Recommendations

JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK

The following is a brief list of our favorite places/things to do in Joshua Tree National Park. The Park is a vast space with a seemingly infinite amount of places to explore, and we highly encourage you to get up there and check it out. That being said, the absolute best, safest, most efficient, and therefore most badass way to explore the park would be to hire a guide (see our guide recommendations at the bottom of this list). If you decide to skip the guide option, thats great and power to ya! Just please, please, please remember to bring plenty of water, snacks, sun screen, and navigation equipment (when in doubt, walk southwest!). The ** indicates the need for additional personal research, food and water, a map/compass, or possibly a guide. Enjoy!

Drive through the park via Park Boulevard!

It’s a straight shot drive-through that takes about 40 minutes and will blow your mind. We recommend taking it slow, rolling the windows down, and pulling over to walk around and climb on things when the mood strikes you. Please be mindful of the fragile ecosystem when exploring by doing your best to park only in designated parking areas, and to not disturb the plant/animal life. Remember, take only pictures, and leave only footprints.

Intersection Rock/Hidden Valley Campground

About 15 minutes (8.8 miles) from the park’s west entrance on Park Boulevard you will come to Intersection Rock/Hidden Valley Campground. This is a super fun place to park and romp around, exploring the many rock formations, boulders, nooks, and crannies scattered in abundance. It’s also a great place to crack a beer and watch the climbers do that insane thing that they do. If you feel bold and want to scramble to the top of something, go for it! Just remember, it’s always easier to climb up than it is to climb down…

Hidden Valley Nature Loop (1 mile)

Just across the road from Intersection Rock/HV Campground is the HV nature loop. This is a very easy, well marked, and well traveled nature loop that shows off the magic of JTNP in a nutshell. This is a great place to explore, with lots of great tucked away secrets worth stumbling upon. If you feel like doing some research, find someone with some insider knowledge, or even just ask climber dirtbag (easy to spot and wildly abundant) you might even find the Chasm of Doom**, which is one hell of an adventure.

Barker Dam Loop (1.1 miles)

The next left just past the Intersection Rock/HV Campground parking lot is Barker Dam Road, which dead-ends at a parking lot which is the trailhead for Barker Dam itself. This trail is similar in difficulty to the Hidden Valley Nature Trail, and is just as lovely. This trail offers many opportunities to scramble around and explore off trail** (but please not too far off trail as we want you to remember this trip fondly). Since Barker Dam is one of the only man made water sources in the park, it can often be a good place to see wildlife.

Wall Street Mill (2.4 mile out and back)/Wonderland Wash**(2 miles out and back)

Just before entering the barker dam parking lot, take the dirt road on the right. Go about 150 yards and take the first left then drive to the end of the short road to the trail head. Head up the trail next to the bathroom and after a short distance you may either turn left towards Wonderland Wash, or continue straight to Wall Street Mill. If you turn left, you will come to what is known as the Pink House ruin. Walk NNW past the ruin and slightly towards your 11 o’ Clock, through the bushes and around the rock slabs, and you will find yourself in the beautiful Wonderland Wash. Continue NNW through the wash and you will be treated to steep rock walls on either side, a wide variety of lush plant life, and super cool rock formations. Venture in and explore, but please make sure you keep your bearings, bring plenty of water, snacks, a map, compass, or GPS with you, or better yet, a guide.

Keys View

Continue on park boulevard 1.5 miles past intersection rock/barker dam road on the right is Keys View Road. Take this road to the end, park in the lot, and “hike” up to the vista to view the Coachella Valley in its entirety. You will be able to see the San Andreas fault line, Mt. San Jacinto and Mt. San Gorgonio (the two tallest peaks in Southern California), and on a clear day you can see the Salton Sea. Great place to watch the sun set!

Hall of Horrors

Continue on park boulevard 1.4 miles past keys view road on the left is the Hall of Horrors. This is a very popular climbing area and a very fun place to romp around and explore. Ask a climber how to find the hall of horrors corridor and go play! Lots of adventure to be had in this zone.

Ryan Mountain**(3 miles)

Continue on park boulevard for about a mile and you will come to the trailhead for Ryan Mountain. This is an out-and-back with 1,069’ of elevation gain. Not the hardest thing in the world, but frequently underestimated in it’s difficulty. Bring water and snacks, wear sun screen. View’s from the top are well worth it!

