Living in Southern California, Joshua Tree National Park had been on my radar for a while. I would come across people every now and then who had been there and always recommended it. The last time this happened I was inside a coffee shop and the barista working behind the counter whipped out his cell phone and began showing me pictures of his recent trip to Joshua Tree.
After that, I began to take it as a sign that it might be somewhere I needed to visit.
When a close friend of mine wanted to get away for a short vacation and suggested we go to the desert, I said yes, and the next thing we knew we were making plans to go to Joshua Tree National Park.
I decided to book the rental we would be staying at, and that night as I was trying to fall asleep, the energy of the desert (in the area we planned to go to) began connecting with me. When I say connecting, what I actually mean is surging. I felt a powerhouse of energy running through me. While I was feeling this energy, images of the desert kept flashing through my mind vividly. It was a confirmation that there was something special on offer for us in the area we’d decided to travel to. It was an exciting feeling.
One thing that’s important to mention about this is that I hadn’t actually booked the place we’d be staying at yet. I had found the place I planned to book, and a couple backup options so I knew for sure everything would be finalized the next morning. It had definitively been decided, but I hadn’t actually done it yet. What was interesting about this was that something similar would happen to me when I was attending intuitive counseling sessions several years ago. When I booked an appointment with the practitioner (although the appointment was scheduled for a future date) I would already begin to notice changes in my life that I intuitively sensed were related to the decision I made. It was like once a solid decision was made, the energy was already put into motion.
This signifies to me how powerful our choices are and how magnificently they move energy in our lives. Solid. Unwavering. Decisions. Set a clear course and a direction.
The Trip
The drive to Joshua Tree is an easy one to make from many Southern California locations, taking anywhere between 1.5 to 3 hours depending on what area of Southern California you’re starting from. Joshua Tree National Park is located in San Bernardino County and covers approximately 800,000 acres.
We went in March and the weather was comfortable in the day (the wind would pick up and slow down), and got colder at night. As such, dressing in layers is advisable in order to stay comfortable.
We stayed at a rental in Yucca Valley about 20 minutes from the West Entrance Station to the park. A park pass can be purchased at the Joshua Tree Visitor Center for $30, which is good for one vehicle (and all its occupants) for 7 days. The park also offers an annual pass for $55 (for Joshua Tree National Park only), and there is also the America the Beautiful Pass, which is $80, and provides access to the U.S. National Parks as well as other federal recreational lands for one year.
While at the Joshua Tree Visitor Center we grabbed a free map of the park (highly recommended). The map proved very useful because there weren’t a lot of well placed signs throughout the park and it definitely helped us better navigate where we were going. The majority of the park has no cell phone reception/service, so all the more reason to take a map with you. The good news is that the park is easily navigable. The main road going through the park is Park Boulevard, and it is a paved two lane road (one lane going each direction). This makes it nice because as you drive along you’ll come across parking lots for various sites in the park and can choose to stop at any of the ones that you feel drawn to, or simply continue on to the next stop.
The unique thing about Joshua Tree National Park is the numerous rock formations, and of course the endless Joshua Trees that span on and on throughout the park.
Joshua Tree National Park is a great place to visit if you want to explore the desert, climb over boulders, play, enjoy nature, and have new experiences. There are designated trails, but you can also wander off from them to explore the surrounding nature.
By the way, did I mention Joshua Tree National Park is beautiful? While you’re out hiking you can see for miles and miles in every direction, which feels like a breath of fresh air, especially if you’re used to the hustle and bustle of city life. Being surrounded by so much open space and the beauty of the natural world, simply feeling and sensing the environment, does something essential for your soul. It’s an excellent way to refresh and recharge. Plus, it’s my belief that different geographic locations hold different frequencies that we pick up and interact with by being present there. It’s fun to notice in the days or weeks following a visit to a new destination how we might have changed in some way.
Quail Springs was one of the first stops we made, and on a whim. When we got there people were climbing over the rocks for fun, and we decided to join in. In one spot there were people doing actual rock climbing (as in the hobby/sport). There were several spots in the park to do this provided you have the equipment and training.
We felt like kids climbing over the rocks, and choosing which way we wanted to explore next.
There are many scenic areas to stop at while exploring the park.
As I hiked through the expansive desert filled with the beauty of the natural world, I kept taking in deep breaths of fresh air. As I looked around I felt grateful to be in such a natural unaltered space. Some moments like this stay ingrained in you. I feel tremendous gratitude for those who have worked to conserve our land and create spaces like our national parks. May these incredible spaces continue to be here for generations to come…
We pulled into the Twin Tanks Parking Lot, which is where the park ranger told us to park for Arch Rock. Although there was a trail information sign at the far end of the parking lot we didn’t feel the need to look at it because we clearly seemed to be in the correct spot and saw people walking directly from the parking lot onto a trail. There seemed to be only one way to go.
Wrong.
It turned out Arch Rock Trail was actually on the opposite side of the street from the parking lot. Who would have thought? Had we read the trailhead sign we would have realized that. There is actually a path that leads from the sign across the street. It turned out to be the best mistake though because the hike we went on thinking we were on the Arch Rock Trail was one of my favorites. It was full of beautiful scenery, interesting boulder formations, unique looking rocks, and was super fun to explore. There were plenty of places to wander, endless rocks to jump on, dried up looking riverbeds, some cactus, some flowers, caterpillars in bag-like cocoons (also known as bagworms). You can walk for as short or as long as you want depending on what you feel like, and turn around whenever it suits you. It’s your life…wander freely.
Also, we weren’t the only ones who thought this was the Arch Rock Trail. We passed other groups of people who asked us if we’d found Arch Rock and who we asked, but no one had of course because we were all on the wrong side of the street. It’s pretty funny to look back on now. I hope those people eventually realized Arch Rock Trail was on the opposite side of the street like we did.
Arch Rock Trail
Arch Rock Trail is not to be missed. It’s a very easy trail to navigate, and a short 1 to 1.3 miles in length round-trip depending on where you start. After you park in the Twin Tanks Parking Lot go to the trailhead sign at the edge of the parking lot and from that sign there is an obvious path that leads you across the main road onto the Arch Rock Trail.
Arch Rock was one of my favorite places for a photo opportunity within the park.
Heart Rock is a large rock located along the Arch Rock Trail that is distinctly in the shape of a heart.
We spent a full day exploring the park but you could easily spend another half or full day exploring the park’s offerings if you’re on a shorter trip, or more time if you plan to stay in the area longer. There is plenty to see and do.
As a reminder: Pack plenty of food and water because once you’re in the park whatever you’ve brought with you is all that you’ll have available to you for the day. There is nowhere to buy food or water inside the park. Dressing in layers (or bringing layers) is also a good idea as the temperature can fluctuate throughout the day.
Joshua Tree National Park is definitely worth the visit. It looks unlike any place I’ve been to before with unique rock formations giving it an otherworldly feel, and was such a blast to hike, rock climb, and explore. Further, the park is easy to access and also fairly easy to navigate, making it a great place to visit. If you’re looking for a fun location to spend time outdoors at, be sure to add Joshua Tree National Park to your list.
