12 Gorgeous Joshua Tree Hikes You Need to Take (From Easy to Difficult)
Joshua Tree National Park is an absolutely amazing desert destination and a national park that is best explored on foot. My husband and I are huge rock/desert lovers and when we get to Joshua Tree we feel like we are coming home.
We have visited Joshua Tree three times- twice to hike and once to rock climb in Joshua Tree (you can book guided climbing adventures that are perfect for any skill level, including beginners).
But climbing in Joshua Tree is beside the point- we are here to talk about some of the amazing hiking you can do on the Joshua Tree National Park hiking trails!
We have done many Joshua Tree hikes including some of the long, more strenuous hikes but also some of the park’s easy hikes when we visited Joshua Tree with kids.
So from our multiple experiences, this Joshua Tree hiking guide is to let you know some of our favorite hikes in the park plus other great hikes that we have on our list that we hope to hit next time we visit.
Best time of year for hiking in Joshua Tree National Park
By far the best time of year for hiking at Joshua Tree is October-April/May. The summer months of June-September get far too hot for any enjoyable hiking, plus, park rangers actually recommend NOT hiking most of the hikes in the summer.
Joshua Tree National Park offers very little shade and the summer temps can reach 100° F- not an ideal (or even safe) time to hike.
The winter months require some jackets and warm layers, but it’s far superior to hiking in the heat. We have visited Joshua Tree in November, January, and May.
Our most enjoyable hiking experiences were in November followed by January. In May the weather was already much too hot for our liking. The park’s most popular months are March/April because of the perfect temps and blooming wildflowers.
Things to Know Before Hiking These Joshua Tree Trails
- There are very few places to fill up water within the park, bring in your own water and pack 1-2 gallons per person per day. Check out the Joshua Tree National Park Safety Page for important safety information including the limited locations of water on the edges of the park.
- Return back to the car on a hike when your water is half gone.
- You can book a personalized, guided hiking tour in Joshua Tree to have a local expert with you on your hikes to guide you and teach you about the local flora, fauna, geology, and history.
- Joshua Tree Park Rangers advise against hiking many of the hikes in the summertime and starting before 9 am for the rest. Stop in at a visitor center to talk to a park ranger before your day in the park for their recommendations.
- Be sure to have plenty of gas in your vehicle as there is nowhere to fill up within the park.
- Pack plenty of food and snacks with you as there are no food vendors within the park.
- Check out my Joshua Tree with Kids guide for kid-specific hiking tips.
- Let someone know where you will be hiking.
- Download a GoogleMap of Joshua Tree to your phone as there is next to no cell service within the park.
- Follow ‘Leave No Trace’ principles and be sure to pack out any garbage you may have.
- Bring a hat, sunglasses sunscreen, and any layers you may need to protect yourself from the sun (especially if visiting in the warmer months, as there is very little shade within Joshua Tree)
Are there any dog-friendly hikes in Joshua Tree?
Similar to many national parks in the US (except for some parks like Acadia National Park) dogs aren’t allowed on hiking trails.
However, your dog CAN be with you in the campgrounds, on the road, and in picnic areas. And the National Park Service would like to remind you that leaving your furry friend in the car can be lethal (especially in the heat of Joshua Tree).
You can also take your dog on the paved Oasis of Mara and Keys View trails and on any unpaved roads within the park. You can park your car on the side of the road or at a pullout and use the unpaved road as if it’s a hiking trail. Visit the Joshua Tree National Park website for information about the unpaved roads in Joshua Tree.
On one of our visits to Joshua Tree, we brought our dog camping with us. When we wanted to explore the park the next day we took him to a dog sitter just outside of the park that we found on Rover. It was super easy, he had a great time and it worked out well.
If you do take your pup into the park, remember to pack lots of water and food specifically for them. They need to stay hydrated too!
Are there any easy hikes in Joshua Tree?
Yes! There are lots of easy Joshua Tree hikes to choose from. This makes Joshua Tree a perfect destination to visit Joshua Tree with kids or for someone who isn’t up for long, strenuous hikes (even though you can also find long hikes in the park if that’s what you’re into).
Eight of the hiking trails in Joshua Tree that I talk about below are under three miles long with not much elevation gain. That’s a lot of easy hikes to choose from!
My favorite easy Joshua Tree National Park Hikes are Hidden Valley, Arch Rock/Heart Rock, and Discovery Trail. Read on to learn more about each one!
