Cholla Cactus Garden in the lower desert plains of Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park, California
Before boarding Baby B’s first international flight to Palm Springs, we asked our readers to recommend some attractions and things to do in the area. A common response was to visit Joshua Tree National Park, so we took their advice and planned to spend an afternoon exploring the fabled US National Park.
Knowing very little about the park, we jumped in the car and made the 45 minute drive from Palm Springs to Joshua Tree (the city), located northwest of the national park. We entered the park from the west entrance near Black Rock Canyon and traveled south to the entrance/exit near Cottonwood Mountains – here is a map.
Originally, we thought we would spend a few hours exploring the park (including the 45 minute drive). But after pulling into the tourist centre to grab a park map, we quickly realized just how huge it is (789,745 acres to be exact!).
“It takes approximately two hours to drive”, said the uniformed Park Ranger.
“Seriously?!” we replied. With a 3-month old baby on-board, we didn’t know what we had just committed to. It’s one thing to plan for a 2-3 hour trip, but a 5-hour road trip is a completely different story (it takes an hour to get from the south entrance back to Palm Springs).
Let’s just say that it wasn’t Baby B’s finest hour - he screamed for a solid 45 minutes - but the stunning landscapes made it well worth the detour. No pain, no gain – right?!
Below are some photos from our trip to Joshua Tree National Park
Rock climbers scaling the smooth rock formations
Peculiar desert landscapes
The park road snaking between interesting rock formations
A native Joshua Tree, the inspiration for the park’s name
Desert landscapes – the perfect backdrop for an old Western movie
Park road splitting a forest of Joshua Trees in the Mojave Desert
Entrance to the Cholla Cactus Garden hiking trail
The otherworldly Cholla Cactus Garden – very unusual
Close-up of the Teddy-bear cholla in the Cholla Cactus Garden – don’t touch!
Cholla Cactus Garden
The endless lower desert plains of Joshua Tree – you don’t want your car to breakdown here!
Dramatic panorama in the Colorado Desert
The Joshua Tree National Park Store near the town of Joshua Tree
An old saloon in the town of Joshua Tree. It kinda has a wild west feel about it, doesn’t it?
So what makes Joshua Tree National Park so extraordinary?
The park is a transition zone between two deserts, the Mojave desert in the higher elevation and the Colorado desert in the lower plains. The varying temperatures create a rare eco-system with distinct plant species (like the unusual Cholla Cactus Garden pictured above). The unique rock formations in the park were formed over 100 million years ago, eroded by groundwater that shaped the peculiar outcroppings.
It’s no surprise that the park is hugely popular with rock climbers, mountains bikers, hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. We’d love to return when Baby B is a little older and we can spend a few days exploring the park, camping under the desert stars – it must be quite the spectacle!
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Have you visited Joshua Tree National Park?
Share your experience and travel tips in the comments section below
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Cameron and Nicole Wears are Canadian married couple and newbie parents living in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia. A passion for travel and outdoor adventure has taken them to over 50 countries on 6 continents in the past 7 years. Consider following us via 
One of my favorite spots to take photos. Really lovely there.
Michael Hodson recently posted..Trip Advisor Is Better Than Your Guidebook
It really is an extraordinary park, especially the Cactus Garden
Traveling Canucks recently posted..Photo Essay: Snowboarding in the French Alps
Such unique and beautiful landscapes. Definitely on my list of places to visit.
It’s worth the extra effort if you ever find yourself in LA or Palm Springs
Traveling Canucks recently posted..Luxury on the Volcanic Cliffs of Santorini, Greece
It looks amazing! I was really close to Joshua Tree last year but never made it in. I kind of regret that now!
Turtle recently posted..My Mendoza love affair
There’s always next time, right?!
Traveling Canucks recently posted..Photo Essay: Snowboarding in the French Alps
I was just about to say that it felt like watching a good western movie while browsing through these photos, when I saw your comment under the last photo
Lovely place!
Adrian recently posted..Jerónimos Monastery
I half expected a convoy of horseback wagons to roll across the desert plains…
Traveling Canucks recently posted..Photo Essay: Snowboarding in the French Alps
Beautiful photos! Hope we make it to Joshua Tree one day!
The Time-Crunched Traveler (Ellen) recently posted..How to prepare for a winter adventure
Thanks Ellen! Glad you like the photos – it was fun taking them!
Traveling Canucks recently posted..Photo Essay: Snowboarding in the French Alps
That really does look like something out of a western. I was often amazed by some of the run down time trapped places we came across in the US
Indeed – we’ve been talking about taking an extended trip around the remote parts of the US, in an RV of course! The US often gets overlooked for the beaches of Thailand or history of Europe, but its got hundreds of secrets worth uncovering
Traveling Canucks recently posted..Photo Essay: Snowboarding in the French Alps
This is one of my favorite places in the American Southwest. If you want to visit it again, try to do so when the plants are in bloom. This is absolutely breathtaking.
American Lifestyle & Travel recently posted..Schneegänse, Bad und Massage – perfekte Erholung am St. Lorenz im Wellness Spa Parfum de Mer
Thanks for the tip. We’ll keep that in mind!
