Explore one of California’s most popular National Parks: Joshua Tree. This park is home to some of the most unique scenery in the Southwest, and full of hiking opportunities suitable for hikers of all levels.
In Joshua Tree National Park, the beauty of the Mojave and Colorado Deserts collide creating a landscape full of impressive rock formations, desert plants and an abundance of the iconic Joshua Tree.
The unique blend of these two different desert ecosystems is what makes this area so interesting, and even magical.
Even just taking a quick drive through the park is a special experience. There is something so intriguing about the Joshua Tree (which actually isn’t a tree at all, it is actually part of the Yucca family!)
In this post, I am revealing the top 8 hikes that you don’t want to miss when you visit the park.
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Mojave vs. Colorado Desert at Joshua Tree
Before getting into the hikes, I want to share a little bit more about the landscape of the park. As I just mentioned, Joshua Tree is composed of two different kinds of deserts.
The Mojave Desert is on the northern half of the park, and the Colorado Desert is on the southern side.
Due to a lower elevation, the Colorado Desert does not have any Joshua Trees growing there.
Most of the hikes on this list except for 2 (which both are labeled in this list below) are in the Mojave Desert where Joshua Trees are abundant.
If you have limited time in the park and mainly just want to see the famous Joshua Trees, I would recommend spending the majority of your time in the northern half of the park.
With that being said, I feel like many people overlook the southern half as there were much less people. There wasn’t even a fee station taking payments at the south entrance!
It makes sense because most people visit the park to see the Joshua Trees, but there are some unique and gorgeous spots worth visiting that are only found in the Colorado Desert section of the park.
So if you have the time, don’t forget to check out the south side of the park. The 2 hikes on this list in the Colorado Desert are wonderful!
1. Ryan Mountain
- Mileage: 3 miles
- Trail Conditions: Steep incline with rocky terrain & steps
- Parking: Large parking lot at trailhead
Ryan Mountain is one of the best summit hikes in the entire park, but expect it to be a bit of a challenge. This trail is pretty much a straight incline all the way to the top.
Overall you will gain about 1,000 feet in elevation. For anyone who doesn’t normally hike, this will probably be a more moderate-hard level hike. Even if you hike frequently, this trail will still get your heart pumping!
You will want sturdy hiking boots and maybe even trekking poles on this hike as the terrain is very rocky. However, there are “rock steps” built into the trail at certain points that make it a little easier.
The peak is most definitely worth the tough climb. You get 360° views from the top.
You will be able to see both San Jacinto Peak and San Gorgonio Mountain in the distance which both stand at over 10,000 feet.
We visited in late March and were treated to gorgeous views of these snow capped peaks behind the desert landscape of Joshua Tree. Even without the snow these mountains make for wonderful views at the end of this hike.
This was definitely one of my personal favorites in the National Park. We got to the trailhead around 9 AM and there were only about 10 other cars parked in the lot. It was perfect because there weren’t a whole lot of people on the trail and at the summit yet.
If you hike this trail in late morning or afternoon on a weekend, this trail will probably be packed.
2. Heart Rock & Arch Rock Trail
- Mileage: 1.7 miles
- Trail Conditions: Flat and sandy
- Parking: Large parking lot at trailhead
The Heart Rock & Arch Rock Trail is one of the more popular trails in the park, but I do consider it a must-do when in Joshua Tree. You’ll see two of the most iconic rock formations in the National Park: Heart Rock and Arch Rock.
This trail starts off easy and flat on a nice sandy trail through the desert. Once you hike the first half mile, you will come upon a large area filled with boulders.
There will then be an intersection on the trail. Going left will lead you to Heart Rock, and to the right will lead you to Arch Rock. There will be signs here to help you find your way to the rocks.
We decided to go to Heart Rock first, which from the intersection is only about a quarter mile walk. It is relatively flat, and you will have to step over some occasional rocks on the trail.
Next, we made our way back to the intersection, and turned left to get to Arch Rock. Now this part of the trail is full of boulders that you’ll have to walk/climb on to get to the Arch.
There were a lot of people going off trail here to climb and explore all the boulders, so it was hard at times to know where to go to see the Arch.
It may be helpful to have the AllTrails map of the trail up on your phone just in case you need it.
3. Mastodon Peak (Colorado Desert)
- Mileage: 2.5 miles
- Trail Conditions: Rocky and sandy trail, steep rock scrambling to peak
- Parking: Large parking lot at trailhead
The trail to Mastodon Peak is another one of the best hikes in Joshua Tree.
