The town of Joshua Tree, just outside the park's west entrance, has its own laid-back desert-art scene worth exploring, and there are quieter corners of the park beyond Hidden Valley worth seeking out. Here's how to round out a Joshua Tree trip.
Joshua Tree the Town
The town of Joshua Tree has become known for its funky art scene, vintage shops, and desert-modern cafes — a fitting complement to the park's otherworldly landscape, and a good place to grab food before or after a day in the park since options inside the park itself are limited.
Cholla Cactus Garden
In the park's eastern, lower-elevation Colorado Desert section, the Cholla Cactus Garden is a dense concentration of "teddy bear" cholla cacti that glow almost silver when backlit at sunrise or sunset — deceptively soft-looking but well worth admiring from the boardwalk rather than up close.
Skull Rock and Barker Dam
Skull Rock, right along the main park road, is an easy roadside stop shaped uncannily like its name suggests, and Barker Dam is a short, easy loop trail past a small reservoir built by early cattle ranchers, with Native American petroglyphs visible along parts of the trail. Browse Joshua Tree tours and experiences below to plan your trip.
Pack for Boulders and Backroads
A day that mixes town cafes with rock scrambling calls for something versatile. The VacationGrabs Vintage Leather Backpack handles both.
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