, and one of the jewels at our disposal is the National Park System. And the Joshua Tree National Monument one of those hidden gems. You would not believe to get as much out of your visits as we did. I would recommend taking I10 to Cottonwood Springs Rd. and then into the park. This route will take you from the moon like Mojave Desert atmosphere to a progressively more robust vegetation base. As you progress through the high desert and past things like the Cholla Garden and into the Joshua Tree area, and to Carver Damn at Hidden Valley and the Keys Viewpoint. We did this with little walking. Carver Damn is 1.1 mile loop.If you follow the route detailed here you will progress from nothing and a moonscape to a heavily vegetative growth area with beautiful desert flora.Details:As all national parks there is a fee. Make sure to stop and pay your day fee at the ranger station, and obtain the maps and information on the park. This will be critical even if you have done extensive research before your visit.This is the high desert; if you elect to go bring several bottles of water, some apples or oranges, and a sandwich. All came in handy on our trip. You will be there about five to seven hours total even you take in some limited sights, and make the trip to the Keys Vista and the Carver Damn. This is a large park and driving through will take time as the road is 35 MPH and curvy. Also take some clothing layers. I would recommend shorts and a light shirt. Bring a long sleeve covering and a cap or hat. The sun is strong at elevation, even when not out for long. Sunscreen is ALWAYS a requirement.There will be bathroom facilities later in the trip, but no concessions.This is a wonderfully enlightening National Park. In our travels we have taken in nearly 15 of our national treasures. I urge you to visit our national park system, as the return on the dollar is wonderful. This is a great couples or family day trip. Camping sites are available. Check ahead of time for details on cost and availability.

It's really pretty! We hiked out to the Wonderland of Rocks to see some really unique rock piles. That hike was a bit more secluded than the Hidden Valley Nature Loop, which made it very peaceful, although we did see some folks also hiking along the way. The trail is pretty well marked. The cactus and other vegetation is lovely. My favorite though is standing at the base of these large cliffs and looking up. While along the Hidden Valley Nature loop we did see some rock climbers and boulderers. Great day trip!