Map of Joshua Tree National Park Hikes
Best Hikes in Joshua Tree at a Glance
| Name | Length | Estimated Time | Difficulty |
| 1. Oasis of Mara | 0.5-mile paved loop | 30 minutes | easy |
| 2. Cholla Cactus Garden Trail | 0.25-mile loop | 15-25 minutes | easy |
| 3. Discovery Nature Trail | 0.7-mile loop | 30-45 minutes | easy |
| 4. Hall of Horrors | 0.6-mile loop | 30-45 minutes | easy |
| 5. Skull Rock Nature Trail | 1.7-mile loop | 1-2 hours | easy |
| 6. Barker Dam Trail | 1.1-mile loop | 1 hour | easy |
| 7. Hidden Valley Nature Trail | 1-mile loop | 1 hour | easy/moderate |
| 8. Arch Rock/Heart Rock Trail | 1.75-mile lollipop | 1-2 hours | easy |
| 9. 49 Palms Oasis | 3-mile out and back | 2-3 hours | moderate/challenging |
| 10. Ryan Mountain Trail | 3-mile out and back | 2-3 hours | challenging |
| 11. Lost Horse Mine/Lost Horse Loop | 4-mile out and back/6.5-mile loop | 3-4 hours | moderate/challenging |
| 12. Panorama Loop | 6.6-mile loop | 3.5-4.5 hours | challenging |
12 Gorgeous Hiking Trails in Joshua Tree
1. Oasis of Mara Nature Trail
Length: 0.5-mile paved loop
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Time: 30 minutes
Toilets: Yes!
The Oasis of Mara Nature Trail is a super easy 0.5-mile paved loop from the Joshua Tree National Park Headquarters (with a bookstore etc.) to a palm tree oasis with significant historical importance to the Serrano people.
There are many informational plaques along the path and places to sit down to rest. This is one of the only trails you can take your pup on in the park since it’s a paved path.
2. Cholla Cactus Garden Trail
Length: 0.25-mile loop
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Time: 15-25 minutes
Toilets: No
The Cholla Cactus Garden Nature Trail is more of a nature walk than a hike-but a great nature walk! The cactus garden is located in an area of the park with few Joshua Trees and a bit of a different landscape about a 15-minute drive down the road from the Arch Rock Nature Trail.
I wasn’t sure what to expect, but basically, the Cactus garden is a huge area (10 acres) completely full of Teddy Bear Cholla Cacti. We had seen some along various hiking trails in the park, but it was quite awesome to see so many in one place.
The Cholla Cactus Garden Trail is a short, 0.25-mile loop that weaves through the cactus garden. We didn’t even walk the whole path, we just strolled along until our toddler was ready for the next event (aka a nap in the car) and that was totally enough (maybe a 15-minute visit).
I can imagine that the garden would be totally gorgeous when the cacti bloom. From my understanding, the cacti generally bloom in March through June(ish).
An common nickname for a Cholla Cactus is the ‘jumping cactus’. Not because the spines actually jump from the cactus to your skin, but because if the spines do come in contact with your clothes or skin, they break away from the cactus veryyyy easily and stay attached to you.
So be careful to not accidentally brush up against any of the cacti and keep a close eye on your kiddos!
3. Discovery Nature Trail
Length: 0.7-mile loop
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Time: 45 minutes
Toilets: No
The Discovery Nature Trail is a trail made for kids and by kids. Children in the local school district, worked with park rangers to create the trail with points of interest along the way.
The trailhead is located across the street from Skull Rock which makes seeing both Skull Rock and the Discovery Trail in one go very easy.
It’s an easy 0.7-mile loop with very (very) slight hills and 10 different informative signs along the way. And about halfway through is a set of fixed binoculars with a sign pointing out different landmarks to check out in the area (including Skull Rock).
One unique thing about the Discovery Trail is you get to walk through two small ‘slot canyons’ (not crazy skinny, but fun all the same).
4. Hall of Horrors Trail
Length: 0.7-mile loop
Difficulty: Easy (moderate if you add on the two, small slot canyons)
Estimated Time: 45 minutes
Toilets: Yes!
The Hall of Horrors is a popular rock climbing area with basically two huge boulder piles (one in front of the other). The Hall of Horrors trail is an easy 0.7-mile loop around the first large boulder pile. However, the second large boulder pile behind has two small slot canyons to explore.
