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How We Spent One Day in Joshua Tree National Park

ByErin Burke Published on
A Joshua tree stands in front of massive rounded granite boulders in Joshua Tree National Park beneath a clear blue desert sky. Low desert shrubs and additional Joshua trees stretch across the landscape, highlighting the park's iconic rock formations and unique high desert scenery.

National Parks exist to protect something special, so it’s no surprise that Joshua Tree National Park feels unlike anywhere else. Here the Joshua Trees, beautiful yucca plants that are also in danger because of climate change, are everywhere.

But there were so many other parts of Joshua Tree that surprised me during our day trip from our stay in Palm Springs. Giant boulders that dominated the landscape. Cholla cacti that reflected the golden hour of the sun beautifully.

And, of course, Joshua Trees are EVERYWHERE. To be honest, before we went I read about spots that were “good to see Joshua Trees” making me think I’d have to go looking for them. But no. They are absolutely everywhere.

Here’s how to spend one day in Joshua Tree seeing all the best parts of the park. I’ll tell you what I loved, what I’d skip next time, plus give you some tips for spending a full day in Joshua Tree (tip #1: Bring food and water with you!)

Quick One Day Joshua Tree Itinerary

Here’s a quick at-a-glance itinerary for your day in Joshua Tree:

  • Hidden Valley Hike (1 mile, easy loop)
  • Barker Dam (1 mile, easy loop)
  • Keys View (viewpoint)
  • Cap Rock Nature Trail (.4 mile, easy loop)
  • Skull Rock (roadside stop)
  • Arch Rock Nature Trail (easy 1.8 mile loop)
  • Cholla Cactus Garden
  • Dinner in 29 Palms
  • National Park Star Gazing

You’ll notice there’s one thing I talk about in our itinerary below that I haven’t included in this at-a-glace itinerary. And that’s the Hall of Horrors. Because honestly, I’d skip this slot canyon area next time.

A woman in a pink tank top, black shorts, and an orange cap stands with her arms outstretched on massive granite boulders in Joshua Tree National Park beneath a bright blue sky. The towering rock formations and desert vegetation showcase one of the park's most popular landscapes for hiking and exploring.
Doing a little rock scrambling in Hidden Valley!

What Joshua Tree National Park is Known For

I knew we were going to find Joshua Trees in this National Park, but I still wasn’t prepared for the scale of everything!

Here’s are the things Joshua Tree is most known for. Understanding these parts of the park will definitely enrich your experience there!

  • Joshua Trees. It’s actually not a tree, but a yucca. And while they can be found in other parts of the Mojave Desert, they are everywhere in this park! But their future is in danger because of climate change.
  • Giant boulders and rock formations. Massive granite boulder create natural playgrounds. All the kids we saw (plus our own kid!) had a blast climbing and scrambling along these rocks!
  • Dark skies. Joshua Tree is an official Dark Sky Park, making it a great place for stargazing! In fact, that’s one big push the park has: that half the fun is after dark!

Our One Day Itinerary

Early Morning Drive from Palm Springs

We started out with an early morning breakfast at our hotel in Palm Springs and left for Joshua Tree around 8:30 in the morning.

The drive from Palm Springs to Joshua Tree is about one hour, making it a perfect day trip to take from Palm Springs!

Visitors Center

Before even “officially” going into the park, we stopped by the main Visitor Center just outside the park. It’s located in the town just outside the park before you get to the park entrance, so it’s a great idea to stop by here for shopping, hiking recommendations, and to buy your park entrance before you keep going.

Hidden Valley

Towering stacks of rounded granite boulders rise above desert shrubs and yucca plants in Joshua Tree National Park under a bright blue sky. The massive rock formations create one of the park's most recognizable landscapes, showcasing the rugged beauty of the California desert.

We started out at Hidden Valley, one of the most popular spots in Joshua Tree. Thankfully, they have a pretty big parking lot. But even then, we still had to circle it a couple times before we found a parking spot.

Definitely plan this hike for earlier in the morning if you can (to beat both the crowds and the heat) and pack your patient pants for parking!

