The Perfect Weekend Trip to Joshua Tree National Park

Grab Breakfast (and Lunch for Later) in the town of Joshua Tree

Before starting your adventure in Joshua Tree, fuel up with some good breakfast in town. I recommend stopping by either Natural Sisters Cafe or Country Kitchen. Natural Sisters Cafe is a 100% vegetarian spot (with plenty of vegan options, as well) serving up healthy yet filling breakfast dishes, including breakfast wraps, biscuits and gravy, bagels, smoothies, juices, and more. Country Kitchen is a diner offering classic breakfast dishes, including omelets, pancakes, and breakfast burritos. 

If you’ve already had breakfast and just need your caffeine fix, you can also head over to Joshua Tree Coffee Company – the go-to spot in town for a top-quality cup of coffee.  

Since there aren’t any places to eat within the park, you’ll want to make sure you bring in lunch. If you aren’t bringing something from home, you can stop by The Dez or Roadrunner Grab + Go. Both spots offer to-go sandwiches and other meals, as well as snacks and drinks. 

Hike at Split Rock Loop Trail

Next up, drive about 15 minutes east to Split Rock Loop Trail. This easy trail is 2.5-miles long, and leads you to a variety of cool rock formations and desert plants. During the spring, you’ll also see plenty of wildflowers.  

There definitely are a few moments where the actual trail isn’t clearly marked. However, there are trail markers around that will lead you in the right direction – just keep your eye out! 

I’d also suggest eating your lunch here before, during, or after your hike. There are a few picnic tables by the trailhead that are set amongst the giant boulders. You can also find a spot to eat along the trail. 

Note: the parking lot here is very small, so you might not get a spot. If it’s full, you’ll need to park on Park Boulevard and then walk up the road to the trailhead.

Hike to Arch Rock

Arch Rock is one of the most popular spots to visit in the park, and definitely shouldn’t be missed during your Joshua Tree weekend getaway. You get to the rock via Arch Rock Nature Trail, an easy 1.4-mile hike. 

Since the arch-shaped rock is very photo-worthy, it can get crowded in the area. You may need to wait a bit if you want to get a photo on the rock. You will also need to climb over some boulders to get underneath the rock. 

Beyond Arch Rock, there are a ton of other cool off-trail boulder formations in the area that are worth exploring if you have time. As you’re directly facing Arch Rock, when you look to the right, you’ll notice a passageway through the rocks. Here, you can get more incredible views of the giant boulders, and do a bit of scrambling over rocks. 

The parking lot and trailhead are both located across the street from Arch Rock. Once you start on the trail (the trailhead is located right off the parking lot), it will take you across the street – and you’ll be on your way to Arch Rock!

Watch the Sunset at Cholla Cactus Garden (and Stay for Stargazing)

Your final stop of the day will be Cholla Cactus Garden. This natural “garden” is packed with cholla (pronounced “choy-ya”) cacti, which have almost translucent needles that glow in the golden hour sun. There’s a super short walking path that takes you through the space, where you can get up close to the desert plants. Keep in mind that these cacti are super sharp, so be mindful of your surroundings. 

Important note: there are mountains to the west, which means that you’ll lose the direct golden hour light a bit earlier than the actual sunset time. I’d recommend getting there no later than half an hour before sunset (but preferably earlier!) so that you still have some time to enjoy the plants glowing in the golden hour sun. 

Stay at the Garden for Stargazing

If you have the energy after your day of exploring the park, I recommend staying at Cholla Cactus Garden for stargazing. While you can certainly still stargaze from your accommodations in town, the area between the garden and Cottonwood (which is about 20 miles south) is considered to be the best place for stargazing in Joshua Tree. This is because this space has the darkest skies, as it is farther away from light pollution from Palm Desert to the west and the towns to the north.

Of course, the stars won’t be visible immediately after sunset, so you will have to wait for a bit. This is a good time to give your feet a break, eat a snack, and chill for a bit! It’s not a bad idea to have a camping chair (it’ll come in handy with stargazing, too!). 