Cam recently posted..How to Find the Best Travel Deals Online
I adore Joshua Tree! It’s so remote and most people just drive right by it. I think it’s important that people know they should bring their own water, especially if you’re camping. You can get potable water, but there’s only one place to do so in the park, and it’s right along the edge, so it can be a long drive.
JoAnna recently posted..Wanderlust Wednesday: Scotty’s Castle in Death Valley National Park
Thanks for the tip JoAnna. We would have loved to camp, but we’ll have to wait for Baby B to get a bit older.
Nicole recently posted..Photo of the Week: Illumindated Cathedral in Brussels
Beautiful. I’ve seen lots of photo essays from this area and they are always beautiful
Brooke vs. the World recently posted..How I Scored 2 Peak-season International Tickets for $300: Part 2 – Reward Burn
Thank you, glad you liked them
Nicole recently posted..Photo of the Week: Inside Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Beautiful! Looks you had a great day for it, too!
I’ve never been, but it’s on my list!
Amanda recently posted..Photo Essay: The Charm of Akaroa
We recommend it but make sure you have the time. A day is the best, especially if you want to do some hiking.
Nicole recently posted..Our First Family Trip to Palm Springs, California
Awesome, Traveling Canucks! I was just there three weeks ago and loved it as well. It’s such an epic series of landscapes! Glad that you enjoyed your visit there. Here’s a gallery of shots I took at Joshua Tree if you’re interested.
Thanks! We’ll check it out.
Nicole recently posted..How to Find the Best Travel Deals Online
We’ve made plans to visit Joshua Tree on multiple occasions and it just hasn’t happened for us yet. One of these days, though! It looks like such a magical place, and we’ve heard really great things about it.
Christy @ Technosyncratic recently posted..Photo of the Week: Young Performer at Sunday Market
Next time
Nicole recently posted..Spring Snowboarding Session on Cypress Mountain
Wow, what a scenic looking place.
It is. Thanks Samuel
Nicole recently posted..Cows Rule the Road in India
Wow! That looks awesome! It’s definitely on my list!
Thanks Jade
Nicole recently posted..Photo of the Week: The Valley of the Moon, Jordan
It certainly is a prototypical Western Road Trip, isn’t it? I’m so glad that you got to see this sample of western landscape and the “old west” remainders. Come back some time in the spring to see it decorated with wildflowers!
Vera Marie Badertscher recently posted..Exploring Western Plateaus and Canyons
Oh, that would be beautiful!
Nicole recently posted..Baby B’s first 3 months, a video story
I’ve heard good things about Joshua Tree. (And there’s always the U2-connection
) What strange and wonderful, moon-like landscape.
Sophie recently posted..The cliff divers at La Quebrada
It was very unique and we went through so many different landscapes…no other place like it!
Nicole recently posted..Photo of the Week: Illumindated Cathedral in Brussels
Really enjoyed this – brought back memories of a family trip to Joshua Tree in the early ’60′s, A sandstorm blew in at night, and I still remember the howling wind and piles of sand inside below the windows and doors in the morning.
That would be an experience. Next time, we want to camp.
Nicole recently posted..Travel Styles Change – and that’s Okay!
I’ve read so much about Joshua Tree but never really seen photos of it. These are amazing! Such unique landscape.
Thanks Jessie
Nicole recently posted..Spring Snowboarding Session on Cypress Mountain
The Joshua Tree National Park is awesome and a great family vacation destination. It offers rock climbers some of the best climbing excursions in the U.S.
BTW: Your photos are amazing!
Thanks! We saw lots of rock climbers in the park when we were there.
Nicole recently posted..Cows Rule the Road in India
Joshua National Parks seem to be a wonderful place, basing on your pictures! I’ve never been there yet, but I’m going to add it in the list of destinations to see during my next road trip in US!
Francy R recently posted..The Best Budget Travel Destinations for 2012
Joshua National Parks seem to be a wonderful place, basing on your pictures! I’ve never been there yet. I’ll add it in the list of destinations to see during my next road trip in US, definitely! I can’t miss it!
Francy R recently posted..The Best Budget Travel Destinations for 2012
A perfect roadtrip destination for sure!
Nicole recently posted..Website Review: Air Canada Vacations
Wow, the blue is phenomenal.
Jenn recently posted..Do or do not, there is no try.
Thanks Jenn
Nicole recently posted..Our First Family Trip to Palm Springs, California
Hey,
These landscape shots are so amazing, absolutely breathtaking. I’m just in love with the native Joshua tree and the Cholla cactus garden pictures. Can’t imagine if these pictures are so beautiful, what the whole experience of this place would be. I’m definitely adding it to my list of dream destinations. Thanks guys for sharing these.
Cheers
Rita Kunnan recently posted..Bluehost 3.95
Those pictures are extremely breathtaking. Is it your first time there? I have not gone there yet but I would surely give it a visit! Lovely takes!
Thanks for sharing!
-Sherry
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