But I can understand why it’s one of the most popular spots: it is quintessential Joshua Tree.

This one mile loops circles the desert and offers plenty of Joshua Tree sightings plus some of the best boulder climbing and scrambling for kids. And it’s a super easy hike, with just a little bit of pretty easy uphill climbing toward the end.

Visitors walk along a sandy trail through Joshua Tree National Park surrounded by desert shrubs, yucca plants, and towering granite rock formations beneath a wide blue sky. The winding path and rugged landscape showcase one of the park's most popular hiking areas and distinctive high desert scenery.
Hidden Valley is gorgeous around every turn!
Hikers climb over large granite boulders along a rocky trail in Joshua Tree National Park surrounded by desert vegetation and weathered rock formations. The rugged terrain and scenic landscape highlight the adventurous hiking opportunities found throughout the park.
Hidden Valley is super popular so there can be crowds on some parts of the trail.

Even though the trail is only one mile long, we spent a long time here because we were enjoying it so much and paused a lot to take in the views or climb up on some of the rocks!

Hall of Horrors

A narrow slot between towering granite boulders in Joshua Tree National Park creates a natural passage with a hiker standing near the sunlit opening at the end. The towering rock walls and sandy trail showcase one of the park's most unique hiking experiences.
Look out toward the entrance to Hall of Horrors.
A narrow sandstone colored passage winds between towering granite rock walls in Joshua Tree National Park with sunlight filtering through the opening above. The tight rock corridor and sandy trail highlight one of the park's most memorable natural rock formations for hikers to explore.
Hall of Horrors looks cool in photos, but it’s really not very big at all!

I’ll just go ahead and say this: I would skip Hall of Horrors next time!

I saw a lot of people recommending this as a fun slot canyon to hike, but I was disappointed.

First of all, getting to the slot canyon was not easy at all and took some tricky climbing up some pretty big boulders. And getting down into the slot canyon was almost more of a challenge.

And then once we were in the slot canyon, there really isn’t very much to see. The main canyon is a pretty short walking area. And the other one we tried to get into was so narrow that our thin-as-a-toothpick tween daughter could barely fit.

So I’m telling you about this in case you really want to do it, but I would 100% just skip this next time! I’d maybe do the 1-mile Barker Dam hike next time instead.

Keys View

Panoramic view from Mount San Jacinto overlooking the desert valleys and rugged mountain ranges surrounding Palm Springs beneath a clear blue sky with wispy clouds. The sweeping landscape showcases the dramatic contrast between the high alpine peaks and the Coachella Valley below.
The Coachella Valley from Keys View.

For a great view of the Coachella Valley, drive up to Keys View next!

The drive from Hidden Valley (because let’s assume you’re skipping Hall of Horrors here) is just 15 minutes.

And when you get to the top you have such an amazing view! You can see a huge swatch of the Coachella Valley plus the San Andreas Fault, which I thought was pretty cool!

There is a view right at the parking lot, but you can also walk up the hill that’s next to the parking lot for an even better view.

Cap Rock Nature Trail

A Joshua tree stands beside massive rounded granite boulders beneath a clear blue sky in Joshua Tree National Park. The iconic desert landscape highlights the park's distinctive rock formations and native Joshua trees that make this destination so recognizable.
At the beginning of the Cap Rock Nature Trail.

File this under unexpected favorites of our trip! And a big reason for that is because we stumbled upon the Ranger Talk here.

The Ranger Hike is something we hadn’t planned on doing, but I am so glad we did because it ended up being our favorite part of the day.

Cap Rock Nature Trail is a super easy and pretty short hike (less than 1/2 a mile), which makes it a perfect place for a guided 45 minutes Ranger Hike.

Ranger Ryan told us all about the history of Joshua Tree, the geology of the park, how Joshua Trees reproduce, and why they are now threatened. It was absolutely fascinating!

If I had to recommend doing just one thing in Joshua Tree, it would be attending this Ranger Hike!

Check times for guided Ranger Programs ahead of your visit. And know that they typically only occur in the Fall, Winter, and Spring because it is too hot in the Summer.