It will add on a titch of difficulty and a small amount of distance to see the slot canyons- but definitely worth if you’re in the area!
5. Skull Rock Nature Trail
Length: 1.7-mile loop
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Time: 1-2 hours
Toilets: No
We’ve only visited Skull Rock (which takes about 2 minutes because it’s literally right next to the road) and have not done the nearby Skull Rock Nature Trail. However, from what I hear, the Skull Rock Nature Trail sounds like a super fun hike.
The Skull Rock Nature Trail is an easy 1.7-mile loop through large boulder fields (which makes it perfect for fun, adventuring, and scrambling) plus I hear it’s a great trail for peeping wildflowers in the spring.
6. Barker Dam Trail
Length: 1-mile loop
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Time: 1 hour
Toilets: Yes!
The Barker Dam Trail in Joshua Tree is a very easy and popular 1-mile loop through boulder fields, Joshua Trees, and even petroglyphs to a dam made by cattle ranchers in the area in the early 1900s.
This is a great hike to see a little bit of everything that the park offers (think Joshua Trees, boulder piles, history, animals) and perfect if you are running short on time.
Keep in mind this is quite a popular trail and parking may be difficult to find in the peak months of September-May. Try to arrive early and have backup trail options in mind in case you can’t find a parking space.
7. Hidden Valley Nature Trail
Length: 1-mile loop
Difficulty: Easy-moderate (some rock stairs etc)
Estimated Time: 1 hour
Toilets: Yes!
The Hidden Valley Nature Trail is an easy 1-mile loop with the trailhead located at the parking area for the Hidden Valley picnic area.
Somehow, we’ve never taken the actual Hidden Valley Nature Trail because we always get sidetracked exploring the large area around the Hidden Valley picnic area. And let me tell you what, the area around the Hidden Valley picnic area is one of our favorite places to explore in Joshua Tree.
It’s a great place to relax, eat some food and scramble on the large boulder piles. Plus, it’s a popular area for boulderers and rock climbers so you’re bound to see some climbers while you’re there.
I really enjoy the area as the sun is setting for some beautiful photos of Joshua Trees for miles and epic boulders.
We do hope to hike the actual Hidden Valley Trail next time we visit, especially since I hear about this super cool Hidden Valley Scavenger Hunt you can book!
Basically, it’s an interactive Scavenger Hunt on the Hidden Valley Nature Trail with a live guide you connect with via your phone. People say it’s super fun and that they noticed things about their surroundings that they never would have otherwise.
The scavenger hunt sounds like a super awesome activity to do with friends or as a family.
But even if you don’t do the hunt, I hear the hike is totally worth it- plus it is only one mile long which means you can hike it pretty quickly.
8. Arch Rock/Heart Rock Trail
Length: 1.7-mile lollipop trail (1.4 miles if you only do Arch Rock)
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Time: 1-2 hours
Toilets: No
The Arch Rock Trail in Joshua Tree is such a lovely hike that we really enjoyed on our latest trip to Joshua Tree. It’s a mostly flat, easy hike that crosses through an open area in the desert over to a boulder field where you will find both Arch Rock and Heart Rock.
One reason I love this hike because rock arches are very rare in Joshua Tree and are usually more of a phenomenon you’ll find at Arches National Park in Utah. It’s a great way to see a unique geological feature in the park that you can’t find in many other places!
Our toddler loved playing on all of the boulders in the boulder field and was very excited to keep a lookout for both Arch Rock and Heart Rock as we hiked.
If you only hike to Arch Rock, the hike is 1.4 miles roundtrip, but if you add on the short jaunt to Heart Rock it adds on maybe a quarter of a mile or so. The trail that cuts off to Heart Rock is well-marked and you’ll see many people taking it (even though Heart Rock does not appear on the park’s map or at the trailhead).
For the best heart shape, approach Heart Rock from the trail and walk around it to the other side. And will someone please just do a surprise wedding proposal here?
9. 49 Palms Oasis
Length: 3-mile out and back
Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Estimated Time: 1.5-2.5 hours
Toilets: No
The 49 Palms Oasis trail leads to a lovely, secluded, palm-tree-filled oasis in the mountains of Joshua Tree National Park. In the early 1900s, miners marked the location of a natural spring by planting the palms.