Tip: while you should have a flashlight on hand to help you navigate, a normal flashlight will affect your eyes as they are trying to adjust to the darkness. This means they won’t be primed for stargazing! Instead, you’ll want to use a red flashlight. This will help you see the area around you, but won’t affect your stargazing abilities. 

Get Dinner and Drinks in Town

After your busy day of exploring the park, head back into town for dinner. I recommend stopping by Crossroads Cafe. The casual diner serves filling comfort food, including burgers, sandwiches, tacos, and more. It’s also very vegan-friendly – the seitan Hell Burger is great. 

If Crossroads is closed by the time you get back into town, you can go down the street to Joshua Tree Saloon. The popular bar and grill has a similar (albeit much larger) menu, offering classic grill dishes. This is also a great place to stop after Crossroads if you want drinks!

Day 2

On the second day of your Joshua Tree 2-day itinerary, you’ll head back into the park to see even more of the iconic sights. You’ll start the day off with sunrise in the park, so make sure you bring lunch, snacks, and water along with you, as well as layers to keep warm early in the day. 

Watch the Sunrise at Turtle Rock

While waking up early isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, if you can make it happen, I highly suggest going into the park to watch the sunrise. Desert sunrises are truly beautiful, and it’s incredibly cool to see the desert plants and boulders glowing in the early morning sun. 

One of the best places to watch the sunrise in Joshua Tree is on the eastern side of Turtle Rock. Here, there’s an open field with tons of Joshua trees, and the sun beautifully illuminates Turtle Rock and the surrounding boulders. In order to see the best light, I recommend getting there about 20 minutes before the actual sunrise time. 

For parking, you can park at the lot between the rock and Hidden Valley Nature Trail (where you’ll be heading next).

Hike the Hidden Valley Nature Trail

Next, you’ll get in your first hike of the day. Hidden Valley Nature Trail is a 1-mile super easy loop trail. This is one of my favorite easy Joshua Tree hikes. The loop takes you through a valley of massive boulders – many of which are super easy to climb up. You’ll also see plenty of Joshua trees and other desert plants.

Hike the Barker Dam Nature Trail

After you’re done at Hidden Valley, you’ll drive five minutes to the opposite side of Park Boulevard to hike the Barker Dam Nature Trail. This 1.3-mile loop trail is easy to hike, and features some particularly unique sights that you won’t see anywhere else in the park. About half a mile into the hike, you’ll pass by Barker Dam, which dates back to the early 20th century. It doesn’t always have water, but it does get filled up after a rainy season. If you’re lucky, you may even see some bighorn sheep!

About a mile into the hike, there are Native American petroglyphs painted onto a boulder. You can easily miss the boulder, so take note of its location on the AllTrails map linked above and keep your eyes out! There is also a small sign pointing in its direction on the trail. 

There is a decent sized parking lot here, but it does fill up quickly during popular times. If it’s filled up, there are some areas along Barker Dam Road where you can street park.

Explore Jumbo Rocks

Jumbo Rocks – which is about a 15-minute drive from the Barker Dam trailhead – is one of the best places for adventuring through and clambering over the park’s famous giant boulders, and personally one of my favorite places in the park! 

There are some trails here, including the popular Jumbo Rocks Campground Loop (1.6 miles). However, I recommend exploring the open area across the street from Jumbo Rocks Campground. While there isn’t a marked trail through the area, there are natural paths that lead you towards huge boulders – you can enter the area here. I’ve found it to be much less crowded than the trail, so you get plenty of open space to check out! 

The rock formations aren’t far from the road, so it will be easy to find your way back. You’ll need to street park on Park Boulevard, as there isn’t a parking lot.

Check Out the Town of Joshua Tree

Before you leave, spend some time exploring the town of Joshua Tree. While it’s small, there are some interesting spots worth checking out while you’re in the area. 

For unique souvenirs, vintage goods, and other fun treasures, make your way to The Station, which is located in a converted 1949 car service station. You can also stop by Roaming Travelers, a fashion and home goods store, as well as the clothing store Jen’s Pirate Booty. 