Skull Rock

Skull Rock in Joshua Tree National Park rises above the desert with naturally eroded openings that resemble the eye sockets of a skull beneath a bright blue sky. This famous rock formation is one of the park's most recognizable landmarks and an easy stop along the scenic drive.
Skull Rock definitely looks like a skull…but only from this angle!

Skull Rock is a roadside stop that’s a giant granite boulder that looks like…you guessed it…a skull.

It’s also a super popular place, so the recommendation is to get there early or go later.

Honestly, we hit it up about 4:00 in the afternoon and while it was somewhat crowded (it was hard to get a picture with no people in it) it was easy enough for us to find parking and wasn’t so crowded that it was unenjoyable.

This is a fun stop, but if it’s super crowded when you drive by you can also just see if from the road and you won’t be missing a ton.

Arch Rock Nature Trail

Arch Rock in Joshua Tree National Park forms a natural granite arch above smooth boulders against a bright blue desert sky. The unique rock formation is one of the park's most photographed landmarks and a popular stop for short hikes and sightseeing.
Arch Rock from below.

For our last real hike of the day, we headed to Arch Rock Nature Trail. Here you can see Arch Rock as well as Heart Rock. And they are of course named for their respective shapes.

But I’ll be honest…if you’re hiked out by this point don’t worry. A lot of this landscape starts to look the same after while. And while I’m glad we did this, I did have the thought while we were hiking “oh…it’s another rock.”

The main hike of Arch Rock Nature trail is actually the trail that you have to take from the parking lot over to the hiking area. The parking lot is across the street and down aways, about 1/2 mile from the main trail of Arch Rock itself.

A sandy trail winds through Joshua Tree National Park past a lone Joshua tree with rugged granite boulders and desert mountains stretching across the background. The peaceful landscape captures the wide open scenery and iconic desert terrain that make the park a favorite for hiking and sightseeing.
Most of the Arch Rock Nature Trail looks about like this, until you get to the rock formations.

And once you see Arch Rock, you can also hike over to Heart Rock which looks like a heart. It’s just about a 5-10 minute walk from Arch Rock.

Rounded granite boulders rise above a sandy path in Joshua Tree National Park, surrounded by low desert shrubs beneath a clear blue sky. The smooth rock formations and open desert landscape showcase the park's distinctive scenery and inviting hiking terrain.
Heart Rock

Cholla Cactus Garden

A wide view of the Cholla Cactus Garden in Joshua Tree National Park with hundreds of teddy bear cholla cacti stretching across the desert floor toward a mountain range. Warm late afternoon sunlight illuminates the glowing white spines, creating a striking contrast against the blue sky and rugged desert landscape.
Near the Cholla Cactus Garden in Joshua Tree. The actual boardwalk was closed while we were there, but we were still able to pull off to see them from the side of the road.

To me, the other must-do thing in Joshua Tree (besides the Ranger Talk) is going to the Cholla Cactus Garden!

This area of the park is in a completely different ecosystem. From Arch Rock, you drive about 15 minutes, descending in altitude most of the way. This means the Joshua Trees start to disappear (they need the cooler temperatures of the altitude) and cacti make more of an appearance!

And the Cholla Cactus Garden has thousands of chollas. It’s incredible.

The best time to go? Sunrise or sunset. We chose to visit just before sunset, during golden hour, and the light in these cacti was stunning. I took so many photos of the same thing because I just couldn’t get over how beautiful it was.

Close up of a teddy bear cholla cactus glowing in warm sunlight, with its dense white spines illuminated against a soft blue desert sky. The backlighting highlights the cactus's fuzzy appearance while revealing the sharp spines that make this iconic Joshua Tree National Park plant so distinctive.

Note: The Cholla Cactus Garden trails were actually closed for renovation while we were there. But we were still able to pull off to the side of the road to see the incredible cacti.

Dinner in 29 Palms

Outdoor courtyard at a desert restaurant with vintage sofas, potted cacti, string lights, and rustic buildings creating a relaxed gathering space at sunset. Palm trees, mountain views, and Southwestern decor add to the inviting atmosphere for dining and drinks in the California desert.
This picture definitely captures the vibes of Kitchen in the Desert.