This is a loop trail that’s located in the Colorado Desert right at the south entrance of the park, so you won’t find any Joshua Trees here. However, you will find California Fan Palms and a variety of different cacti.
As you begin this trail, you will be greeted with a gorgeous palm oasis. What an awesome way to begin a hike!
It is a slow and gradual incline up to Mastodon Peak. The trail is easy to follow here and the terrain isn’t too challenging yet.
As you come upon the first mile, there are larger boulders you will have to climb up.
The trail is not very obvious going on the rocks so having AllTrails pulled up will be helpful here. You may even just have to make your own trail to make your way up the rocks and just climb wherever looks easiest.
Once you’ve completed the rock scrambling, you will receive the most beautiful views of the park for your efforts. To the south you will see the Salton Sea.
After carefully coming back down, you can continue the loop and you will stumble upon an old abandoned mine.
This is only a few minutes hike from the top of Mastodon Peak. This was a really cool and unique attraction on this hike that I don’t believe is very well known.
They have the entrance to the mine blocked off for visitors safety but you can still look inside and see the old wooden structures that were once used to dig for minerals like copper and silver in the 1930’s.
When I hiked this trail, my boyfriend and I were the only ones on it! If you’re seeking an incredible, less-trafficked hike on the south side of Joshua Tree with an interesting historical twist, I highly recommend Mastodon Peak.
4. Inspiration Peak
- Mileage: 2 miles
- Trail Conditions: Steep inclines and declines, very rocky terrain
- Parking: Parking lot at trailhead (Key’s View)
If you’re ready to feel inspired, Inspiration Peak is where you want to go. This trailhead is actually located at the famous Key’s View which is known to be the best overlook/ viewpoint in the park.
So either after or before you hike to Inspiration Peak, I recommend taking the short, paved walk up to the top of Key’s View to see a gorgeous viewpoint of the Salton Sea and Palm Springs.
The trailhead can be a bit tricky to find. It’s located on the right side of the parking lot as you’re driving up to Key’s View.
The trail begins going up the hill on a rocky pathway. This hike will take you up an incline, then back down, then up again. So, it’s not your typical summit trail where you just go up the entire time like Ryan Mountain.
AllTrails will probably be helpful while hiking here as there are no trail markers or signs telling you which way to go.
The trail is also extremely rocky so if you have trekking poles, you might want them here.
Also prepare for this hike to be much chillier than all of the other hikes in the park. Key’s View is over 1,000 feet higher in elevation than the main section of the park with the Hall of Horrors Trail, Heart Rock, etc. You can feel the elevation change as you’re driving.
Especially if you’re visiting in the fall or spring, you will want to bring layers with you. We were there in late March and it was pretty cold still. I was wishing that I brought a beanie with me for this hike!
The hike to Inspiration Peak is likely to be windy as well, especially when you get to the summit. It stands at over 5,500 feet in elevation.
From the top you also get awesome views of Palm Springs, San Jacinto Peak, and San Gorgonio Mountain.
There was hardly any people on this trail when we hiked, and we were there on a Saturday morning!
So this is a much less popular trail, I think people just drive up here to see Key’s View and go back down, not knowing that there is a beautiful trail right next to them.
Overall, despite being cold, I loved this hike and would totally do it again.
5. Hall of Horrors
- Mileage: 0.6 miles
- Trail Conditions: Flat and sandy, rock climbing to get to the “Hall”
- Parking: Parking lot at trailhead
If you’re looking for one of the quickest and best hikes in Joshua Tree, you won’t want to miss the Hall of Horrors Trail. On this hike you’ll see forests of Joshua Trees and massive boulders.
Once you arrive at the trailhead you will walk on a sandy pathway that will eventually split, one trail leading you to the right and the other to the left. Both trails will take you to the same place as this hike is a loop.
After picking which side you want to begin on, you will start hiking around a massive mound of boulders. You will probably see rock climbers here.
The trail goes around these rock formations, but it is kind of hard to follow. There are not really any helpful signs, so AllTrails will definitely help you out here.
The main destination to this hike is what’s known as the Hall of Horrors, which is basically a slot canyon made of boulders. Now we didn’t actually make it to the slot canyon, as it proved to be a challenge for us to find.