In addition to those stores, another fun spot worth checking out in town is the World Famous Crochet Museum, which has a suggested donation of $0.25. This colorful and quirky (and super small) museum is located inside what was previously a drive-through photo stand. There’s a unique assortment of crochet animals and other items. It’s open 24/7, so you’re free to stop by any time. 

Get Dinner in Pioneertown

If you’ll be staying for dinner on the final day of your Joshua Tree weekend trip, I recommend heading over to Pioneertown, which is about a 20-minute drive west of town. Pioneertown was built in 1946, and was used as a set for western films and TV shows through the 1940s and 1950s. The set still stands today (and is often used for productions), but now, visitors are able to walk through “town” to be transported to the wild west.

While many of the storefronts are fake, there are a few operating businesses. Two excellent places to grab food are Pappy and Harriet’s and The Red Dog Saloon, both of which stick to the town’s old west theme. Pappy and Harriet’s is a bar and grill serving hot dogs, burgers, sandwiches, ribs, alcoholic beverages, and more. They also often have live music playing. 

The Red Dog Saloon – which was originally built by Roy Rogers and Gene Autry – offers plenty of different taco options, as well as chips, salsa, street corn, and other delicious sides. They also have cocktails, beer, and wine on the menu. 

Additional Joshua Tree National Park Hikes

If you have extra time during your visit to the park, here are a few additional trails I recommend checking out. The list starts on the north end of the park, and moves south. 

• Fortynine Palms Oasis Trail (3 miles, Moderate): This trail is on the north end of the park, near Twentynine Palms. Since it’s a bit removed from many of the other trails, it’s not quite as popular – but is still worth a visit. At the end of the out-and-back hike is a palm tree oasis.
• Wall Street Mill Trail (2 miles, Easy): The trailhead for this trail is right next to the Barker Dam Nature Trail trailhead, so it’s great to do both of these hikes at the same time. The out-and-back trail goes to the Wall Street Mill, a two-stamp gold ore crushing mill that was used from the 1930s to 1960s. You’ll also pass by other remnants, including a windmill and water pump, an abandoned house, and an old car. 
• Ryan Mountain Trail (2.9 miles, Moderate): If you want to hike to a peak to get amazing views of the park and the surrounding area, you’ll want to try Ryan Mountain Trail. As you hike along the out-and-back trail, you’ll pass by plenty of desert plants before getting to the top of Ryan Mountain.  
• Lost Palm Oasis Trail (7.5 miles, Moderate): Much like the Fortynine Palms Oasis Trail, this trail leads you out to a palm tree oasis, which you will need to climb down a few rocks to access. The trail is located in the southern section of the park, which is far less popular than the northern section. This means the trail doesn’t get very crowded – especially given the longer mileage. 

Additional Joshua Tree Tips

Finally, let’s cover a few additional tips that will help you plan your trip to Joshua Tree:

• Buy the National Park Pass Ahead of Time: When it’s busier, there will typically be two lines at the park entrance: one for those who still need to purchase a park pass, and another for those who already have a pass (which moves quicker). To help make your entrance into the park as fast as possible, I highly recommend buying your park pass in advance online. Once purchased, you can save it to your phone’s wallet or print it out to show to a ranger at the entrance.
• Fill Up on Gas: You won’t find any gas stations within the park, and since you’ll be doing plenty of driving as you explore, you’re going to need to make sure you enter with a full tank of gas. You can find gas stations in the towns of Joshua Tree, Yucca Valley, and Twentynine Palms. 
• Download Google Maps Before Your Visit: You’ll get very little cell service in Joshua Tree. With that in mind, it’s a good idea to download Google Maps of the area before visiting. Simply drop a pin in a spot, and then press “Download” (located under the “Directions” button). You’ll now be able to use Google Maps navigation while offline! You need to be a bit zoomed in to do these, so you’ll need to download a few sections to cover the areas you need. When traveling, I also like to save the different spots into a list in Google Maps. For this trip, I made a Joshua Tree list, and then saved each hike/destination location into that list. It makes locating the spots I want to hit up much easier.