One major thing we wanted to do in Joshua Tree was see the night sky. But between sunset and the park actually getting fully dark, we needed some dinner.

There isn’t any food in Joshua Tree, so we headed into 29 Palms, about 30 minutes from the Cholla Cactus Garden, for dinner. There are several options, but we chose to eat at Kitchen in the Desert.

It was delicious, but also fancier than I expected and I wished I had brought some kind of accessory (a jean jacket maybe?) to at least slightly dress up the hiking clothes I had been in all day.

You can also head back into Yucca Valley for more restaurant options.

Late-Night Stargazing

A silhouetted Joshua tree stands against a star filled night sky in Joshua Tree National Park, with rugged mountain ridges fading into the darkness below. The peaceful desert scene highlights the park's dark skies and the striking outline of its iconic tree beneath countless stars.
Joshua Tree is a Dark Sky Park, but you can still see some light pollution.

Joshua Tree is a Dark Sky Park, so we knew we would want to be in the park for some stargazing.

So after dinner, we drove about 40 minutes back through the Main Entrance of the Park to find a spot to stop and look at the stars.

Near the entrance of the park there are several different parking areas and trailheads where you can stop for stargazing. We choose to park in the Quail Springs Picnic Area, but you could also go to the Boy Scout Trail or drive back down to the Hidden Valley parking area.

Here are my thoughts on stargazing here: The stars are amazing and seeing the Joshua Trees set against the starry sky is pretty cool. But I was also surprised that there was still some light pollution from distant LA. We had better night skies when we went to Anza Borrego Desert State Park a few days later.

But I’m still really glad we stayed late enough to see this park after dark!

Is One Day Enough Time in Joshua Tree?

Yes! One day is enough time to see the highlights of Joshua Tree. While there is more you can do with a longer trip, a day in Joshua Tree is sufficient for a great experience.

What I’d Do Differently Next Time

We had an amazing day in Joshua Tree, but here are a few things I would do differently next time:

  • Skip Hall of Horrors — I’ve seen this trail recommended so many times, but to me it was not worth the effort and did not live up to the hype.
  • Hike Barker Dam — We skipped this popular trail, but I do wish we had done it instead of Hall of Horrors.
  • Plan for the Ranger Hike — We were lucky that we stumbled upon a guided Ranger hike and it ended up being our favorite part of the day. But next time I would plan for this on purpose.
A woman in a pink tank top, black shorts, and an orange cap walks along a sandy trail surrounded by Joshua trees and desert shrubs in Joshua Tree National Park. The wide open landscape and clear blue sky capture the peaceful scenery and easy hiking trails found throughout the park.
Me hiking near Hall of Horrors, which I would skip next time!

What to Pack for a Day Trip to Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree is in a desert and there isn’t any food in the park, so you need to pack accordingly! Here are some things to be sure to bring:

  • Sun protection — Bring sunscreen, cooling towels, hats, fans, and anything else you need to protect yourself from the heat and sun.
  • Lots of water — You are in a desert, and even when it’s not hot out you need more water than you think. There is also not any water available in Joshua Tree. So bring plenty with you.
  • Food — There is not any food available in Joshua Tree, so bring meals and snacks with you.
  • Good hiking shoes — To be honest, we did mostly easy trails and I did them in my tennis shoes just fine. But if you want to do more challenging hikes, you’ll want to make sure you have good hiking shoes like these.

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Collage featuring Joshua trees, rocky desert landscapes, a close up of a cholla cactus, and Arch Rock in Joshua Tree National Park. Text reads "1 Day Itinerary Joshua Tree National Park" and "FlyingOffTheBookshelf.com".

Erin Burke is a travel writer and the founder of Flying Off the Bookshelf. She has been blogging for over 14 years, has visited countries and cities all over the world, and loves to share detailed-itineraries and travel tips to help readers have the best travel experiences possible. She lives in Huntsville, Alabama, is a Visit North Alabama Ambassador, and her features include NPR, MSN, Modern Mrs. Darcy, and more.