Although the trail does not have much shade (like most trails in Joshua Tree) the huge palm trees at the end do provide some respite from the sun and make for a lovely picnic area.
10. Ryan Mountain Trail
Length: 3-mile out and back
Difficulty: Challenging
Estimated Time: 2-3 hours
Toilets: Yes
Ryan Mountain is the first hike we ever did in Joshua Tree- and definitely one of the more challenging hikes within the park. The Ryan Mountain Trail is a 3-mile out-and-back trail to the top of Ryan Mountain (as the name implies).
The trail is basically uphill the entire way there with inclines and rock steps and downhill the entire way back (1000 feet of elevation gain). This can obviously be quite challenging if you are not used to hiking (or a good workout if you are).
But if you love getting to a high point for a good view, this may be the hike for you! From the top of Ryan Mountain, you get full 360° views of the surrounding desert floor, Joshua Trees, and boulder formations.
11. Lost Horse Mine/Lost Horse Loop
Length: 4 miles/6.5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate-Challenging
Estimated Time: 2-3 hours
Toilets: No
Lost Horse Mine was an exceptional mine in the late 1800s-early 1900s that produced around 10,000 ounces of gold and 16,000 ounces of silver (around $5 million today 😱). You can still see the remnants of the mine today ( and also other historical artifacts along the way).
You can visit the mine via two different trails- the Lost Horse Mine Trail (4 miles) or the Lost Horse Loop Trail (6.5 miles).
12. Panorama Loop Trail
Length: 6.6-mile loop
Difficulty: Challenging
Estimated Time: 3.5-4.5 hours
Toilets: Yes at Black Rock Canyon Campground
The Panorama Loop Trail is another one of Joshua Tree’s more challenging hikes with a 6.4-mile loop and over 1000 feet of elevation gain. Catch the trailhead at Black Rock Canyon Campground.
Although challenging, you get great views of the Coachella Valley and the surrounding area. This trail makes for a great sunrise hike with panoramic valley views!
Be sure to bring plenty of water as there is very little shade on the trail. Also, bring an extra layer as it can get windy and chilly at the top (especially in the colder months).
Things to do in Joshua Tree That Aren’t Hikes
- Visit one of the three Joshua Tree National Park visitor centers to get recommendations from a park ranger, learn about the area, or buy a small souvenir.
- Enjoy a super unique sound bath & meditation under the stars in Joshua Tree. This really is a one-of-a-kind experience you can’t miss!
- Experience the Joshua Tree climbing craze by booking a guided rock climbing adventure within Joshua Tree! All skill levels are welcome and you can choose between a 4-hour climbing adventure, a 6-hour climbing adventure or even a climbing adventure specifically for families.
- Listen to a Joshua Tree self-guided driving tour as you cruise through the park
- Book an off-road 4×4 tour through Joshua Tree to see areas you can’t see in a normal vehicle
- Picnic at the Hidden Valley Picnic area and explore the area.
- Participate in a scavenger hunt through Joshua Tree’s Hidden Valley
- Watch the sunset from Keys View and take in the views of the Coachella Valley and the surrounding mountains.
- Explore the nearby towns of Twentynine Palms, Yucca Valley, and Joshua Tree (check out my Ultimate Guide to Joshua Tree & Nearby Towns post for more info!)
And that’s everything I think you need to know about the best hikes in Joshua Tree National Park! These Joshua Tree hiking trails are some of my favorite hikes I’ve been on. If you love the desert, you’ll love these hikes.
Let me know if you have any questions about visiting Joshua Tree- and be sure to check out my other Joshua Tree content for more help planning your trip to Joshua Tree National Park and the surrounding areas. Comment below if you have any questions!
Additional Joshua Tree National Park Trip Planning Resources:
- 15 Things You Need to Know Before Visiting Joshua Tree National Park
- The Ultimate Guide to Joshua Tree with Kids: Things to Do + Top Tips
- The Only Guide You Need to Joshua Tree National Park and Nearby Towns
- Arch Rock in Joshua Tree With Easy Detour to Heart Rock
- 7 Things to Know Before Bouldering In Joshua Tree National Park
Or if you’re looking for more family fun in the desert, check out these Arches National Park Posts:
- 7 Kid-Friendly Hikes In Arches National Park Your Kids Will Love
- The Ultimate Guide to Arches National Park with Kids: Things to Do + Map and Tips
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