So, we used this time to climb on all the boulders we could. We enjoyed exploring the area and taking in the breathtaking views of the fast fields of Joshua Trees.
This hike would be a great choice for anyone because it is very flat. You will be in awe of all the unique Joshua Trees and rock formations.
I consider this hike a must-do in the National Park. Being so short, it’s a great hike that can go by quickly (depending on how much you want to explore!)
6. Barker Dam
- Mileage: 1.3 miles
- Trail Conditions: Flat, sandy, some slight rock climbing
- Parking: Large parking lot at trailhead
The Barker Dam Trail offers a fascinating glimpse into the region’s rich history and stunning natural beauty. This trail winds through the Mojave Desert landscape, consisting of plentiful Joshua Trees and huge boulders.
As you begin the hike, you will first start off on a straight pathway that will soon split into two directions. One path will go left and the other will go right. We chose to go to the left first but it really doesn’t matter since this is another loop trail.
Since we chose to go left first, we came upon the Petroglyph site before we got to the dam. The petroglyphs are located about half mile from the start of the trail. They are definitely worth seeing so make sure not to miss them!
You will most likely see a small crowd of people gathered by a large white rock. This is where the petroglyphs are. The symbols have been traced over with black, red, and white paint so you are able to see them clearly.
Then, you will continue on towards the historic Barker Dam. This dam was built by early cattle ranchers in 1900. It was constructed to provide water for livestock.
This area is sure to leave you in awe as a large pond in the middle of the desert looks quite unusual and out of place. But this body of water has been essential for life in this area.
The amount of water seen in the dam will vary depending on how much rainfall Joshua Tree has seen in the previous months. Summer and Fall are known to have less rain.
Something else I loved about this hike is all the infographics scattered along the trail providing you with information about all the plants and animals that live and thrive in this desert.
7. Hidden Valley
- Mileage: 1 mile
- Trail Conditions: Mostly flat, sandy, some rocks on trail
- Parking: Parking lot at trailhead
Hidden Valley is an easy-level one mile loop trail that takes you inside and around a gorgeous valley of boulders.
These massive rocks make for another popular spot for rock-climbers so you will most likely see some people scaling the boulders here.
This hike is perfect for people of all ages and abilities. There are only a few points on the trail that have rock “steps” going up an incline, but other than that this hike is mostly flat.
Since this is a more popular trail in the park, you most likely will be walking the trail with lots of other people. That should not discourage you from hiking this trail because it really is worth it.
I would recommend arriving at the trailhead as early in the day as possible to beat the crowds.
8. Lost Palms Oasis (Colorado Desert)
- Mileage: 7.5 miles
- Trail Conditions: Some slight rock climbing, repeated up and down hills throughout
- Parking: Large parking lot at trailhead
If you’re looking for a longer hike, I encourage you to try out the Lost Palms Oasis Trail. You will need a higher endurance to complete this trail as it has higher mileage than all the other hikes mentioned in this article. Plus, you gain about 1,000 feet in elevation total.
The trailhead for this hike is actually the same as Mastodon Peak which was #3 in this article. So the first ¾ mile of this hike is on the same path as the way up to Mastodon Peak.
If you’re really feeling like an all day hike, you could hike to Mastodon Peak and the mine, then swing back and complete the trail to the Lost Oasis.
Whatever you decide to do, this hike will take you through the beautiful Colorado Desert and inside a canyon to what’s known as the “Lost Oasis”.
This oasis is characterized by massive California Fan Palms and a shallow pool of water.
The water is always present here which is how these palm trees survive. It is also the life source for many other animals and plants.
You will have to complete some mild rock scrambling to get to the oasis so you must be in decent physical shape.
There may be no Joshua Trees on this hike but you are sure to receive some gorgeous views and the oasis at the end is quite a treat.
Make sure to bring plenty of water with you if you attempt to complete this entire hike. This goes for all the hikes on this list, but you do not want to be out in this desert with a lack of water because dehydration and heat exhaustion can get to you quickly out here.
As long as you’re prepared, this hike is so beautiful and worth the trek.
That concludes my complete list of the best hikes in Joshua Tree National Park. I really enjoyed these 8 gorgeous trails during my trip to the park and I know you will too.
I hope you were able to get some valuable information from this post and can use it to plan your dream trip to this one of a kind National Park. As always, thank you for reading!
Pin or download the image below for a convenient and concise list to refer to on your trip!
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