Pine City (4 miles)/Lucky Boy Loop (3.3 miles)**

Continue on Park Boulevard from Ryan Mountain trail head for 2.5 miles and turn left on Big Horn Sheep Road. Head straight and the road will dead-end at the trailhead, which is the trailhead for three separate hikes: Pine City, Lucky Boy Loop, and Desert Queen Mine (I’m sure it’s great I’ve just never done it which is why I didn’t include it, but hey go for it ya know?). Pine City is a really straightforward and beautiful out and back that brings you to a really cool zone with cool rock formations and pinyon pine trees. Lucky Boy Loop is super chill, really pretty, and has a vista of Jumbo Rocks, as well as an abandoned mine you can sketchily peer into (one of Justin’s absolute favorite hikes in the park). https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/lucky-boy-vista-trail-to-elton-mine

Recommended Guide Services (Justin has worked for all of them)

Cliffhanger Guides

Fabulous rock climbing guide service located in the heart of Joshua Tree, and Carl’s neighbors! Seth and Sabra will be partying loud and proud with us at the wedding, and are wonderful people through and through, not to mention the most knowledgable climbers and guides in Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree Excursions

Great hiking guide service that will show you some of the harder to find places in the park. Go on the hike of your dreams without the worry of getting lost!

Stone Adventures

Another great rock climbing guide service in Joshua Tree

FOOD

Here is a list of some of our favorite places to eat! Town gets busy this time of year and wait times can be insanely long. If you want to go out for breakfast, your best bet is to try to be somewhere before 9am.

County Kitchen

Hours: 7am-2pm Wednesday-Monday. Closed Tuesday. Pretty classic diner, great breakfast spot. - Naomi’s favorite order: Spinach and feta omlette. - Justin’s favorite order: Breakfast burrito, coffee.

Crossroads Cafe

Hours: 7am-8pm every day. Another classic diner spot. Amazing pancakes. - Naomi’s favorite order: French fries and Cesar salad - Justin’s favorite order: Blueberry pancake, or, Chicken quesadilla.

Sam's Indian Food & Pizza

Hours: 11am-3pm, 4:30pm-9pm Monday - Saturday, Sunday: 3-8pm Super good Indian food. Also have pizza and Indian pizza! - Naomi’s favorite order: Samosa, Chicken Coconut Korma - Justin’s favorite order: Chicken Mango Curry

The Tiny Pony Tavern

Hours: 11am-12pm Monday - Sunday, 9am - 2am Saturday. Happy hour 3-5pm Cool kids dive. Karaoke Tuesdays. Lots of velvet paintings. - Naomi’s favorite order: Veggie burger and loaded yucca fries, IPA - Justin’s favorite order: Chicken sandwich, fries, Brooklyn lager. - When celebrating: Duck confit nachos (yup)

Frontier Café

Hours: 7am-5pm every day Lovely cafe for light breakfast or lunch. Locally roasted coffee. Super busy on weekends, get there early or get lucky with a lull. Someone saw Neil Young in there one time… - Naomi’s favorite order: Anything decaf - Justin’s favorite order: Anything caffeinated.

The Red Dog Saloon

Hours: 10am-10pm Monday-Friday, 9am-12am Saturday, 9am-10pm Sunday Old timey fancy dive. Don’t carve your name in the bar or they’ll be pissed. - Naomi’s favorite order: Lighting margarita, bean and cheese taco - Justin’s favorite order: Champagne velvet tall boy, chips and queso.

Giant Rock Meeting Room

Hours: 5-11pm Monday-Friday, 11am-11pm Saturday and Sunday Great pizza and beer joint with outdoor seating and live music more often than not. Up on the mesa with the classic desert views. Karaoke Wednesdays 7-11pm. Pizza is so personal, so no specific recommendations. You really can’t go wrong!

Vons

Groceries

Stater Bros. Markets

Grocery Outlet

SHOPPING

While Walmart, Marshalls, and Toda Moda are two very respectable and practical options for all your last minute fashion needs, there are a couple of notable local establishments that might pique your interest and provide a bit more flavor to your wardrobe. Also included are some nice wine and knick-knack shops.

The End

Hours: 11am-5pm every day. A colorful vintage oasis!

Mojave Flea Trading Post

Hours: 11am-5pm every day Marketplace of local makers and merchants. Vintage (and new) clothing, gifts, jewelry, etc. Fun to peruse, and you’ll probably find something special.

Angel View Resale Store

Hours: 10am-6pm every day The famous, the one, the only, THE thrift store for the ages. More often than not, the angels of angel view provide.

Desierto Alto

Hours: 11am-7pm Wednesday-Sunday. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Legit bottle shop, beer, wine, spirits, the whole thing. Lots of good stuff. Bodega groceries too. Need some fancy cheese, crackers, and prosciutto? Or maybe some chocolate, popcorn, and a martini shaker? Look no further.

INTERESTING STUFF

The Integratron

By appointment sound baths in an electrostatic generator/time machine. Go here to find inner peace and talk to aliens. Highly recommended.

Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum

Giant Rock

Really, Really big conduit of spiritual energy and graffiti. directions in link, or just google map it.

Sky Village Outdoor Marketplace

Hours: 5am-3pm Saturday & Sunday. A high desert institution. Gives “one person’s trash is another person’s treasure” a whole new meaning. Great place to bump into old friends and make some new ones. Good breakfast burritos at the cafe. You may want to purchase an extra suit case for this one (you could probably find it here).